The Four Stage Play Therapy Training Model
adopted by Play Therapy Ireland was originally developed by
Play Therapy UK. It has been
developed as part of the Profession Structure Model to support the
Career Development Map.
The four stages of the training model span
the entire career development map from initial entrant with no previous
experience to Certified Play Therapists who wish to progress further eg
MA in Practised Based Play Therapy, Supervisor, Trainer. (The
term 'stage' is used to avoid confusion with university and QCA models that
use levels). The stages also cater for other professionals who
wish to add therapeutic play skills to increase their clinical expertise
and widen their client base. The training model and the competency
framework provides a basis for training providers who wish to have their
programmes and courses accredited by PTI.
Short courses, workshops, seminars and
programmes (typically 1 - 3 days) at this stage are extremely important
since they:
- Provide an experiential introduction to therapeutic play skills
- Give participants some basic understanding of the history, informing theories and issues
- Enable further career development decisions to be undertaken
Other longer learning programmes at
this stage, including distance learning such as the Morita programme.
These may provide sufficient grounding in the relevant
psychological theories to enable successful participants, who have not
previously acquired this knowledge to proceed to stage 2 programmes.
These may also be viewed as foundation or conversion courses.
The material at
this stage does not normally entitle participants to practice
therapeutic play or play therapy skills with children or adults.
(Certificate stage)
Courses and programmes will normally
be at post-graduate level with sufficient theoretical, experiential
and practical content to enable successful participants to use their
skills with individual children who have slight to moderate conditions.
Training at this stage requires a minimum of 100 hours clinically supervised work with children as an essential
part of the learning process. Participants are required to work
within the PTIrl ethical System or an equivalent.
The award for those who successfully
complete a PTI accredited programme at this stage will normally be a
PTI Certificate of Therapeutic Play Skills.<
This is an essential stage for those who do not have:
- adequate training or experience in psychology/creative based therapies
- any experience of using play or creative arts therapies
(Diploma Stage)
Courses and programmes will normally
be at the post-graduate level with sufficient theoretical, experiential
and practical content to enable successful participants to use their
skills with individual and groups of children who have moderate to
severe conditions.
Training at this stage also requires a
minimum of 100 hours clinically supervised work with children as an essential
part of the learning process. Participants are required to work
within the PTIrl ethical System or an equivalent.
The award for those who successfully
complete a PTI accredited programme at this stage will normally be a
PTI Diploma in Play Therapy. They will also be certified by IBECPT as a
'Certified Play Therapist'.
This stage provides:
- A natural progression for those who have completed a stage 2 programme
- An entry stage for experienced creative arts therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists and other
mental health professionals.
(Advanced Stage)
Courses and programmes will normally be of a
post-graduate stage with sufficient theoretical, experiential and
practical content to enable successful participants to build upon their
skills as a Play Therapist or practitioner with specialist play therapy
skills.
Training at this stage may also require
further hours of clinically supervised work with children as an
essential part of the learning process. Participants are required to
work within the PTIrl ethical System or an equivalent.
A variety of programmes at this stage may be
offered for those wishing to become:
- A Clinical Supervisor of Play Therapy
- A Play Therapy Trainer
or
- develop specialist skills incorporating play therapy such as filial therapy
- or to be awarded an M.A. in Practised Based Play Therapy
This stage provides:
A natural progression for those who have
completed a stage 3 programme
An entry stage for experienced and qualified Play Therapists
