Advanced Professional Certificate in Play Therapy

Lesley University's Advanced Professional Certificate in Play Therapy provides focused professional training in therapeutic play modalities for practitioners seeking post-graduate training.

Program Overview

The 12 credit Advanced Professional Certificate in Play Therapy is designed for post Masters professionals in human services, psychology, special education, expressive therapies, social work, nursing and other relevant fields and for graduate students in mental health counseling programs, expressive therapy programs or their equivalents, who seek additional treatment orientated skills. The certificate program also provides academic curricula for members of the National Play Therapy Association to become Registered Play Therapists and Registered Supervisors.

Lesley University has been one of a small number of recognized play therapy training sites in the country. Play therapy is a therapeutic intervention that encourages children, adults and the elderly to work through unresolved developmental and psychosocial challenges using play as a medium of expression. A theoretical understanding of lifespan development and psychopathology; training in a variety of individual, group and family play therapies; and supervised field experience form the foundation for clinical play therapy practice.

Curriculum
Students enrolled in the certificate program may be taking courses with students pursuing Master's degree programs within the University. Students in the certificate program are not eligible to take some of the courses that are limited to degree candidates.

Location
Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (directions and campus map)

Admissions
Current Lesley University students pursuing Master's degrees in Counseling Psychology or Expressive Therapies need to be accepted into the certificate program. Admissions requirements for all students include an interview by a Division Director, a letter of recommendation from a current clinical employment site, a 1-2 page personal statement describing the relevance of this certificate to your professional goals, and submission of a transcript demonstrating at least a 3.0 graduate GPA and appropriate clinical training. Normally applicants meet the educational requirements for the Mental Health Counselor License or equivalent.

Cost
The 2007-2008 program tuition is $735 per credit

National Play Therapy Association requirements
While the Play Therapy Certificate meets the academic requirements for certification by the National Play Therapy Association, Lesley University does not assume any responsibility for students who wish to apply for national certification. Students will themselves have to contact the association and begin the application process. In addition, the program does not provide participants with clinical opportunities or clinical supervision, which will need to be fulfilled outside of Lesley, typically in the participant's own clinical employment setting.

Summary of Requirements for National Play Therapy Association Certification and Supervisor Certification:

• A clinical mental health graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Complete three or four courses in Play Therapy
• Complete 3 credits of a class on developing supervision skills (for those who wish to become certified play therapy supervisors*)

The National Association of Play Therapy requires 150 clock hours in graduate play therapy education. The Association credits 1.5 hours for every classroom hour. Post-master's candidates would be eligible to take courses on supervision at Lesley University that would help them with eligibility for becoming certified play therapy supervisors through the National Association of Play Therapy.

The National Association of Play Therapy requires 350-500 hours of play therapy experience with 35-50 hours of supervision. Counseling Psychology and Expressive Therapies students pursuing Master's degrees at Lesley University who are interested in Play Therapy certification can document supervised play therapy hours in their internships. However, Lesley University will not provide the clinical setting or the play therapy supervision for post-masters students. It will be the responsibility of the post-masters student to obtain a clinical site and appropriate supervision.

For more information or to apply, contact: