The Certificate Program in Play Therapy
Advanced training (live, in person) for licensed therapists, therapist interns, and allied health professionals who work with children, adolescents, and their families.
Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children. Therapists strategically use play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words, and play is the child’s language.
This field is especially appropriate for children ages three through twelve years old, teenagers and adults have also benefited from play techniques and recreational processes. In recent years, play therapy interventions have also been applied to infants and toddlers.
Play therapy is used in mental health, school, agency, developmental, hospital, residential, and recreational settings. Play therapy treatment plans have been used for multiple mental health conditions and concerns, as well as for modification of behavioral disor-ders, including anxiety, social development, physical and learning disabilities, and conduct disorders.
Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems related to such life stressors as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural and man-made disasters.
(Source: See Association for Play Therapy website—www.a4pt.org, “Play Therapy Makes a Difference!” for entire article and content attribution.)
Becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT)
The certificate program satisfies the instructional requirement of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), as well as a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). RPT and RPT-S applicants must also (a) hold a graduate de-gree in mental health from an accredited university, (b) hold a mental health license or certificate issued by a primary state licensing/ certification body, and (c) satisfy APT’s clinical experience and supervision requirements. APT maintains full authority for approval of these designations. UCSD Extension is approved by the APT to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (provider no. 98-046). The courses comprising the certificate are also individually approved for hours toward the 150-hour requirement. UCSD Exten-sion maintains responsibility for the certificate program.
Details about requirements and applications for the designations may be obtained from Association for Play Therapy
3198 Willow Ave., Ste. 110
Clovis, CA 93612 Phone (559) 294-2128 Fax (559) 294-2129 Email [email protected]
Web site: Association for Play Therapy -- Home
Certificate Requirements
To earn the certificate you must complete 11 quarter units to total at least 150 hours of course work. A total of 13 units and 175 hours of course work are offered during a complete program cycle from which you select courses that fit your schedule. The units meet Extension’s unit requirement to earn the certificate, and the 150 hours meet the Association for Play Therapy’s requirement for 150 hours of in-class instruction to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). CE Credit
UCSD Extension is an approved provider of CE credit by the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences (Provider # PCE725) and the Association for Play Therapy (Provider# 98-046). Each course listing on the website and in the catalog includes information about the CE credit hours available.
Program Coordinator
Ellen P. Lacter, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist, Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor, and director for The Center for Play and Art
Therapy. She is Past President of the California Association for Play Therapy. She has been an art therapist in various agencies since 1977 and a play therapist in private practice since 1984. She is well-known in the San Diego community for the treatment and evalu-ation of abused children. Since 1984, she has taught graduate classes in family violence.
Instructors
Instructors are either Registered Play Therapists or Registered Play Therapist-Supervisors, licensed psychologists with extensive spe-cialized training in a specific form of play therapy or assessment they will teach, or individuals who hold a psychology doctorate and licensure as an MFT or LCSW, plus extensive specialized training in a specific form of play therapy.
Courses
Except for the one 14-hr. course identified below, all courses are seven hours in length.
Treatment Planning Series
Play Diagnosis and Assessment of Ego Functions and Object Relations Therapeutic Powers of Play
Toys and Their Uses
Clinicians Toolbox Series Child-Centered Play Therapy
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy-CPRT (Filial Therapy) Introduction to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Developmental Play Therapy
Structured Play Therapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Play, Pre-set Play, Introduction to Resolutions Gestalt Play Therapy, Role-Play, and Psychodrama
Sandplay: A Therapeutic Process Experiential Play Therapy
Supervision and Instruction of Play Therapy Psychoanalytic Play Therapy
Integrative Play Therapy Introduction to Theraplay
Play Therapy with Special Populations
Play Therapy to Increase Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Regulation Play Therapy for Attachment Disorders
Families Fighting and Changing: Play Therapy with Children of Divorce and Re-marriage Play Therapy for Children Affected by Illness and Injury
Play Therapy for Children Affected by Man-made and Natural Disasters (currently not offered) Uses of Play for Learning Disabilities and Developmental Delay
Play Therapy to Help Children Cope with Grief and Loss
Play Therapy, Art Therapy, and Assessment of Abused Children and Adolescents (14 hrs.) Play Therapy for Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Play Therapy Across Cultural and Ethnic Groups Play Therapy in Schools
Play Therapy and Art Therapy with Adolescents Our Students Have Said . . .
