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 15 and March 15, and presented during its Annual Conference each October.

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

2023 Award Recipients

APT Service Award - Kadesha Adelakun, LCSW, RPT-S, PMH-C

Emerging Leader Service Award - Parie Faridnia, PsyD, RPT-S

Student Research Award - Timothy Schoonover, PhD, LPC, RPT

President's Award - Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S

Lifetime Achievement Award - Evangeline Munns, PhD, CPscyh, RPT-S (Retired)

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. Review the Service Award criteria, then submit a Service Award nomination.

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. Review the Emerging Leader Service Award criteria, then submit an Emerging Leader Service Award nomination.

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. Review the Research Award criteria, then submit a Research Award nomination.

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. Review the Student Research Award criteria, then submit a Student Research Award nomination.

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. Review the Lifetime Achievement Award criteria, then submit a Lifetime Achievement Award nomination.

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