Area therapist earns play therapy credential

Patricia Johnson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, recently earned the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential conferred by the Association for Play Therapy (APT).

To become a RPT, applicants must have earned a traditional masters or doctoral mental health degree from an institution of higher education, 150 clock hours of play therapy training, two years and 2,000 hours of clinical experience, 500 hours of supervised play therapy experience and be licensed or certified by their state boards of practice.

Play therapy is as an effective modality by which licensed mental health professionals use developmentally appropriate play therapy theories and techniques to better communicate with and help clients, especially children.

APT is a national professional society formed in 1982 to advance the field of play therapy.  It sponsors research, training, and credentialing programs to assist the professional development of its nearly 6,000 member psychologists, social workers, counselors and marriage and family therapists in more than 25 nations.

For more information, visit www.a4pt.org.