1. The School Based Registered Play Therapist
Dr. Janice Ward
&
Dr. Holly Wagner,
Southeast Missouri State University

2. Play is a healing and growth process that children are able to use naturally and independently, except when their healing and growth process is significantly interrupted.
Cochran, 1996
Pick out few toys that tell us about you. We will use them when we do introductions.
INTRODUCTIONS
SYLLABUS
ELC

3. Play as the Language of Children
Natural method of expression, learning, and interacting. (Axline, 1947; Landreth, 1982; Moustakas, 1953)
Encourages children to increase their understanding of the world as they explore objects, language, social roles, and feelings without imminent risk. (Griffith, 1997)
Symbolic understanding. (Piaget, 1951)
Organizer of children’s experiences and may be one of the few times in their lives that they feel more in control and more secure. (Landreth, 2002)
We will be focusing on play therapy with children ages 3 to 12. In late latency stage, verbalization becomes the dominant mode of communication.
Children who have experienced trauma tend to engage in play behaviors at older ages. Play therapy might be applicable and appropriate for children older than 12 if they have experienced trauma. Children as young as two who have experienced trauma might also benefit from counseling.
For older youth, counselor can provide a choice: stay in office or go to play room.
Children understand their experiences through symbols. Objects acquire more meaning and become abstractions
Children transform reality into symbolic representations of the world (piaget)
Play out versus talk out

4. What is Play Therapy?
“The systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.” (APT)
“An interaction seeking to relieve the child’s emotional distress through the symbolic communication of play.” (Webb, 1999, p. 30)
Counselor as belayer and child as mountain climber. Child takes self and counselor to the top of the mountain (moustakas)
Children tend to recreate in their play some natural stuck spots.

5. Importance of Play
The Importance of Play in Promoting Development and Parental Bonding
Children Tell Us How Important it is to Play

6. Play Therapy in the Schools
Increased need for mental health services in the schools
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Calls for more Trauma Informed Services in the Schools
More services for mental health

7. Becoming A School Based RPT
Association for Play Therapy
School Based-Registered Play Therapists (SB-RPT) are school counselors or school psychologists who hold a license from their state's department of education, and who have satisfied the criteria described in the SB-RPT Guide.

8. Becoming A School Based RPT
Master’s degree or higher in mental health with courses in:
Child Development
Theories of Personality
Psychotherapy
Child & Adolescent Psychopathology
Ethics
150 hours of Play Therapy instruction through an APT Provider
Supervised Play Therapy Experience
600 hours of supervised experience with an RPT-S (50 hours of concurrent supervision)
2 years continuous employment post-certification

9. Becoming A School Based RPT
Recertification
Current and active state certification
Every 3 years
18 hours of play therapy specific instruction from APT provider
3 hours of DSM specific training

10. Approved Center of Play Therapy Education
Approved Centers of Play Therapy Education are designated to generate more play therapy research, peer-reviewed publications, instruction, and supervised clinical experiences at universities. Centers are approved for a 3-year period.  A searchable online directory displays universities offering play therapy instruction and internships or hosting Approved Centers.

11. Activities Color My Feelings My Superhero Story
Yarn Visualization Activity