Awards Overview

APT promotes its values by annually presenting Awards of Excellence to those members who demonstrate such values via their outstanding achievements, contributions, and service. Nominations are accepted annually between February 1 and March 15, and presented during its Annual Conference each October.

Detailed award criteria and the application are linked below for each award.

2025 Award Recipients

APT Service Award - Maggie Parker, PhD, LPC, RPT-S

Emerging Leader Service Award - Yi-Ju Cheng, PhD, LPC, RPT

Student Research Award - Jenna Taylor, PhD, LMHCA, NCC

Research Award - Emily Horton, PhD, LPC, RPT; Madelaine Romito, MA; Tomothy J. Schoonover, PhD, LPC, LMHC, RPT; Caitlin Frawley, PhD, LMHC

Research Award - Kristi L. Perryman, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S; Samantha Robinson, PhD, ACUE; Tomothy J. Schoonover, PhD, LPC, LMHC, RPT; Julia Conroy, PhD

Award Descriptions

APT Service Award
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding organizational service to APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its chartered branches that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

Emerging Leader Service Award
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges an emerging leader, who has been fully licensed for 10 years or less, for their outstanding organizational service to APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its chartered branches, that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

President's Award
For outstanding service and dedication to APT, as well as valuable contributions to its programs, committees, and publications.

Research Award
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding published research that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.
Student Research Award
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding research by graduate or doctoral students that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding lifetime achievement that develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, or credentialed play therapists.

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients: 2005 Garry Landreth; 2006 Charles Schaefer & Louise Guerney; 2008 Diane Frey & Violet Oaklander; 2009 Eliana Gil; 2011 John Allan; 2013 Linda Homeyer; 2014 Terry Kottman; 2015 Kevin O'Connor; 2016 Sue Bratton; 2017 Phyllis Booth; 2021 David Crenshaw; 2022 Rick Gaskill; 2023 Evangeline Munns; 2024 Athena Drewes