BEST Online Play Therapy Training Websites of 2024
Play Therapy Toolbox is a growing community of play therapists sharing knowledge & wisdom from the vast tapestry of modalities within the play therapy community. Because of that, we believe there are many paths to obtaining the knowledge and tools to foster healing in today’s children.
Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best online play therapy training websites for 2024. From free workshops to continuing education courses, you’ll find everything you need to add to your toolbox of resources.
Play Therapy Toolbox
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $19.97 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
Play Therapy Toolbox exists to support, train & equip the next generation of play therapists and play therapy supervisors.
Popular courses include:
How to Use a Sand Tray as a Regulation Tool in Play Therapy
In this engaging workshop the play therapist will learn the 5 toys needed to turn a sand tray into a regulation tool, gain an understanding of how a child can use the sand and the activation in their nervous system as well as be exposed to various ways to bring regulation into the sand tray to help deepen the child’s experience.
Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy
In this thought-provoking yet practical workshop, participants will explore what it really takes to partner with parents. They will have the opportunity to understand how to have a successful intake session, as we ll as how to communicate to parents so that they understand what play therapy is and how it works.
Getting in the Game!
Have you ever wondered how games can be used to aid processing within a play therapy context for a child? Have you ever felt asked yourself if there is anything transformative taking place through playing UNO?
If so, this highly experiential workshop on facilitating games in Play Therapy is for you!. This workshop will explore game play in the play therapy process and will be guided by the theoretical underpinnings in Gestalt framework.
APT International Journal of Play Therapy
- Price: $10 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
The mission of APT is to promote the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists. Get access to continuing education classes, as well as play therapy books, audio programs, annual conference workshops and more.
Play Strong Institute
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $499 (for up to 100 CE hours + up to 50 elective CE hours)
- Offers CE credits: Yes
The Child-Centered Play Therapy Certificate Program is designed for graduate students and mental health professionals at all skill levels and can be used toward completion of up to 150 hours of Play Therapy education required to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).
The Play Therapy Training Institute
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $50 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
The Play Therapy Training Institute offers a variety of online Play Therapy courses to psychologists, play therapists, counselors, social workers, nurses and all other mental health professionals. Courses like Digital Play Therapy and Play Therapy – Animal Crossing Edition use tech tools and video games to speak the language of today’s children.
Old Dominion University
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $339 (2-day workshop via Zoom)
- Offers CE credits: Yes (16 contact CE’s and 1 non-contact CE)
This program provides professionals and students the opportunity to learn more about play therapy or to receive the training necessary to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Learn the history of Play Therapy and gain access to up to date skills and methods of Play Therapy.
Capella University
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $12,375 (for Graduate Certificate Program)
- Offers CE credits: No
With Capella’s online Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, you’ll explore the theory, methodology, and applications of play therapy. You’ll learn the basics of play therapy, the best practices for individual and group play therapy, and how to embrace diversity in these ever changing times.
Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $1,850 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
The continuing education classes at Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute are for therapists with a Masters degree in a mental health field who are interested in becoming registered/certified as a play therapist.
Start from the beginning with the Foundations of Play Therapy all the way to more advanced learning, such as the Treatment of Trauma Using Play Therapy, as well as Play Therapy for Children of Separation & Divorce.
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $50 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
SPTI’s courses are open to therapists and teachers, as well as parents interested in learning more about play therapy.
Courses include: Synergetic Play Therapy Certification Program, Eating Challenges in Play Therapy, and Using Games in Play Therapy.
Virginia Commonwealth University
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $249 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
Explore and learn how to apply the therapeutic power of play to communicate with, and treat clients. According to the course website, “each VCU Play Therapy workshop is held over two days for a total of 16 continuing education hours.”
Workshops include: Principles of Play Therapy, Games and Activities in Play Therapy, and Play Therapy & Expressive Arts.
Center for Child Counseling
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $10 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
Center for Child Counseling’s WeLEARNplay program offers a selection of both FREE and paid online courses.
Continuing Education courses include Trauma and Play Therapy, Play Therapy with Families, and ACEs: Trauma to Resilience.
Play Therapy Online Training Academy
- APT Approved Provider
- Price: $87 and up
- Offers CE credits: Yes
The Play Therapy Online Training Academy offers online training in Child Centered Play Therapy, a heartful and evidence based form of counselling and psychotherapy for children 2 and up. Their Play Therapy course workshops include subjects that tackle “The Healing World of Child Centered Play Therapy”, “Play Therapy Skills & Practices”, and “Play Therapy Special Topics”.
