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Find a Play Therapist

Find a Play Therapist in your area! Quickly and easily search for play therapy services near you.

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Find Play Therapy Training

Find live or recorded play therapy and supervisor trainings, all offered by APT Approved Providers.

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Information on Credentialing

An APT credential is the best way to demonstrate extensive play therapy knowledge and training.

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Parents Corner

The Parents Corner provides educational information on play therapy for parents and caregivers.

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Association for Play Therapy

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) is a national professional society established in 1982 to foster contact among mental health professionals interested in exploring and, when developmentally appropriate, applying the therapeutic power of play to communicate with and treat clients, particularly children.

What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is defined by APT as “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."

Play Therapy should only be provided by mental health professionals who have met the required education, licensure, and additional specialized training and supervision specific to Play Therapy. Read more…

Association Programs & Benefits


Membership in the Association for Play Therapy (APT) demonstrates your interest in the field of play therapy! APT is dedicated to the growth and advancement of play therapy, increasing your knowledge, and providing you with networking opportunities and the professional tools you need.

Membership

APT membership demonstrates your interest in the field of play therapy and provides access to the latest play therapy news, research, publications, networking, and professional tools.

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Play Therapy Research

APT encourages play therapy research that demonstrates the value and effectiveness of play therapy, increases play therapy knowledge, and supports evidence-based play therapy practices.

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Publications

APT provides official publications exclusively to its membership, in the form of the International Journal of Play Therapy®, Play Therapy™ Magazine, PlayToday e-newsletter, and more!

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Play Therapy Connection

A professional network of support is an important resource for any mental health professional. Connect with fellow members and exchange clinical knowledge.

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E-Learning Center

Earn valuable non-contact continuing education from various play therapy sources, including APT’s Annual Conference Workshops, the International Journal of Play Therapy®, and more!

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Annual Conference

The Annual APT Conference takes place every October, offering play therapy education to mental health professionals and graduate students from an array of disciplines.

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Association Newsmore
Play Therapy™ Magazine — Article Highlight

“Technology and the Threat to Secure Attachments: What Play Therapists Need to Consider” by Janet A. Courtney, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S and Eva Nowakowski-Sims, PhD, LCSW is a must read! The authors address the importance of secure attachment relationships and its influence on brain development and self-regulation. Moreover, the impact of technology is discussed and a list of questions to ask parents is included.

Read the full article here!

2018 Year-in-Review

The Year-In-Review video chronicles and highlights the many play therapy accomplishments achieved throughout the year! The video was shared at the Annual APT International Conference in Phoenix, AZ and featured play therapy news, training, and promotions among branches, members, and APT. Special thanks to APT’s Project Coordinator, Megan Dawes, who created the video and the play therapy community for making all of this happen in 2018!

View the video here!

Play Therapy in the Newsmore
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