“The play therapy certificate program at UCSD Extension has been a terrific asset to my work with children. The program has pro-vided me with play based therapy techniques and assessment tools that were grounded in theory. The instructors are very knowl-edgeable and competent. This program surpasses any other continuing education I have taken in my 30 years of being licensed as an MFT.”
Beverly Russ, MFT, Ph.D. cand.
Private Practice/Trauma and Grief Focus Preschool, Adolescents, Adults
Santa Margarita
“The Play Therapy Program at UCSD Extension is a great program that has added a tremendous amount of knowledge and skills to my professional career. I have found that play therapy is a meaningful and less intrusive way to work with children that have been abused and/or traumatized. I would highly recommend this program to anyone working with children in the helping field.” Karen Marks, LCSW, RPT
“The UCSD Extension Play Therapy Certificate Program provides an outstanding opportunity to obtain exemplary training in play therapy. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum which blends both theory and practice and is taught by exceptional in-structors. The program is highly recommended for those professionals who wish to advance their knowledge, skills, and training in the field of play therapy. The certificate program has been one of the most valuable investments I have made in my career.” Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S
Play Therapy Corner, Inc. Temecula, CA
“Every week after a class hundreds of families at my school likely receive immediate benefit (I am an elementary school counselor as well).”
Teresa Adams-Ridila, MFT-I School Counselor
Coachella Valley Area
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any prerequisites that need to be met to enroll in courses?
Anyone may enroll in any Play Therapy course; however, it is important to note that all courses are taught at a post-master’s level and are directed primarily toward individuals with a master’s degree in a mental health field.
If I complete all the courses while I am still an intern, will I receive my certificate?
A license is not required to receive the program certificate. Once you are licensed, if you choose, you may then submit the complet-ed coursework to the Association for Play Therapy and it will count toward meeting their requirements to become a Registercomplet-ed Play Therapist.
I am currently a pre-degree MFT working on my practicum hours. Am I eligible to take these courses, or must I wait until I receive my degree?
Yes, you are eligible. Individuals interested in becoming a Registered Play Therapist may begin to complete the requirements at any time. Such individuals will not submit their application to the APT until they have met all the criteria, and that may be several years after that individual completed the courses. An Extension certificate will be awarded for successful completion of the program whether or not an individual intends to pursue the APT credential. That certificate and course work would apply towards satisfying the APT requirements.
How are the courses formatted?
Courses are all live: no courses are delivered via distance learning. With a single exception, all course are also one-day workshops on a Saturday. Two courses are offered each month; the same two are repeated the following month to provide students with a choice of dates. Hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., providing seven instructional hours per Saturday.
Do the courses need to be taken in any specific order?
I am not interested in earning the Certificate, but I would like to take some of the courses: is this possible?
Yes, the individual courses are available for enrollment and provide CE credit on an individual basis.
Once I start taking courses, do I have to take courses every quarter?
No, if you need to stop taking courses for a period of time, you may simply start taking them again whenever you are ready.
What is the cost of the program?
The total cost of the program is approximately $3000. Each seven-hour course is $135; the one 14-hr. course is $250. You pay as you go; there is no lump sum due up front. The total cost includes the $60 certificate enrollment fee that you can pay at any time while you are taking the courses. Currently, parking permits are not required on Saturdays.
How long does it take to complete the program?
It will take a minimum of six quarters (20 months) to take enough courses to accrue at least 150 hours of instruction in play therapy. You may take up to five years to complete the program.
Do I need to fill out a formal application before I can take courses?
No, you may begin taking courses at any time by simply enrolling in the course(s) of your choice. There is no formal application form. There is a $60 certificate program enrollment fee that may be paid at any time while you are taking courses and must be paid to receive your certificate when you complete the program. Because the fee is nonrefundable, we recommend that you take a few courses before enrolling in the program in order to ensure that our program is right for you.
How do I enroll in courses?
To enroll
By phone:Find the course(s) on the program website (http://extension.ucsd.edu/playtherapy). Locate the 6-digit “Section ID” (or SID) number: this will be on the course-specific page if online, or under the course information in the catalog. Call the Student Services office at (858) 534-3400, (619) 260-3070, or (858) 534-9999. Please be ready with the section ID number and your credit card information (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover accepted).
Online:Go to http://extension.ucsd.edu/playtherapy. You will then see a list of all program courses. Click on the title of the course you are interested in. That will take you to the specific course page, which will have a description of the course itself and below that, if it is currently being offered or will be offered in the near future, information on the individual sections (be sure to expand the “click to show details” box). If a class is being offered, there will be a yellow “Enroll Now” button next to it (if the class is being offered but it is full, there will be a waitlist option). Clink on that button when you are ready to enroll in that class.
