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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with PTUK and APAC

Important Information for UK and Ireland Applicants – Mandatory CPD Courses

The next Mandatory CPD dates will be released on 1st December 2025

The Mandatory courses are

  • Equality, diversity and human rights
  • Data management and GDPR for play therapists
  • Safeguarding for play therapists
  • Health, safety and risk assessment for play therapists

  1. Each participant may apply once for a course.

  2. Course transfers are not permitted. If you cannot attend your booked session, you will need to rebook for the next available cohort.

  3. If a course does not appear in the drop-down menu, it is fully booked.

We hope you enjoy our CPD programme. If you would like further details about a course, please call us on 01825 761143 or email us at contact@apac.org.uk


The power of Drama and Role play in therapy

November 26, 2025

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The power of Drama and Role play in therapy

Dates: November 26, 2025

Training Times: 18:30 - 20:30

Venue: Online

Fees: £54.00

Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member

PTUK CPD Points: 2

Presented by: Joe Jardim-Hinds

Mandatory Course: No

Synopsis:

Step into the world of role play and discover its transformative power in the playroom. This training will explore how to safely weave drama into therapy while empowering the child to lead the story. You’ll learn how role play allows children to embody characters, try out different perspectives, and process difficult emotions — all without the therapist imposing their own interpretations. Together, we’ll focus on the principles that keep role play truly therapeutic: staying within the child’s frame of reference, respecting their creative control, and holding the space for authentic self-expression. By engaging with the power of drama, you’ll gain the confidence and skills to facilitate meaningful, child-led role play that supports healing, deepens connection, and opens up new avenues of exploration in your practice.

Learning Outcomes:

- Use role play and drama while staying within the child’s frame of reference.
- Empower children to lead role play, balancing guidance with autonomy.
- Facilitate safe, child-directed role play without imposing personal biases.

Presenter Bio:

I am an Accredited Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor and Certified Filial Play Coach. I am also a singer / performer in a professional A Cappella group. I spend most of my time persuading people that A Cappella and therapy match up perfectly… Facilitating training is one of my favourite parts of being a therapist and I’m delighted to be part of a team developing and delivering CPD at PTUK. I love exploring unique topics and absorbing a variety of perspectives from a room or zoom of different intellects. Clinically, I have a particular passion working with neurodiversity. I believe expression through play is the key to unconditional acceptance of diverse brain functions in our children. Additional to therapy, I work as a supervisor for teachers and support staff at SEMH schools. I believe that staff well-being has a direct impact on their ability to support children through trauma responses and attachment needs. All staff deserve reflective practice, a celebration of their achievements and emotional support.

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Neurodiversity, autism and the play room

December 5, 2025

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Neurodiversity, autism and the play room

Dates: December 5, 2025

Training Times: 10:00 - 12:00

Venue: Online

Fees: £54.00

Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member

PTUK CPD Points: 2

Presented by: Lauren Lamberton

Mandatory Course: No

Synopsis:

Curious about how to better support neurodivergent children in the playroom? ? This inspiring online CPD is designed for everyone — from new trainees to experienced play therapists — who want to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity and enrich their practice. Together, we’ll explore the unique experiences, strengths, and challenges of neurodivergent children, and reflect on how to create truly inclusive spaces where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to express themselves authentically. Packed with fresh insights and practical reflection, this webinar will leave you feeling more confident, more connected, and more equipped to celebrate neurodiversity in your therapeutic work.

Learning Outcomes:

- Develop a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and the implications for therapeutic work
- Consider the strengths and challenges that neurodivergent children can face and reflect upon how that may impact on play therapy practice
- Understand how to meet the individual needs of neurodivergent clients and their families to promote inclusivity in play therapy practice

Presenter Bio:

Lauren is an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor and course director with APAC with over 20 years experience working with children and young people. As a qualified social worker, she has a background in working with care leavers, CAMHS, trauma and neurodiversity. She has a Masters in Social Researcher Methods, MPA in Public Administration and is currently a PhD candidate looking at digital interventions in children’s mental health.

