Play Therapy Training Institute

The Play Therapy Training Institute at UCM is a University Approved Center for play therapy education, distinguished by the Association for Play Therapy, and offers a 1 or 2-year sequence of fully online and specialized courses specific to play therapy within a CACREP accredited Counselor Education program. The Institute’s comprehensive play therapy education provides all 150 of the play therapy education hours required for application as a Registered Play Therapist/School Based-Registered Play Therapist. Education is offered within a structured approach that matches the 3-phases of learning and integrates all of the play therapy competencies outlined by the Association for Play Therapy (APT). This specialized education in play therapy will provide you with advanced knowledge of the unique application of play therapy in the mental health treatment of children.

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What is Play Therapy?

Grounded in increasing neurobiological science, play therapy is a research-informed, developmentally sensitive, experiential, and highly effective therapeutic modality for children who present with a wide range of problems and mental health concerns. Facilitated by a trained Registered Play Therapist or School Based-Registered Play Therapist, play therapy is a therapeutic process in which children are provided with a modality that allows them to metaphorically express and play out their problems and feelings. Through the therapeutic powers of play, children are able to feel heard and understood, express their internal world more fully, and discover alternative solutions and new ways of being.

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What is a Registered Play Therapist?

A Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT) is a national credential provided by the Association for Play Therapy. Licensed mental health professionals from diverse disciplines (counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, and psychiatry) may seek the RPT credential. Fully certified school-counselors may seek to become a School Based-RPT. The credential of RPT/SB-RPT distinguishes a professional as a specialist in the field of play therapy and in the mental health treatment of children. Application to become an RPT/SB-RPT requires a master’s degree or higher in a mental health discipline, state licensure or school counselor certification, 150 hours in play therapy education, and 350 hours of direct client contact in play therapy in conjunction with 35 hours of supervision from a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor.

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What sets the Play Therapy Training Institute at UCM apart from other universities?

The Play Therapy Training Institute offers 6 courses, totaling 9 graduate hours, which span across a 1 or 2-year learning sequence. These courses provide all 150 play therapy education hours and integrate all of the play therapy competencies outlined by the Association for Play Therapy. Additionally, the Supervision in Play Therapy course provides all of the required play therapy supervisor education hours needed for application to become a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, which can be taken as part of the learning sequence or as a stand-alone course for professionals already holding the RPT/SB-RPT credential.

The Play Therapy Training Institute focuses exclusively on play therapy education and does not offer coursework opportunities for students to acquire the 350 play therapy experience hours. Play therapy experience hours under the supervision of an RPT-S must be sought independently by the student, but experience hours can be completed concurrently with the play therapy courses. The Institute provides faculty advisement each student’s unique professional plan towards credentialing as an RPT/SB-RPT, including support and guidance in obtaining supervised play therapy experience hours.

Play Therapy at UCM

What can the Play Therapy Training Institute provide?

Exceptional Play Therapy Education

The Play Therapy Training Institute is distinguished as a University Approved Center for Play Therapy Education #29 by the Association for Play Therapy (APT).
UCM’s Play Therapy Training Institute offers more play therapy specific coursework than any other University Approved Center for play therapy in the state of Missouri.
The Play Therapy Training Institute offers two fully-equipped play rooms with capabilities for live observation at the Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit campus.
UCM’s library and online databases have access to the International Journal for Play Therapy, hundreds of academic journals, full e-books on play therapy, and hours of play therapy training videos.
The Institute faculty are actively engaged in leadership and scholarship in the field of play therapy.
The Institute offers faculty advisement and support for your unique professional and educational plan in play therapy.

Student Value and Flexibility

High Value Cost: By taking UCM’s graduate courses in play therapy, the cost per play therapy education hour is, on average, the same or lower financial cost than accruing play therapy education hours through workshops or conferences. Graduate courses also provide added benefits of interactive learning, critical feedback, high faculty support, and the accumulation of additional graduate hours, which may be applied towards Education Specialist degrees or salary increases.
Student Financial Aid Plans: 1-hour courses may provide students with increased flexibility and eligibility requirements of financial aid plans.
1 or 2-year Course Sequence: Students may choose a course sequence and education plan that fits their needs best. Students are able to complete all 9 graduate hours of the play therapy education program in just 1 year, or for students who prefer to complete courses at a slower pace, a 2-year sequence is also available.

Course Sequence

1-Year Play Therapy Education Course Sequence

1-Year Track for UCM MS/EdS Counseling Students (seeking a full graduate degree)

Spring/Summer:		COUN 5520 Introduction to Play Therapy (3-hour)
Fall:		COUN 6930 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy (2-hour) COUN 6323* Mental Health Issues in Children (1-hour)
Spring:		COUN 6940 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques (1-hour) COUN 6590 Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma (1-hour)
Summer:		COUN 6561** Supervision in Play Therapy (1-hour)

1-Year Track for UCM Non-Degree Seeking Students (seeking only Play Therapy courses)

Fall:		COUN 5521 Foundations in Play Therapy (3-hour) COUN 6323* Mental Health Issues in Children (1-hour)
Spring:		COUN 6930 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy (2-hour) COUN 6590 Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma (1-hour)
Summer:		COUN 6940 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques (1-hour) COUN 6561** Supervision in Play Therapy (1-hour)

*COUN 6323 Mental Health Issues in Children is not a play therapy course and does not count towards play therapy education hours. This course is helpful for case conceptualization of the presenting problems commonly occurring in play therapy, which is why it is considered part of the education sequence and is encouraged but not required.

