What to Look for In a Play Therapist

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Around 75% of people who seek out mental health therapy experience benefits from it. Many who work with a counselor demonstrate better emotional and psychological outcomes. However, most sessions use talking, which makes some forms of therapy difficult for children. Play therapists provide an exception.

Play is the language of children and the modality through which they explore the world. A skilled play therapist uses play to help children navigate difficult emotions and life circumstances. But not all counselors practice play therapy, and even those who do don’t always have the same qualifications.

Here’s what you need to know:

What are the necessary credentials, certificates, and degrees?
What are the different approaches?
How well do they communicate and collaborate?

What to Look for in a Play Therapist

Credentials, Certificates, and Degrees

To become a fully licensed counselor, all therapists in the United States must complete a graduate-level counseling program. Ideally, these programs should feature accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). However, CACREP accreditation is relatively new, and some good programs are still in the process of getting it.

Following their graduation, the therapists complete several thousand hours of supervised client work. The exact number of hours varies by state, but those interested in play therapy generally start to practice their techniques at this time.

Once they’ve completed their hours, they’re eligible to sit for an exam. If they pass, they’ll receive professional licenses, such as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Therapists then advertise their licenses.

The exact title of each license varies from state to state. So, it’s best to research which specific licensing designations your state uses when choosing a play therapist.

The Play Therapy Certificate

After working with clients for more than 2 years and becoming a fully licensed therapist, counselors have the option to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). RPTs complete training in play therapy and perform supervised work with clients before receiving this credential.

However, mental health professionals don’t need an RPT certificate to perform play therapy. As long as they have received instruction from someone who practices play therapy, they can use the techniques.

Still, many parents prefer to work with counselors who have an RPT.

What Approach Does the Play Therapist Use?

Not every play therapist follows the same approach. In fact, several key play therapy theories have emerged. Here is a brief overview of a few of them:

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) – In a CCPT session, the therapist allows the child to lead the session. The child can choose which items to play with, and self-expression is encouraged.

The therapist provides unconditional positive regard and empathy. They also reflect what the child is doing to help the child process their emotions. In addition, the clinician sets limits to teach boundaries.

Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) – CBPT therapists skillfully blend the tenets of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and play therapy. Like in a CBT session for adults, children learn to identify and challenge their negative thoughts. The play techniques focus on teaching coping skills and emotional regulation.
Gestalt Play Therapy – Through structured play and activities, counselors who practice Gestalt Play Therapy help children identify their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. It draws inspiration from Gestalt Therapy, which is a theory sometimes used in adult sessions. The word “Gestalt” comes from the German word Gestaltqualität. It means “form or shape,” and Gestalt Play Therapy dedicates itself to helping clients become more aware of their different parts.

No matter which theory a play therapist uses, they will likely have many different toys and games.

How Well Does the Therapist Communicate and Collaborate?

Next, you’ll want to pay attention to how well a therapist communicates with both your child and you. In any therapy session, the quality of the therapeutic relationship serves as the greatest predictor of positive outcomes. So, you’ll want to make sure that your child genuinely connects to the counselor.

If your child expresses discomfort with a therapist, select a different professional for them to see.

Finally, a good play therapist involves you in your child’s treatment. While you might not always be in the session with your child, the counselor should let you know about any major developments. Likewise, they should seek your consent before trying out specific treatments.

Likewise, all therapists receive training on counseling people from multicultural backgrounds. So, if you have certain cultural or religious beliefs that you would like incorporated into the therapy sessions, speak to your child’s counselor about it.

Caring for Your Child’s Mental Health at Home

Seeing a play therapist can help your child overcome difficult life circumstances and hard emotions. But often, children experience their hardest emotions between sessions. So, you should learn how to care for your child’s mental health at home, too.

In some cases, medication can improve your child’s everyday life. If you’re wondering whether medication is right for your child, consult a psychiatrist.