FAQ

PTI is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the practice of play and creative arts therapies worldwide. It focuses on promoting safe, effective, and ethical therapeutic interventions for children to support their emotional, social, and mental well-being through play-based approaches.

PTI aims to ensure that children across the globe have access to high-quality play therapy and creative arts therapies. It supports practitioners by setting international standards, accrediting training programs, and fostering research to enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic play.

Play therapy is primarily designed for children aged 3 to 12, but it can also benefit adolescents and, in some cases, adults. It helps address emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges, such as anxiety, trauma, or difficulties with social skills.

PTI promotes a range of therapeutic approaches, including play therapy, creative arts therapies (e.g., art, music, drama), and filial play coaching, which involves parents or caregivers in the therapeutic process to strengthen family bonds.

PTI establishes international standards for training, practice, and supervision. It collaborates with affiliated organizations to accredit training programs and requires practitioners to meet competency-based criteria, including supervised clinical hours and ongoing professional development.

To become a certified play therapist, individuals typically need a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g., in psychology, education, or social work), significant work experience with children, and completion of a PTI-accredited postgraduate training program, which includes supervised clinical practice.

PTI itself does not directly deliver training but accredits programs offered by affiliated organizations, such as the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC). These programs are available in various countries and are designed to meet PTI’s rigorous standards.

Yes, PTI provides a framework of international standards that can be applied in countries where play therapy is not yet regulated. This ensures practitioners maintain consistent, safe, and effective practices globally.

Supervision is a critical component of PTI’s standards. Certified play therapists are required to engage in regular clinical supervision to reflect on their practice, ensure ethical standards, and enhance their therapeutic skills. Supervision frequency is typically one hour for every six hours of client work or every two weeks.

PTI encourages research to build an evidence base for play therapy’s effectiveness. It promotes both quantitative and qualitative studies to validate therapeutic outcomes and inform best practices, ensuring that interventions are grounded in clinical evidence.

Yes, PTI supports filial play therapy, where parents or caregivers are trained to engage in therapeutic play with children under professional guidance. This approach strengthens family relationships and supports children’s emotional growth.

PTI maintains a register of certified practitioners through its affiliated organizations, such as Play Therapy UK (PTUK). Individuals can contact PTI or its affiliates to locate qualified therapists in their region.

Play therapy, as supported by PTI, involves structured interventions by trained therapists to address specific emotional or behavioral issues. Therapeutic play is a broader term, encompassing less intensive play-based activities that may be used by practitioners with foundational training to support children’s well-being.

Play therapy is recognized as a distinct profession in some countries, such as the UK, where PTI’s standards have been acknowledged by regulatory bodies. In other regions, PTI works to establish play therapy as a credible profession by promoting consistent standards and training.

You can reach out to PTI through its official website or by contacting affiliated organizations like Play Therapy UK (PTUK) or the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC). They provide resources, guidance, and contact details for further inquiries.