**COUN 6561 Supervision in Play Therapy goes beyond the required 150 hours of play therapy instruction required for credentialing as a Registered Play Therapist if taken within the full Play Therapy Training Institute play therapy education sequence. The instruction hours of this course are designed to be applied for credentialing as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor.

2-Year Play Therapy Education Course Sequence

2-Year Track for UCM MS/EdS Counseling Students (seeking a full graduate degree)

Spring/Summer, Year 1:		COUN 5520 Introduction to Play Therapy (3-hour)
Fall, Year 1:		COUN 6930 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy (2-hour)
Spring, Year 1:		COUN 6940 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques (1-hour)
Fall, Year 2:		COUN 6323* Mental Health Issues in Children (1-hour)
Spring, Year 2:		COUN 6590 Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma (1-hour)
Summer, Year 2:		COUN 6561** Supervision in Play Therapy (1-hour)

2-Year Track for UCM Non-Degree Seeking Students (seeking only Play Therapy courses)

Fall, Year 1:		COUN 5521 Foundations in Play Therapy (3-hour)
Spring, Year 1:		COUN 6930 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy (2-hour)
Summer, Year 1:		COUN 6940 Advanced Practicum in Play Therapy Techniques (1-hour)
Fall, Year 2:		COUN 6323* Mental Health Issues in Children (1-hour)
Spring, Year 2:		COUN 6590 Play Therapy and Childhood Trauma (1-hour)
Summer, Year 2:		COUN 6561** Supervision in Play Therapy (1-hour)

Admissions Criteria

The Play Therapy Training Institute welcomes current students and alumni of UCM’s Counselor Education programs as well as students and alumni from other graduate mental health programs (counseling, psychology, school counseling, marriage and family therapy, and social work) outside of UCM!For more information regarding course enrollment, email the Play Therapy Training Institute Director, Dr. Corie Schoeneberg, at schoeneberg@ucmo.edu.

Admissions Criteria

(applicants must meet one of the criteria below):

Currently enrolled in a master’s or higher mental health discipline degree program (clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or psychiatry) with successful completion of graduate-level coursework in child development, theories of personality, principles of psychotherapy, multicultural counseling, and ethics.

- OR -

Hold a master’s or higher degree from a mental health discipline program (clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or psychiatry) with successful completion of graduate-level coursework in child development, theories of personality, principles of psychotherapy, multicultural counseling, and ethics.

Submit one of the following application forms prior to enrollment:

Full Application Packet for the Play Therapy Education Sequence

If you intend to take more than one course in the sequence
If you intend to take the Advanced Practicum course
- Acceptance of application provides ‘Full Acceptance’ status

Preliminary Application Form for the Play Therapy Education Sequence

If you intend to take only one course in the sequence (Advanced Practicum courses require Full Application)
If you are in the process of completing the Full Application packet and would like to request instructor approval to enroll in a course prior to receiving ‘Full Acceptance’ status
- Acceptance of application provides ‘Preliminary Acceptance’ status

Background Checks are required

Click here to download instructions on completing a background check with the Family Care Safety Registry:

Background Check Instructions

About the Director

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Dr. Corie Schoeneberg

Director
Play Therapy Institute
LOV 2250
schoeneberg@ucmo.edu

Corie Schoeneberg, PhD is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and a Board-Certified Counselor. Dr. Schoeneberg specializes in play therapy and childhood mental health with an emphasis in trauma and attachment problems. She has provided counseling services for children and their families in the public school system as a school counselor and has served clients within private practice, non-profit, and youth home settings as a clinical counselor. Dr. Schoeneberg has contributed to over 20 publications on trauma, play therapy, and creative interventions, and she is the co-author of the book Preparing for trauma work in clinical mental health: A workbook to enhance self-awareness and promote safe, competent practice. Dr. Schoeneberg is an international and keynote presenter, and she provides clinical and play therapy supervision, cross-cultural teaching and play therapy curriculum development, consultation services, and interdisciplinary trainings. Dr. Schoeneberg is the Founding Director of the Play Therapy Training Institute at the University of Central Missouri where she currently teaches play therapy coursework and other classes in UCM’s CACREP-accredited counseling programs.

With a long history in play therapy leadership and service, Dr. Schoeneberg is a Past President of the Missouri Association for Play Therapy, served as the Chair for the national University Education Committee for the Association for Play Therapy (APT) from 2018-2023, co-authored the first study on the professional play therapy competencies adopted by APT, and was the recipient of APT’s 2020 Emerging Leader Award. In addition to her work as the Director of the Play Therapy Training Institute at the University of Central Missouri, Dr. Schoeneberg is engaged in international work as the Program Founding Director of the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents Postgraduate Certificate Program at the International Institute for Postgraduate Education- Ukraine, and she is also the Founding President of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Counseling Branch within the Association for Psychological Counseling and Trauma Therapy- Ukraine. Dr. Schoeneberg also serves as an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Liberty University.

NBCC Board Certified