In person: You may enroll at any of the three UCSD Extension sites: on campus at the Extension Complex, 9600 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla 92093, 858-534-3400; Mission Valley, 404 Camino Del Rio S., Ste. 102, San Diego, CA 92108, 619-260-3070; or Uni-versity City Center, 6256 Greenwich Dr., San Diego, CA 92122, 858-534-9999.Do I need to enroll for a letter grade or can I enroll for a pass/fail?
How do I enroll in the Play Therapy Certificate program?
Enrolling in the certificate program involves the same procedure as enrolling in a course. Instead of a section ID#, the certificate has a “certificate ID#.” This number is updated each quarter on the program website. You can enroll on the website or by phone. The fee is $60.
Is there any help available for tracking the courses and hours I complete?
Yes. An official transcript is maintained for you in the Registrar’s office, but it does not reflect the hours you’ve accrued. Call the pro-gram representative at (858) 534-9265 if you would like a spread sheet created that will show your course completion, hours ac-crued, and classes not-yet-taken.
I’ve taken a couple of workshops that were taught by an Association for Play Therapy approved provider. Can I get credit toward the certificate for them?
Although such workshops would be accepted by the APT towards meeting the 150 educational hour requirement for earning the RPT and RPT-S designations, they cannot be applied towards our certificate program because they lack academic credit. If you are not interested in earning our play therapy certificate, you can combine Extension courses with other APT approved courses to meet APT’s 150-hour requirement. You can receive an individual CE certificate for each course you take by signing the CE sign-in sheet provided in the classroom.
I took a play therapy course in my master’s program: can I get credit toward the certificate for it?
Yes, you can substitute one such course for one course in the certificate program with the same focus. Contact the program repre-sentative at (858) 534-9265 for more information.
Can I apply Extension Play Therapy courses to the degree I am working on?
UCSD Extension courses and workshops do offer academic units, but they are continuing education units, which are neither under-graduate nor under-graduate level units. If an Extension student is interested in applying Extension coursework to an academic degree they may be working on, the institution offering the degree would make the decision whether or not to accept the units. It would be up to the student to inquire and supply whatever documentation the institution may require.
Does the certificate program include a practicum?
No. The certificate program only addresses the instructional hour component of the Association for Play Therapy’s (APT) list of re-quirements for becoming a Registered Play Therapist (PTR and PTR-S). In addition to instructional hours, the APT also requires a set amount of supervised clinical hours, among other requirements, but these are outside of the scope of the program. More infor-mation is available on the APT’s website: www.a4pt.org
Where on the Extension website do I look for information on courses (including dates and locations) that are being offered cur-rently?
I work with children, but I do not have a master’s degree in a mental health field. Can I still take courses?
Anyone can enroll in our play therapy courses; there is no application process. A course in play therapy would be of interest to Child Life Specialists and educators, for example, from the standpoint of providing an opportunity to gain some familiarity with a thera-peutic method that is used primarily with children and their families. It is important to note, however, that our courses are taught at a post-master's level. In addition, taking courses does not automatically qualify an individual to use play therapy in the work they do. Following is some information from the Association for Play Therapy website, which may provide some clarification:The practice of play therapy requires extensive specialized education, training, and experience. A play therapist is a licensed (or certified) mental health professional who has earned a master's or doctorate degree in a mental health field with considerable general clinical experi-ence and supervision.
Are there any textbooks required?
No, extensive handouts are provided at each course.
How much work outside of class is there?
There is no work required outside of class time. Some kind of student evaluation tool—short quiz, essay questions, etc.—is adminis-tered at the conclusion of each course, which will be based on the content presented during the course. It will be used to assign you a grade, either a letter grade or a pass/fail.
Where are the courses held?
Courses are held at one of three locations (listed in frequency, from most common to least): UCSD Extension Complex
9600 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla, CA 92083
UCSD Extension Mission Valley Center 404 Camino Del Rio S., Ste. 102 San Diego, CA 92108
(near TGI Friday’s and Bally’s), UCSD Extension University City Center 6256 Greenwich Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122
Maps and driving directions are available on the Extension website: extension.ucsd.edu. Click on Maps at the top of the homepage.
When I’ve completed all the hours, what do I need to Do in order to receive my certificate?
Contact the certificate coordinator: (858) 534-3444 or [email protected]. After your course record has been verified for completion, you will be sent your UCSD Extension certificate, as well as a certificate documenting completion of 150 hours of in-struction for you to submit to APT if you are pursuing the RPT designation.
Questions?
