BAPT Play Therapy Training
There can be a lot of confusion about similar titles you may hear when looking for help for a child. It can be hard for the untrained eye to know the difference between a 'play specialist' and a 'therapeutic play worker'. Additionally, there are many different training establishments that may offer 'Play Therapy' type courses. These can further diminish the public's expectations of Play Therapy if they view it as something that can be obtained quite cheaply and competed quickly from an online voucher site or something you can do with very little experience.
I chose to train with the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) due to their high standard of clinical excellence. I am now entitled to use the trademarked title ‘BAPT Registered Play Therapist®’ . I thought I would take the time to explain BAPT Play Therapy training to you.
The British Association of Play Therapists were originally founded, under a different name, by a group of well respected practitioners in 1992. These practitioners introduced and developed Play Therapy within Britain. BAPT are accredited by The Professional Standards Authority. This means that anyone looking for a Play Therapist will have the added protection of being able to research via a register that has vigorous checks and approval processes. Training as a BAPT Play Therapist takes 2-3 years dependent on whether the applicant is studying part time or full time.
BAPT training is at university post graduate level. This means that BAPT therapists will have almost always have a core profession gained by previous professional study at university level. Examples of core professions include social work, psychology, nursing, teaching and occupational therapy. Having an original core profession in addition to BAPT Play Therapy means that there is often an extra layer of professional accountability as they are eligible for memberships of other governing bodies, such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or as in my case, Social Work England (SWE).
To be accepted onto a BAPT post graduate Play Therapy training course, applicants must have at least 5 years' experience with working with children and families with complex presentations and emotional distress; must demonstrate maturity and have relevant life experience; have good physical and mental health and; have a clear Disclosure and Barring Services Check. Applicants must also agree to undertake their own personal therapy during their training in order to develop their self-awareness. This will support their future insight and emotional resilience as a Play Therapist.
BAPT Play Therapy training includes:
Significant hours of child observation, after which psychological theory and professional reflection must be applied
Psychological tuition relating to human emotional growth and development, various schools of psychological thought, attachment and trauma and specific theories relating to play
Significant hours of play therapy clinical sessions which are recorded with a voice recorder and video in order to provide verbatim written evidence for analysis and supervision
Enhancement of reflective practice skills to incorporate Play therapy alongside core profession
Research skills
Once qualified, a BAPT Registered Play Therapist® must commit to:
Regular clinical supervision
Continued professional development
Adherence to the Ethical Principles and Code of Good Practice
Professional Indemnity Insurance if practising privately
Continued regular and clear Disclosure and Barring Checks
Continued Personal Self-Development
A qualified BAPT Registered Play Therapist® is entitled to be listed on the BAPT Register, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), yet another standard of a gold standard professional status.
If you would like further information about BAPT Play Therapy, would like to check the BAPT register or would like to learn more about becoming a Play Therapist, please visit www.bapt.info or click this link to be redirected to each of BAPT's social media pages: https://linktr.ee/BritishPlayTherapy .
