Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy Course
Summary
- 18-month course
- Blended delivery
- 5 x 3-day or 15 day face-to-face training blocks (all dates are mandatory) plus clinical placement (100 hours)
- Course Fees are £4,390
- Course Description
- Duration
- Entry Requirements
- Locations and Dates
- Fees
- Course Structure
- Professional Award
- Academic Award
- Student Support
- How to Apply
- What's Next
An integrative approach to Play Therapy – Children and their environment
This course – Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Stage II)- is the second part of a programme leading to an MA in Practised Based Play Therapy qualification. It is accredited by the University of Chichester in the UK.
The course is experiential in nature and will be specifically rooted in non-directive Play Therapy whilst looking at working with the conscious/unconscious and non-directive/directive in response to the client’s process.
The PG Diploma in Play Therapy follows on from the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (Stage I) material and builds upon the theory and practice of humanistic psychology, particularly that of Virginia Axline (“Dibs In Search of Self”) and Carl Rogers and gestalt Play Therapy developed by Violet Oaklander.
It recognises contributions made by others in the early 1900s, such as John Bowlby, Margaret Lowenfeld, Donald Winnicott, Rachel Pinney etc It extends to a deeper understanding of the unconscious processes in relation to the child’s development based upon Freud, Jung, Graff, Fairburn Hillman, Moore and Jacobson.
It also places importance on the spiritual aspect of human development. Opportunities for many forms of creativity will enrich the contents of the course.
You will be exploring ways of integrating the child as the centre of a social system, which includes schools, families, and team of support.
The main items in the ‘Play Therapy Toolkit’ covered in the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (Stage I) are re-visited at a greater level of competence and converted into skills to be used with therapeutic groups.
You will also learn how to deal with more difficult problems and using the Play Therapy Dimensions Model (PTDM) as an assessment tool.
The Postgraduate Diploma course is designed for anyone who has successfully completed the APAC Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (Stage I) and has at least 75 hours experience of working with children or adolescents using Play Therapy.
Participants may come from any background such as:
- Counsellors
- Psychotherapists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Primary School Teachers/Assistants
- Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Paediatricians
- Nursery School Teachers/Assistants
- Social Workers
- Play School Teachers/Assistants
- Care Home Staff
- Psychiatrists
The course has been designed to:
- Enhance your career/professional skills
- Increase your satisfaction in working with children
- Give you the skills to help children develop their emotional literacy
- Give you the skills to alleviate behaviour and mental health problems
- Assist your own personal development
- Provide you with the Profession Structure Model competencies defined by PTUK to work with individuals and groups of children who have moderate to severe problems
Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy courses delivered in the UK are validated for academic standards by University of Chichester as part of the MA in Practice Based Play Therapy programme run in a collaborative partnership with APAC. The academic award is made by University of Chichester.
The part-time blended delivery course usually comprises five, three-day weekends (all dates are mandatory) of experiential taught time, spread out over a period of roughly nine months (therefore approximately 8-10 weeks apart). During this time students are also asked to complete a number of written assignments and online tasks. After the second taught weekend, students must also complete 100 clinical hours at the end of which they submit a portfolio. The total duration is around 18 months from the first taught weekend until the submission of the final portfolio (unless students request an extension on any of the assignments). **
We also offer Winter School in UK, Summer School in Ireland and an International School abroad (information tbc). The structure this programme comprises 15 consecutive days (all dates are mandatory) of experiential taught training, with students asked to complete a number of written assignments in the months following their return home. Students will also have approximately 20 months after the training to complete 100 clinical hours at the end of which they submit a portfolio (unless students request an extension on any of the assignments)**.
**Please note that extra time will be added at the end for marking the work and going through the University Exam Board in order to receive your academic award. The timeline above includes submission of your final portfolio only. You will be allowed to start practicing in about five weeks after submitting your final portfolio.
Ireland Courses Only
UCC University Exam Board meets twice a year usually in June and January.
University College Cork is responsible for the management of academic quality and the postgraduate awards for the Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy courses delivered in the Republic of Ireland.
Entry requirements UK
Students progressing to the Diploma Level must have completed at least 75 clinical hours of supervised play therapy with children prior to the course commencement date.
When submitting the application, students will be asked to attach
- their 50 hours Supervision Report
- the evidence of completion of their 75 clinical hours at Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
Please note that
- All Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills fees must be paid in full at the time of submitting the application
- All Postgraduate Certificate academic assignments (excluding Case Study) must have been submitted and marked by the Course Director. Please note that students may only apply after one month has passed since the due date of their final Certificate academic assignments.
- Written online references are also required from both the Certificate Course Director and Clinical Supervisor. The reference from the Course Director cannot be obtained until the students’ academic work has been marked.