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Endings and goodbye in play therapy

December 10, 2025

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Endings and goodbye in play therapy

Dates: December 10, 2025

Training Times: 18:30 - 20:30

Venue: Online

Fees: £54.00

Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member

PTUK CPD Points: 2

Presented by: Joe Jardim-Hinds

Mandatory Course: No

Synopsis:

Goodbyes in the playroom matter — for children and for therapists. This training dives into the emotional significance of endings in therapeutic relationships, helping you navigate farewells with confidence, clarity, and compassion. We’ll explore how children’s attachment styles and experiences of loss shape the way they experience goodbyes, and how your own emotional responses as a therapist can impact the process. You’ll learn practical strategies to create endings that are consistent, fair, and ethically grounded, while supporting a child’s sense of self, emotional processing, and narrative growth. By understanding and holding the complexities of closure, you’ll leave equipped to turn endings into moments of healing, reflection, and lasting positive impact — for both you and the children you work with.

Learning Outcomes:

- Understand how different attachment styles and experiences of loss influence a child’s response to goodbyes.
- Learn to apply the ethical principle of justice to create consistent endings in therapy.
- Recognize the long-term impact of safe, secure endings in helping children reframe past experiences and foster emotional resilience.

Presenter Bio:

I am an Accredited Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor and Certified Filial Play Coach. I am also a singer / performer in a professional A Cappella group. I spend most of my time persuading people that A Cappella and therapy match up perfectly… Facilitating training is one of my favourite parts of being a therapist and I’m delighted to be part of a team developing and delivering CPD at PTUK. I love exploring unique topics and absorbing a variety of perspectives from a room or zoom of different intellects. Clinically, I have a particular passion working with neurodiversity. I believe expression through play is the key to unconditional acceptance of diverse brain functions in our children. Additional to therapy, I work as a supervisor for teachers and support staff at SEMH schools. I believe that staff well-being has a direct impact on their ability to support children through trauma responses and attachment needs. All staff deserve reflective practice, a celebration of their achievements and emotional support

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Supporting and responding to Self Harm

December 11, 2025

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Supporting and responding to Self Harm

Dates: December 11, 2025

Training Times: 19:00 - 21:00

Venue: Online

Fees: £54.00

Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member

PTUK CPD Points: 2

Presented by: Lauren Lamberton

Mandatory Course: No

Synopsis:

Self-harm in children can be complex, misunderstood, and deeply worrying — and yet, it is increasingly encountered in the playroom. This powerful online CPD is designed for play therapists and child practitioners who want to feel confident and prepared when supporting children aged 4–14 who engage in self-injurious behaviours. Through a mix of developmental theory, attachment-informed approaches, and creative therapeutic strategies, you’ll gain practical tools to hold these children safely, ethically, and compassionately. Join us to deepen your understanding, strengthen your practice, and learn how to respond with confidence, presence, and care — making a real difference in the lives of the children you work with.

Learning Outcomes:

To understand why children may engage in self-harm — from emotional overwhelm and trauma to sensory needs and control
- Consider how to distinguish between self-harm and other risk behaviours in young children
- To understand hat self-harm might look like in non-verbal, creative, or symbolic play
- To understand how to respond therapeutically but also while managing professional requirements
- To consider how to look after yourself when working with emotionally intense material.

Presenter Bio:

Lauren is an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor and course director with APAC with over 20 years experience working with children and young people. As a qualified social worker, she has a background in working with care leavers, CAMHS, trauma and neurodiversity. She has a Masters in Social Researcher Methods, MPA in Public Administration and is currently a PhD candidate looking at digital interventions in children’s mental health.

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Beyond the Playroom: Partnering with Parents for Therapeutic Success

November 22, 2025

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Beyond the Playroom: Partnering with Parents for Therapeutic Success

Dates: November 22, 2025

Training Blocks:

Block Number: 1 Start Date: 22/11/2025 End Date: 22/11/2025

Block Number: 2 Start Date: 06/12/2025 End Date: 06/12/2025

Block Number: 3 Start Date: 13/12/2025 End Date: 13/12/2025

Block Number: 4 Start Date: 24/01/2026 End Date: 24/01/2026

Training Times: 09:30 - 11:30/11:00 - 13:00

Venue: Online

Fees: £300.00

Entry Requirements: You must be a qualified therapeutic play practitioner or certified play therapist.

