COUN681 Introduction to Play Therapy
This course aims to provide students an overview of rationales and benefits of utilizing play as a modality to help children express their feelings and thoughts more freely through toys and art materials instead of traditional talk therapy. Students will learn the history and major humanistic play therapy approaches, including Child-Centered and Adlerian play therapy and the necessary play therapy skills to facilitate childrenís expression. This course will facilitate studentsí understanding of childrenís verbal, nonverbal, and play behaviors. Students will also have an opportunity to work with children in a play therapy relationship through three to four supervised play therapy sessions and peer observations. This course meets the Association for Play Therapy's instructional-hours requirement toward becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S).