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Play Therapy Training Institute

The Play Therapy Training Institute at UCM is a University Approved Center for play therapy education, distinguished by the Association for Play Therapy, and offers a 1 or 2-year sequence of fully online and specialized courses specific to play therapy within a CACREP accredited Counselor Education program. The Institute’s comprehensive play therapy education provides all 150 of the play therapy education hours required for application as a Registered Play Therapist/School Based-Registered Play Therapist. Education is offered within a structured approach that matches the 3-phases of learning and integrates all of the play therapy competencies outlined by the Association for Play Therapy (APT). This specialized education in play therapy will provide you with advanced knowledge of the unique application of play therapy in the mental health treatment of children.

What is Play Therapy?

Grounded in increasing neurobiological science, play therapy is a research-informed, developmentally sensitive, experiential, and highly effective therapeutic modality for children who present with a wide range of problems and mental health concerns. Facilitated by a trained Registered Play Therapist or School Based-Registered Play Therapist, play therapy is a therapeutic process in which children are provided with a modality that allows them to metaphorically express and play out their problems and feelings. Through the therapeutic powers of play, children are able to feel heard and understood, express their internal world more fully, and discover alternative solutions and new ways of being.

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What is a Registered Play Therapist?

A Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT) is a national credential provided by the Association for Play Therapy. Licensed mental health professionals from diverse disciplines (counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, and psychiatry) may seek the RPT credential. Fully certified school-counselors may seek to become a School Based-RPT. The credential of RPT/SB-RPT distinguishes a professional as a specialist in the field of play therapy and in the mental health treatment of children. Application to become an RPT/SB-RPT requires a master’s degree or higher in a mental health discipline, state licensure or school counselor certification, 150 hours in play therapy education, and 350 hours of direct client contact in play therapy in conjunction with 35 hours of supervision from a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor.

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What sets the Play Therapy Training Institute at UCM apart from other universities?

The Play Therapy Training Institute offers 6 courses, totaling 9 graduate hours, which span across a 1 or 2-year learning sequence. These courses provide all 150 play therapy education hours and integrate all of the play therapy competencies outlined by the Association for Play Therapy. Additionally, the Supervision in Play Therapy course provides all of the required play therapy supervisor education hours needed for application to become a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, which can be taken as part of the learning sequence or as a stand-alone course for professionals already holding the RPT/SB-RPT credential. 

The Play Therapy Training Institute focuses exclusively on play therapy education and does not offer coursework opportunities for students to acquire the 350 play therapy experience hours. Play therapy experience hours under the supervision of an RPT-S must be sought independently by the student, but experience hours can be completed concurrently with the play therapy courses. The Institute provides faculty advisement each student’s unique professional plan towards credentialing as an RPT/SB-RPT, including support and guidance in obtaining supervised play therapy experience hours.

Play Therapy at UCM

What can the Play Therapy Training Institute provide?

Exceptional Play Therapy Education

  • The Play Therapy Training Institute is distinguished as a University Approved Center for Play Therapy Education #29 by the Association for Play Therapy (APT).
  • UCM’s Play Therapy Training Institute offers more play therapy specific coursework than any other University Approved Center for play therapy in the state of Missouri.
  • The Play Therapy Training Institute offers two fully-equipped play rooms with capabilities for live observation at the Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit campus.
  • UCM’s library and online databases have access to the International Journal for Play Therapy, hundreds of academic journals, full e-books on play therapy, and hours of play therapy training videos.
  • The Institute faculty are actively engaged in leadership and scholarship in the field of play therapy.
  • The Institute offers faculty advisement and support for your unique professional and educational plan in play therapy.

Student Value and Flexibility

  • High Value Cost: By taking UCM’s graduate courses in play therapy, the cost per play therapy education hour is, on average, the same or lower financial cost than accruing play therapy education hours through workshops or conferences. Graduate courses also provide added benefits of interactive learning, critical feedback, high faculty support, and the accumulation of additional graduate hours, which may be applied towards Education Specialist degrees or salary increases.
  • Student Financial Aid Plans: 1-hour courses may provide students with increased flexibility and eligibility requirements of financial aid plans.
  • 1 or 2-year Course Sequence: Students may choose a course sequence and education plan that fits their needs best. Students are able to complete all 9 graduate hours of the play therapy education program in just 1 year, or for students who prefer to complete courses at a slower pace, a 2-year sequence is also available.

What courses are offered through the Play Therapy Training Institute?

1-Year Play Therapy Education Course Sequence

Spring Semester 1

Choose 1 Course:

Introduction to Play Therapy (Spring or Summer Semester)

  • This course presents the philosophy and rationale for the use of play therapy. Child-centered play therapy is explored in depth, and the course provides instruction on the basic play therapy skills and the therapeutic process of child-centered play therapy.
  • 3-hour course, Face-to-Face Format
  • Pre-Recs: Advanced Status for students enrolled in UCM’s Counselor Education Program and instructor permission

OR

Foundations in Play Therapy (Spring Semester)

  • This course presents the philosophy and rationale for the use of play therapy. Child-centered play therapy is explored in depth, and the course provides instruction on the basic play therapy skills and the therapeutic process of child-centered play therapy.
  • 3-hour course, Online Format
  • Pre-Recs: Acceptance into Play Therapy Education Learning Sequence (for students outside of UCM’s Counselor Education Program) and Director permission
  • Special Requirements: 6 Virtual Class Meetings

