Play Therapy Courses
Each year, we offer play therapy courses and supervision for aspiring registered play therapists (RPT’s) and registered play therapist supervisors (RPTS’s).
We do not provide training for those interested in becoming a school-based registered play therapist (SB-RPT).
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is defined by the Association for Play Therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model… that uses the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development." Play therapy is an enjoyable, interactive, and highly effective way of helping children and adolescents!
EMERGE’s play therapy courses and supervision will put you well on your way to fulfilling the Association for Play Therapy’s requirements for registered play therapists and supervisors!
Instructors
Julie Dillon, EdS, LMFTS, RPTS, is the Director of EMERGE’s Post Degree Institute. Julie provides clinical MFT and play therapy supervision, and teaches both the clinical supervision course for LMFTs/LPCs as well as the play therapy courses at EMERGE. Julie integrates as many passions as possible into her supervision and teaching including yoga, energy psychology, mindfulness, sports philosophy, resiliency, diversity, soul development, spiritual science, and women’s studies. She has a private practice, River Rock Therapy, LLC, in Spartanburg, SC. In August of 2020, Julie became the Interim Program Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Converse College.
Sarah Gervais, LMFT, RPT, is EMERGE’s Continuing Education Director, a Staff Therapist, and an LMFT and RPT Supervisor Candidate. She teaches play therapy courses at EMERGE and supervises clinicians in EMERGE'S Post-Degree Institute. She also teaches graduate courses for Converse College’s Marriage and Family Therapy program and supervises graduate students in their clinical practicum. Sarah is a member of the South Carolina Association for Play Therapy and the National Association for Play Therapy. As Continuing Education Director, she believes in the importance of providing relevant, valuable, and culturally sensitive trainings to therapists in our community and surrounding areas.
Celia Deneen, LPC:
“I both enjoyed and appreciated my time in the Techniques of Play Therapy course through EMERGE. The course was designed so that we therapists could learn from the instructors and from one another. Outside busywork was kept to a minimum, and assignments were designed for real life learning and application. I came away with lots of new strategies to use with my young clients, and I am really grateful for such an encouraging experience. The fact that the experience put me well on my way to the RPT licensure at a reasonable cost is another huge plus.”
2021 Play Therapy Offerings
To register for a play therapy course, complete the form at the bottom of this page!
Play Therapy course: Techniques
April - June 2021
First class: April 24, 9am-2pm
Play Therapy course: Filial
June - Aug. 2021
2020 syllabus (coming soon)
Play Therapy course: History & Theory
Sept. - Nov. 2021
Supervision for aspiring RPT’s and aspiring RPTS’s
Year-round
If you’re a fully licensed clinician who needs to fulfill the supervision and observational requirements to become an RPT, or RPTS, we offer that here!
Interested? Send an email to ptcourse@emergeftc.org and include the following:
Your current credentials
A summary of relevant coursework you’ve completed
Approximately how many hours of supervision you’re hoping to complete
WestGate TCN dba EMERGE Family Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. WestGate TCN is an approved provider of Play Therapy Education #08-235.
Play Therapy Course Registration
Please fill out this form to register for one of our Play Therapy courses! Upon submission and review, you will receive a registration confirmation email that includes further course information.
A minimum number of registrants is required for the course to take place. You will be notified by email of course dates and details as soon as registration closes.
If you have any questions about our play therapy offerings, please send an email to ptcourse@emergeftc.org.
Learn about our supervision course.
Check out our upcoming CE events.
Go back to the main courses page.
