In this section, the Association for Play Therapy (APT) describes its purpose, programs, policies, personnel, and past. See other home page links for directories and training, credentialing, bookstore, membership, and play therapy information.
These informational links address our vision, system of governance and management, and acknowledges our service partners.
About APT media presentation (2-min flash)
Board of Directors Directory
Program Committee Chairs Directory
Management & Staff Directory
Service Partners Directory
Scope, Mission, Status, Bylaws, Finances & Milestones
Policy Governance Manual (PDF)
Policy Governance Internal Report (PDF)
Annual Growth Report (PDF)
Advertise products and services in the quarterly Play Therapy magazine, the APT website, and at the Annual International Conference.
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) is the exclusive owner of two federally registered intellectual properties: 1) trade name ("Association for Play Therapy") and 2) trade mark (puppet icon). Neither may be utilized without the expressed permission of APT.
APT is also the exclusive owner of its Logo, a tricolor graphic design that displays both properties and its primary geographic territory ("United States"). Below are links to four APT Logo formats and the policies that regulate how branches and others may utilize the APT Logo:
APT Logo policies (PDF)
APT Logo: JPG Print JPG Web PSD EPS
Branch Logos
Members communicate with each other via Community Listserves. APT conducts business with members via Community Forums. Register to gain access to both.
The Foundation for Play Therapy was incorporated in 2001 as a national nonprofit California corporation exempt from federal taxation per Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code to accept charitable tax-exempt contributions on behalf of APT research, public education, and promotional programs that advance the psychosocial development and mental health of people, particularly children, through play and play therapy.
Board of Directors
Contribution Form (PDF)
Finance Report (PDF)
Foundation Bylaws (PDF)
Published by APT to disseminate reports of original research, theoretical articles, and substantive reviews of topics germane to play therapy on behalf of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, school counselors, marriage and family therapists, and other mental health professionals.
Submit a Journal manuscript via APA portal
Instructions to Journal Authors (PDF)
The Key Awards represent what APT values and recognizes those members who demonstrate them via their outstanding achievements and contributions.
APT Service Award (SmartDOC)
Lifetime Achievement Award (SmartDOC)
Professional Education & Training Award (SmartDOC)
Public Education & Promotion Award (SmartDOC)
Research Award (SmartDOC)
Student Research Award (SmartDOC)
The Leadership Academy was established in 2004 as an orientation about leadership attributes, the Policy Governance© Model, and how APT conducts its daily business with members. Complete the enrollment form ON SCREEN; then print, sign, and transmit or mail to APT.
Leadership Academy syllabus & enrollment form (SmartDOC)
2005 Class photos (PDF)
2006 Class photos (PDF)
2007 Class photos (PDF)
2008 Class photos (PDF)
2009 Class photos (PDF)
2010 Class photos (PDF)
Member Poll: Members are annually surveyed to identify trends and other change drivers in their professional environment and to measure customer satisfaction and identify how APT might increase the latter. When activated a topical Member Poll often appears on the home page.
Member Participation: Member participation in APT governance and programs is welcomed to ensure the proper vision and programs that are clinically sound and valued by stakeholders.
Program Preference form (SmartDOC)
Program Committee Protocols (PDF)
Director Candidate Questionnaire (SmartDOC)
Membership surpassed 5,000 in 2006, 5,300 in 2007, and 5,600 in 2008 because members introduced play therapy to their colleagues and suggested membership to access critical research, training, and credentailing opportunities. Helpful members are rewarded with APT Bucks that may be redeemed to reduce their dues and program fee payments to APT.
2010 Growth Strategy (PDF)
Promote Play Therapy order form (PDF)
Mining for intelligence, prominent play therapists review (mine) the latest mental health literature and then submit brief papers (limit 300-500 words) identifying current trends, best practices, and other wisdom (intelligence) intended to keep your play therapy practice on the cutting edge!
Members and subscribers receive play therapy, APT and member news and information via the colorful quarterly Play TherapyTM magazine.
Instructions to Play Therapy magazine authors (PDF)
Recent Play Therapy magazine articles
APT Advertising Kit (PDF)
APT endorses play therapy best practices and offers a paper on touch to assist play therapy practitioners, supervisors, and instructors. Approved Providers and Registered Play Therapists (RPT) and Supervisors (RPT-S) must attest that they are familiar with the former but both documents of critically important to everyone!
Educate the public and other mental health professionals about play therapy and APT by distributing our colorful Why Play Therapy and Join APT Now brochures, and by playing our Why Play Therapy and About APT flash animations during the first 10 minutes of your meetings and trainings. Use items for promotion and orientation. Order them via APT Bookstore!
Why Play Therapy brochures
Join APT Now membership brochures
CD/VHS flash animations
Present Play Therapy at other conferences
APT encourages play therapy research that demonstrates the value and effectiveness of play and play therapy, increases play therapy knowledge or improves play therapy techniques, and supports evidence-based play therapy practices.
Meta-Analysis of Play Therapy Research (PDF)
APT Research Strategy (PDF)
APT Research Grant Application by 3/31/09 (PDF)
APT Research Grant Application by 3/31/09 (SmartDOC)
CPT Research Clearinghouse
See Key Awards (above) for information regarding our annual Research and Dissertation (formerly Student) Research Awards.
Visit the Training and Credentialing pages to learn more about play therapy continuing education and credentialing programs sponsored by APT.
© 2010 Association for Play Therapy, Inc.