 

Fall Semester

Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy

  • This course presents the various seminal theories in play therapy and their diverse application in the play therapy treatment process. Advanced issues, theory-based play therapy skills, and aspects of professional development in play therapy are explored.
  • 2-hour course (16-week semester), Online Format
  • Pre-Recs: Introduction to Play Therapy/Foundations in Play Therapy
  • Special Requirements: 3 Virtual Class Meetings
  • Enrollment Cap: 6 Students

Mental Health Issues in Children

  • This course offers an exploration of common mental health problems and diagnoses in childhood, including anxiety, mood, and behavioral disorders. The course provides a developmental framework for understanding children’s clinical problems and a holistic conceptualization of the child client in conjunction with these presenting problems. While this course does not offer play therapy education hours, the content of this course will aid play therapists in understanding the unique mental health issues of childhood that often present as foci for treatment.
  • 1-hour (2nd 8 Weeks), Online Format
  • Pre-Recs: Instructor Approval

Spring Semester 2

Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques

  • This course targets the application sandtray as a modality in play therapy for clients across the lifespan.
  • 1-hour (1st 8 Weeks), Online Format
  • Pre-Recs: Introduction to Play Therapy/Foundations in Play Therapy & Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy
  • Special Requirements: 3 Virtual Class Meetings
  • Enrollment Cap: 6 Students

 Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma

  • This course targets the role and use of assessment in play therapy, identification and considerations for childhood trauma in play therapy, and trauma-focused modalities that can be integrated with play therapy.
  • 1-hour Course (2nd 8 Weeks), Online Format
  • Pre-Recs: Introduction to Play Therapy/Foundations in Play Therapy & Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy
  • Special Requirements: 2 Virtual Class Meetings

 Supervision in Play Therapy

  • This course targets the specific and unique supervisory tasks and considerations for play therapy supervisors, and these supervisory tasks are explored from a supervision theory-based perspective. Hours in this course count towards education hours required for application as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor.
  • 1-hour (2nd 8 Weeks), Online Format
  • Pre-Recs: Introduction to Play Therapy/Foundations in Play Therapy, Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy, Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques, Play Therapy & Childhood Trauma, & Mental Health Issues in Children OR hold an RPT credential with instructor approval

Alternative 2-Year Play Therapy Education Course Sequence

Spring Semester 1

Choose 1 Course:

Introduction to Play Therapy (Spring or Summer Semester)

OR

Foundations in Play Therapy (Spring Semester)

 

Fall Semester 1

Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy

 

Spring Semester 2

Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma

AND/OR

Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques

 

Fall Semester 2

Mental Health Issues in Children

 

Spring Semester 3

Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques

OR

Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma

AND 

Supervision in Play Therapy

Who can enroll?

The Play Therapy Training Institute welcomes current students and alumni of UCM’s Counselor Education programs as well as students and alumni from other graduate mental health programs (counseling, psychology, school counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work) outside of UCM!

For more information regarding course enrollment, email the Play Therapy Training Institute Director, Dr. Corie Schoeneberg, at schoeneberg@ucmo.edu.

How can I enroll?

In order to enroll in any of the play therapy courses, you must meet the admissions criteria and apply to the Play Therapy Training Institute.

Students may apply for either 1) Preliminary Status, or 2) Full Acceptance. Preliminary Status is intended for students who intend to take only one course in the education sequence or who would like to enroll in a course prior to completing the Full Application.

To learn more about the application process, please explore the documents below and follow the step-by-step instructions to enroll today!

 

Play Therapy Training Institute Application Documents

About the Director

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Dr. Corie Schoeneberg

Director
Play Therapy Institute
LOV 1330
schoeneberg@ucmo.edu
 

Dr. Schoeneberg is a Licensed Professional Counselor (MO & VA), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and a Board-Certified Counselor. She specializes in play therapy and childhood mental health with an emphasis in trauma and attachment problems. She has provided counseling services for children and their families in the public-school system as a school counselor as well as serving clients in private practice, non-profit, and youth home settings as a clinical counselor. Dr. Schoeneberg has contributed to over 15 publications on trauma, play therapy, and creative interventions, and is the co-author of the book Preparing for Trauma Work in Clinical Mental Health: A Workbook to Enhance Self-Awareness and Promote Safe, Competent Practice.

Dr. Schoeneberg is an international and keynote presenter, and provides clinical and play therapy supervision, cross-cultural teaching and play therapy curriculum development, consultation services, and interdisciplinary trainings. With a long history in play therapy leadership and service, she is a Past President of the Missouri Association for Play Therapy, serves as the Chair for the national University Education Committee for Association for Play Therapy (APT), co-authored the first study on the professional play therapy competencies adopted by APT, and was the recipient of APT’s 2020 Emerging Leader Award.

In addition to serving UCM as Director of the Play Therapy Training Institute, Dr. Schoeneberg is the Program Director of the Child and Adolescent Counseling Postgraduate Certificate Program at the International Institute for Postgraduate Education- Ukraine, and Founding President of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Counseling Branch within the Association for Psychological Counseling and Trauma Therapy- Ukraine.

NBCC Board Certified

 

Play Therapy Training Institute

Corie Schoeneberg
Director
Lovinger 1330

Counseling Program Coordinator

Nancy Forth
Professor
Lovinger 1338
Tel: (660) 543-8093

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