What Is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is a psychotherapeutic modality for children ages 3 to 11 where children use toys and fantasy play to make sense of their inner world and to communicate to the outside world how they are being affected by an event, how they feel about it, and what they need. Children use play because that is what comes naturally. Toys are used as props to demonstrate what is too painful or complicated to say with words. Due to the extensive research by the Association for Play Therapy, it is now recognized as one of the evidenced-based treatments for children. The practice of play therapy requires specialized training which is rarely taught in graduate school, although it is becoming more popular. CBPS provides 150 hours of intensive training in play therapy and child psychotherapy for mental health clinicians and graduate students.

Why Become a Registered Play Therapist?

  • Learn up-to-date and state-of-the-art training
  • Increase knowledge and expertise in child therapy
  • Improve credibility in the mental health community
  • Significantly increase chances for referrals
  • Respond to increasing requests from Behavioral Health Insurance and social service agencies

How to Become a Registered Play Therapist

To become an RPT, one must go through the credentialing process set forth by the Association for Play Therapy in California. Basically, 150 hours of play therapy specific training, in addition to play therapy supervision is required. One must be a licensed clinician to obtain the credentials, although individuals pursuing licensure may begin attending the training prior to licensure. After obtaining credentials as a Registered Play Therapist, there is also an opportunity to obtain supervisory status. Please contact the association directly for specific information. CBPS offers “Track A” which includes the required 150 hours of play therapy specific training leading toward the credentials. Participants pay a flat fee and remain in the program for 2 years after which they should have completed the 150 hours of training. In addition to licensed mental health clinicians, certified school counselors and school psychologists may also obtain credentials as a SB-Registered Play Therapist.

Please note that the Association for Play Therapy is the only authorized entity to grant the play therapy credentials.

SUPERVISION HOURS

Please contact the Association for Play Therapy to determine the number of supervision hours you need. The information and required forms are listed on the APT website. There are new changes regarding who may provide supervision effective in 2020.

COST:

The cost for most of our workshops is $150.00 each. If workshops are taken individually to achieve the 150 CE hours, the total cost is $3,750.00 (25 workshops, 6 CE hours each x $150.00). The reduced cost for Track A is a flat fee of $2600.00 which represents a savings of $1,150.00. This does not include the cost for supervision which is negotiated separately with a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.

Payments are made in full or one may choose to use our payment plan which costs an additional $125.00. The payment plan is as follows:

Initial payment of $525.00 then 10 monthly payments of $220.00. This includes the fee for the payment plan. We accept checks and credit card payments and purchase orders.
Cost includes 150 hours of training and CE certificates for each of the workshops.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Written cancellation notice must be received in our office at least 10 business days prior to the training in order to receive a refund. $25 cancellation fee is subtracted from the cost. If cancellation notice is less than 10 business days, a voucher will be given for a different training. No refunds will be given to those who do not cancel in advance. We reserve the right to cancel training due to inclement weather or insufficient registrants. If this occurs, funds are returned in full. IF YOU WISH TO CANCEL YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TRACK A, YOU MUST CONTACT US IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ENROLLING IN THE PROGRAM. You will be expected to pay for any training you have completed within that timeframe.

CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS

We are an approved provider for social workers, licensed professional counselors, certified school counselors, school psychologists, art therapists, and psychologists in Maryland and Virginia, as well as marriage and family therapists. We allow graduate students to attend but will not receive CE Hours.

SCHEDULING TRAINING

Training runs all year round. You may join at any time. We offer over 150 hours of training. All training is appropriate to complete requirements for the credentials. Only 12 hours of Sandtray training is allowed under Track A, which is Introduction to Sandtray Therapy. Occasionally, we schedule a special play therapy training which is not included in Track A. When this occurs, we indicate that the training is ‘Not Track A.’ One way to also determine if a workshop is Track A is to look for “play therapy” in the title. However, if a training has “play therapy” in the title but says “Not Track A,” you may not sign up for that workshop. Training is scheduled on Fri/Sat/Sun from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm while registration is from 8:30 to 9 am. Occasionally, we offer a 2- or 3-hour play therapy workshop. Listing of training can be found on the CBPS website under “calendar.” If you register for Track A, you must also register for each individual training.

PLAY THERAPY SUMMER BOOT CAMP

72 hours of play therapy training offered over a 2-week period. This is part of Track A. Individuals come from various parts of the world to attend. We have had participants from Botswana, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Singapore, Israel, Australia, and Jamaica. You may register for all of the sessions or some.

KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR CERTIFICATES

72 hours of play therapy training offered over a 2-week period. This is part of Track A. Individuals come from various parts of the world to attend. We have had participants from Botswana, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Singapore, Israel, Australia, and Jamaica. You may register for all of the sessions or some.

WEBINARS

We offer live and recorded webinars. APT allows 50 CE Hours of webinars which are considered non-contact hours. 100 hours must be live in-person training. Please refer to our website for the list of webinars.

TRAINING LOCATIONS

Child Abuse Center, 2300 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD
Barstow Acres Children’s Center, 590 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Thrive Behavioral Health, Millersville, MD

Time Frame: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

**Please note that 8:30 – 9:00 am is registration while training is from 9 am to 4:30 pm.**