 The Institute for Play Therapy at Texas State University is an approved Center for Play Therapy by the Association for Play Therapy (APT). Our goal is to offer quality play therapy training and supervision for students and area professionals, and to encourage play therapy research and publications. |
| | The Institute currently offers four graduate level university courses through the Professional Counseling Program in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, School Psychology at Texas State University. Students enrolled in the Professional Counseling Program may take all four courses thus earning a total of 252.5 clock hours of education in Play Therapy. These hours can be used toward obtaining the certification as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or renewal of this registration with APT. |
Courses offered are:
COUN 5689 (3-3) The focus will be on an overview of techniques used in counseling interventions with children and adolescents in both school and community settings. Other issues discussed will include working with parents and ethical and legal issues. Child and adolescent psychopathology will also be reviewed. Sample Syllabi
(3-0) This course provides the philosophical basis for play therapy, including a review of play therapy's history, various theoretical applications, including a review of play therapy’s history, various theoretical applications, play therapy techniques, therapeutic stages, ethical issues, and application to a variety of populations and diagnostic categories. As an intermediate methods class, students must demonstrate a minimum skill level. Graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis. Sample Syllabi
(3-0) This course teaches filial therapy, an empirically research based parent training program, to advanced play therapy students. The Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) protocol, a 10-session model, is the focus of this course. Leading a CPRT group is an integral course requirement. Sample Syllabi
(3-0) This course provides students with the philosophical basis for sandtray therapy as a therapeutic intervention for children and families, including a review of its history, applications, techniques, stages, and ethical issues. Didactic and experiential methods are used. Prerequisite: COUN 5369 or permission of instructor. Sample Syllabi
Supervised Clinical Experience
Students may also earn direct client contact hours while seeing play therapy clients in Clinical Practicum (COUN 5689) and in the Filial Therapy Course.
Post Graduate Experiences
Mental Health Professionals who are not currently enrolled in the Professional Counseling Program but have completed a Master's in Counseling or a related mental health area are able to enroll at Texas State University as a non-degree seeking student and then are eligible to take two courses. COUN 5369 is a required pre-requisite and must be taken before COUN 5373 Intermediate Methods in Play Therapy.
| The Institute has a highly qualified faculty: | |
| | Clinical Servives The Assessment and Counseling Clinic at Texas State is a state-of-the-art clinic that includes play therapy rooms and sandtray therapy rooms, digital recording capability, and live supervision. The Assessment and Counseling Clinic at Texas State University also serves children and families in play therapy. If you are interested in your child receiving play therapy services please contact the clinic to set up an appointment, 512-245-8349. |
For more detailed information, please contact:
Mary Bennett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S
Institute Director
512-245-9071
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