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Resources for School Counselors

Play Therapy in the School Setting

This page was created to provide information on the importance of school counselors, attainment of the School Based-Registered Play TherapistTM (SB-RPTTM) credential, and how Registered Play Therapist-SupervisorsTM (RPT-STM) can support future School Based-Registered Play TherapistsTM (SB-RPTTM) by providing supervision.

 

Training of School Counselors

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) website provides resources to help play therapy supervisors understand the educational background of professional school counselors as SB-RPTs/candidates. Their State Requirement & Programs page includes information on state certification standards, continuing education requirements, counseling degree programs, and more. This context is helpful in understanding the supervisory relationship.

   

Ethical Responsibilities of School Counselors

Play therapy supervisors should be aware of the professional and ethical responsibilities of school counselors under their supervision for the SB-RPT credential. The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors provides support in the ethical decision-making process, and information on the roles and responsibilities of school counselors as supervisors of interns.

 

The Structure of Comprehensive School Counseling Programs

School counselors do not only provide individual counseling, rather they manage and implement programs that consist of various types of services. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has developed the ASCA National Model, 4th Edition, that guides school counselors in the planning of these programs. It is vital that play therapy supervisors and community stakeholders are aware of the structure that school counselors use via the ASCA National Model. That structure will influence the implementation of play counseling services. Visit ASCA's National Model page for resources to assist school counselors in developing and implementing a comprehensive school counseling program.

 

School Counselor Training & Supervision

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Professions (CACREP) is a primary accreditation body for counseling that includes school counseling as a counseling specialty area and standards specific to the discipline.

One of the noted concerns from APT is the lack of post-graduate supervision requirement for school counselors. School counselors can independently practice upon graduation, hire, and certification/licensure with their state education board. CACREP identifies supervision requirements for their specialty areas, including school counseling. View the CACREP 2024 Draft - Supervisor Qualifications and Expectations for more information. 

 

Additional Readings

If you're interested in learning more about school based play therapy and school counseling, we encourage you to view this list of suggested readings. For questions specific to the School Based - Registered Play TherapistTM credential, view the SB-RPTTM Guide or contact Megan Curtis, Clinical Coordinator at mcurtis@a4pt.org or call (559) 298-3400 x 304.

To learn more about play and activities to incorporate as a school counselor with elementary, middle school, and high school students, view A Collection of Play Interventions for School Counselors. These interventions were compiled by APT members Ann L. Tilman, EdD , SB-RPT, Mary Anne Peabody, EdD , LCSW, RPT-S, and Carly Lott, MA, NCC, NCSC. Activities range from individual, small group, and classroom counseling lesson. Each activity is aligned with the American School Counselor Association’s domains, mindsets and behaviors, and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework.

  Disclaimer: Resources for School Counselors is a section for school counselors, professionals seeking to support school counselors and their attainment of the SB-RPTTM credential, and intended for informational and educational purposes only. The resources on this site should not be construed as advice or used to replace information specific to your state and/or educational institution. Resources for School Counselors disclaims any liability for the use of the information provided on Resources for School Counselors. If you have specific concerns about your child or children, please consult a trained medical or mental health professional before making any decision regarding treatment, therapy or educational plan of your child (or a child you are working with).All content on the Resources for School Counselors page is used at the discretion of the reader and APT is not responsible for  unintentional erroneous information. Resources for School Counselors links to many sites. APT does not control the information on those sites or make any representations as to their accuracy.  APT reserves the right to make changes to this web page at any time without notice. All terms of the APT Privacy Policy and Disclaimers apply to this web page.