PTUK CPD Points: 12

Presented by: Lauren Lamberton

Mandatory Course: No

Synopsis:

Working with parents and caregivers in play therapy can sometimes feel daunting and uncertain. This 4-week CPD course is designed to grow your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and most importantly, boost your confidence in collaborating effectively with the parents and caregivers of children in therapy. Blending key theoretical frameworks with reflective practice, the course offers practical, real-world tools to strengthen parent engagement.
Session 1: (09:30-11:30) Explore the vital role parents and caregivers play in the therapeutic process. Through systems and attachment theory, you’ll deepen your understanding of parent-child dynamics and how these shape the parent-therapist alliance. You’ll also learn how to recognise parenting styles and what they mean for your practice.
Session 2: (09:30-11:30) Build your toolkit for meaningful rapport with parents and caregivers. Through psychoeducation, reflective dialogue and empathic communication, discover how to create non-judgemental, supportive spaces where parents can grow their own communication skills and feel heard.
Session 3: (09:30-11:30) Tackle common challenges in working with parents. Learn to spot disguised compliance, manage resistance or ambivalence, and navigate complex situations such as separation, divorce, cultural considerations and trauma. This session equips you with strategies to remain confident and effective in tricky situations.
Session 4: (11:00 - 13:00) Discover playful, practical techniques to help parents strengthen their bond with their child. You’ll explore the power of co-regulation, recognise parents as change agents, and gain models for empowering parents and caregivers to actively support the therapeutic journey.

Learning Outcomes:

To deepen understanding of the role parents/ caregivers play in supporting children in therapy to improve therapeutic outcomes
To apply theoretical models to parent-therapist engagement
Build practical skills for improved communication and alliance building with parents/caregivers.
To equip therapists to more confidently navigate complex parent-therapists dynamics ethically and sensitively.
To develop a reflective, systemic, and trauma-informed approach.

Presenter Bio:

Lauren is an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor and course director with APAC with over 20 years experience working with children and young people. As a qualified social worker, she has a background in working with care leavers, CAMHS, trauma and neurodiversity. She has a Masters in Social Researcher Methods, MPA in Public Administration and is currently a PhD candidate looking at digital interventions in children’s mental health.

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Who Delivers the Training?

CPD courses are developed by Play Therapy UK (PTUK) and delivered by the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC).

Why CPD Matters

PTUK’s primary objective is to protect the public—especially children—from unsafe and ineffective therapeutic practice.
One of the ways we achieve this is through high-quality, ongoing professional development.

PTUK is committed to:

  • Promoting lifelong learning

  • Supporting practitioners to remain current and competent

  • Upholding safe, ethical, and effective practice

What You Will Learn

Our CPD courses aim to:

  • Refresh and revise essential aspects of your core training

  • Keep you up to date with current issues, research, and debates

  • Strengthen your skills and professional knowledge in key areas of practice

CPD Requirements

CPD is a mandatory requirement for all certified and accredited PTUK practitioner members.

Click here for full CPD requirements

How the Courses Are Delivered

All CPD sessions are delivered live online.

There are two types of sessions:

  • Free sessions available to PTUK members depending on the topic and eligibility

  • Paid sessions  available to members and non-members

Some courses are also open to non-members who work professionally with children in:

  • Play therapy

  • Mental health

  • Wellbeing and education sectors

Please register using the email address linked to your APAC/PTUK account to ensure correct pricing is applied.

Important Information About Live Events

No Recordings Available

Our live CPD sessions are not recorded and cannot be accessed later.
Independent recording or screen capture is strictly not permitted, in order to:

  • Maintain a safe and confidential learning space

  • Encourage active participation and interactivity

Content Use Policy

All course materials and content are protected.
You may not share, reproduce, or distribute CPD content in any format or on any platform.

Need Help?

If you have questions about eligibility, pricing, or registration, please contact the APAC team at  contact@apac.org.uk 

Next Steps

Upcoming Courses

Check and see when the next date is available for each our our Play Therapy Courses.

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Apply for a Course

If you're ready you can now apply for any of our Play Therapy Courses.

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Our Training Venues

We have a multitude of training centres across the UK & Europe.

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PTUK (Play Therapy UK) is the accreditor for all APAC courses.

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