A play therapy course will provide you with the knowledge, skill and competence to use play as a therapeutic medium in a range of early years and special needs settings.
Play therapy is a therapeutic approach primarily used with children to help them express their feelings, thoughts, and concerns through play, which is a natural medium of communication for them.
Recognised as an effective method to address various emotional and behavioural challenges, play therapy allows children to explore and process their experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
Play therapy has gained increasing recognition in recent years as an effective therapeutic method for children, making the discipline an attractive field of study especially if you already have a background in working with children.
If you're considering embarking on a Play Therapy course, you might be curious about the topics you’ll delve into. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the core areas that a typical Play Therapy course will cover.
Portobello Institute offers an introductory course to Therapeutic Play Skills.
1. Introduction to Play Therapy
Here, you will gain an understanding of what play therapy is and its historical background. This module will touch upon the fundamental principles and theories that underline the practice, ensuring you have a solid foundation as you delve deeper into the discipline.
2. Child Development Theories
For effective play therapy, it's crucial to understand the stages and milestones of child development. This section delves into classical and contemporary theories, helping you to interpret and engage with children’s play from a developmentally informed perspective.
3. Therapeutic Play Techniques
Students will get hands-on experience with various play techniques. From art and sand tray therapy to drama and puppetry, you’ll learn to employ a broad range of tools designed to engage children and facilitate their expression.
4. Assessment and Observation
Learn how to observe, document, and interpret children’s play. This module equips students with skills to assess a child’s needs, progress, and potential challenges, forming the basis for effective therapeutic interventions.
5. Ethical and Professional Issues
This component ensures that students are aware of the ethical considerations and professional standards relevant to play therapy. You'll learn about confidentiality, consent, and the cultural considerations to bear in mind when working with diverse populations.
6. Neuroscience and Play Therapy
Discover the connection between brain development and therapeutic play. This segment elucidates how play impacts neurological processes and how it can be leveraged to support children with trauma, ADHD, and other challenges.
7. Engaging Parents and Caregivers
A crucial aspect of play therapy involves collaboration with parents or guardians. Learn effective strategies to engage and educate caregivers, ensuring they can support the child's therapeutic journey outside the playroom.
8. Multicultural Considerations
With Ireland's increasingly diverse population, understanding cultural nuances is paramount. This unit highlights the importance of tailoring play therapy to meet the unique needs of children from varied backgrounds.
9. Research and Case Studies
Dive deep into the real-world applications of play therapy through case studies. In addition, the importance of ongoing research in refining and validating play therapy methods will be underscored.
10. Supervised Practice
Most courses will also provide students with an opportunity to engage in supervised practice, enabling them to apply learned techniques in real-world settings while receiving feedback from experienced professionals.
During a play therapy course you will learn extensively about the role of therapeutic play as a medium to help children work through difficult circumstances they may be enduring.
You will learn about the different therapeutic play theories and principles and their relevance in different situations. You will also learn the key practical skills needed to facilitate therapeutic play with children.
At the end of a play therapy course, you will be able to:
- Evaluate the key concepts, principles and practice in utilising play as a therapeutic medium in a variety of child settings.
- Appraise therapeutic play theories and their relevance in different settings.
- Demonstrate understanding and awareness of interpersonal communication including one-to-one and group dynamics.
- Explore the limits in terms of helping children develop self-control and decision-making and also in terms of personal security and ethical relationships.
- Examine the needs of specific individuals such as children who are bereaved, behavioural issues or those experiencing long-term illness or medical care in a hospital setting.
- Identify your own personal skills and competencies in terms of practice.
- Contribute as an effective member of a team in an early years, education or healthcare setting by adhering to supervisory or management structures and maintaining appropriate documentation.
- Design and implement a range of practical play techniques to include the creative expressive therapies of art, drama, music and dance activities.
- Manage the planning and preparation of group work to include the facilitation of a range of techniques for children and adolescents.
- Facilitate individual needs by ensuring equal opportunities and best practices to enable children to reach their full potential.
- Demonstrate the academic and vocational language, literacy and numeracy skills relevant to therapeutic play skills.
- Exercise substantial personal autonomy and responsibility.
In conclusion, a play therapy course offers a comprehensive study of the techniques, theories, and practices that enable professionals to effectively support children's emotional and developmental needs.
If you’re drawn to making a meaningful impact in the lives of young individuals, this field offers both the challenge and the reward of witnessing transformative growth.
Find Out More
If you are interested in gaining a qualification in play therapy, Portobello Institute offers a three-month QQI level 6 award in Therapeutic Play Skills. This introductory course will give you new skills to use in any early years, education or healthcare setting with children. It does not qualify you to work as a play therapist but offers you the chance to test it out and study further in this area.
Portobello Institute offers qualifications in early childhood from levels five to nine including Certificate in Early Learning & Care – QQI Level 5 Major Award, Advanced Certificate in Early Learning & Care – QQI Level 6 Major Award, BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care & Education, BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies and MA Early Childhood Studies.
If at any point you are interested in inclusive education, a BA (Ord) Inclusive Education Practice, BA (Hons) Inclusive Education Practice and MA Inclusive Education and SEN are also available.
If you are interested in any of our early years or inclusive education programmes, you can book a consultation call with our expert advisor, Jennifer Matteazzi, email jennifer.matteazzi@portobelloinstitute.com or call 01 892 0031.
