Perth & Brisbane Play Therapy Clinical Training

Play Therapy Courses

Certificate of Play Therapy Skills

This is an Exciting New 1 Year Part Time Course.

Applications are now being accepted for this course!

This new course is being offered in Perth, Western Australia with Play Therapy Australia in 2008. Module 1 of the course is also offered in Melbourne, Victoria. This course will be offered in 4 intensive modules in 2008, to make it possible for those living in country areas of Western Australia, other Australian States and other countries, to participate in this course.

Areas covered in this course include:

· The Heart & World of Non Directive Child Centered Play Therapy: the philosophy and practice

· Setting up a playroom & special play areas: toys and materials to enhance self expression a & creativity

· The power of relationship: Developing a relationship of safety & trust with the child

· Ways of sensitively & empathically responding to children & reflective responses

· The ACT limit setting model and applications

· Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology and the possible impact of early trauma on the child's development

· Early attachment, bonding and child development

· Working with challenging situations with children including the highly aggressive child, the silent child, a child experiencing separation anxiety, a very sad child

· Integrating aspects from Child Centered Play Therapy & Humanistic Therapeutic approaches into different settings & work roles with children

· Personal reflection process incorporating creative arts therapies

For full course information & application details, please click on the link below.

Download the Certificate of Play Therapy Skills Course Information.

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Post Graduate Certificate of Clinical Play Therapy Course

Please check back later in 2008 for information about when the next course will be offered .

The Post Graduate Certificate of Clinical Play Therapy course is a 2 year part time post graduate level Play Therapy Clinical Training program.

For full course information & answers to some commonly asked questions about the course, please click on the link below.

Download the Post Graduate Certificate of Clinical Play Therapy Course Information.

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How to Become a Play Therapist in Australia

Here is some information about recommended pathways to becoming a Play Therapist in Australia. The views expressed here are those of Play Therapy Australia and the guidelines given, are in relation to those professionals offering Play Therapy as a form of counselling or psychotherapy, for children 3-10 years old.

Recommendations:

1) Gain a recognised qualification in a mental health field such as social work, counselling, psychology, art therapy, psychotherapy and then complete a specialised clinical training program in Play Therapy that includes Play Therapy training over at least 2 years, Play Therapy Clinical Practice hours, Clinical Supervision and Personal Therapy hours. Courses that meet the training standards of the Psychotherapists & Counsellors Federation of Australia www.pacfa.org.au or that are approved courses with the Australian Counsellors Association of Australia www.theaca.net.au, meet certain training standards & clinical practice requirements. It is also strongly recommended to become a professional or clinical member of a relevant association here in Australia linked with one's first qualification, such as AASW, PACAWA, ACA, APS, CAPA.

2) Gain a recognised qualification in a mental health field such as social work, counselling, psychology, art therapy, psychotherapy and then do extensive specialised training in Play Therapy. If not a clinical training program, it would be an option to have regular clinical supervision with a clinical supervisor specially trained and experienced in Play Therapy with children. Please see www.a4pt.org for guidelines around the process to become a registered Play Therapist in the USA with the Association for Play Therapy, as this has the option for completing Play Therapy training at the post graduate level and then doing Play Therapy practice under clinical supervision to meet the hours required for registration as a Play Therapist. Play Therapy Australia also strongly recommends engaging in one's own Personal Therapy during this process. It is also strongly recommended to become a professional or clinical member of a relevant association here in Australia linked with one's first qualification, such as AASW, PACAWA, ACA, APS, CAPA.

3) Complete a Masters program in Play Therapy. There are Masters courses in Play Therapy in the UK. Please see the British Association for Play Therapy www.bapt.info for details of courses in the UK.

If you are interested in Hospital Play Therapy, it is recommended to contact one of the large children's hospitals in Australia where there is a Play Therapy department and inquire as to the qualifications and training required to work in this specialist Play Therapy field.

Play Therapy Australia | Telephone: 0415 138 857 | PO Box 235 Fremantle WA 6959 Australia | jill@playtherapyaustralia.com