- Enhanced DBS/ Access NI / Garda Vetting / Scottish PVG Check under the role of Trainee Play Therapist or Play Therapist – please email contact@ptukorg.com for information on the associated fees.
- A current membership with Play Therapy UK / Play Therapy International will be required upon enrolment on the course as a Trainee or a Certified Practitioner in Therapeutic Play Skills (depending on whether the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills has been completed in full).
Upcoming Courses
Several intakes per year. To submit an application, please click here.
*course directors could be subject to change, please contact contact@apac.org.uk if you have any questions.
Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy
Start Date: January 30, 2026
Location: Edinburgh
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy
Start Date: February 13, 2026
Location: Belfast
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy
Start Date: April 10, 2026
Location: Birmingham
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy
Start Date: June 30, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy
Start Date: July 26, 2026
Location: UK Summer School
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy
Start Date: October 16, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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For the Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Stage II of MA in Practice Based Play Therapy), the full cost of the course is currently £4,390.00 for University of Chichester students (UK) payable directly to APAC.
Full details on payment options can be found in the table below:
| University of Chichester diploma courses: | ||||
| Invoice due date | Paying in full | Paying 50/50 | Paying 25/25/25/25 | Invoice contents |
| One week post-application | £ 300.00 | £ 300.00 | £ 300.00 | Deposit (counts towards course fees) |
| 10 weeks before block 1 | £ 4,090.00 | £ 2,230.00 | £ 1,300.00 | Course fees plus university registration fee (£370)* |
| 6 weeks before block 1 | n/a | n/a | £ 930.00 | Course fees |
| 2 weeks before block 2 | n/a | n/a | £ 930.00 | Course fees |
| 2 weeks before block 3 | n/a | £ 1,860.00 | £ 930.00 | Course fees |
| Total | £ 4,390.00 | £ 4,390.00 | £ 4,390.00 |
*The University registration fee covers the registration with University of Chichester for this course.
We would also recommend factoring in your supervision costs with a PTUK supervisor which you will require whilst undertaking your placement. These charges would be payable directly to the Supervisor and do vary, however if you work on the basis of between £40 and £50 per hour, this should give you a reasonable estimate. You will require around 20 hours of supervision over the course of your placement. More information here
Course fees are not inclusive of accommodation or travel; onsite bed and breakfast accommodation is available at the majority of our training centres, but this must be booked directly with the venue and will incur an additional charge.
All students must be a current member of PTUK before joining this course.
- Membership to Play Therapy UK – please click here for information on grades and fees
- Enhanced DBS/ Access NI/ Garda Vetting/ Scottish PVG Check under the role of Trainee Play Therapist or Play Therapist– please email contact@ptukorg.com for information on the associated fees
Information on the costs associated with courses delivered in Republic of Ireland can be found here.
The overall purpose is to enable participants to practice safely and effectively as a Play Therapist.
Upon successful completion of the course each participant will have gained:
- The competencies to work with all children (individual and group) of with all problems where Play therapy is suitable and with children and young people with mild to severe problems
- An ability to make assessments incorporating the PTDM
- A sound understanding of the principles underlying Play Therapy and the appropriate use of techniques
- The competencies required for running Play Therapy sessions with groups of children as well as individuals
- An ability to assess children’s needs and set up a Play Therapy services unit
- An ability to make decisions taking into account the ethical issues concerning all parties involved
- Increased confidence in using Play Therapy with children aged 4-13 years/adolescents and communications with referrers, parents and guardians
- The counselling, therapeutic and practical skills to carry out effective Play Therapy
- Awareness of your own process and development
- A comprehensive theoretical knowledge of child development and child psychology
- An ability to use the taught Play Therapy skills as assessment tools
- An ability to use a full Play Therapy tool-kit
- A basic understanding of Play Therapy research issues and methods
Learning Methods
The Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy course is divided into 3 modules.
Participants will learn through working with other members of the course about the roles and responsibilities of the therapeutic relationship. There will be tutorials on theory but formal teaching and lecturing will be kept to an essential minimum.
Learning will be experiential and collaborative using pair, group work, role-play and case presentations. Homework reading and other assignments will provide new information and consolidation of material from the experiential work encountered within the weekends. Assignments will be subject of group discussions the following weekend. Group clinical supervision of this work is a primary learning method.
It is essential that participants are working with children whilst the course is in progress. 100 supervised hours need to be completed before the Diploma can be awarded. These hours are additional to those required for the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills course). The situations and problems that you encounter in real life outside the classroom together with their solutions are an essential part of the learning process.
Module Descriptions ( 4 – 6).
The sequence and content may vary slightly from course to course.
Please note that modules 1 – 3 are taught on the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Skills course (Stage I).
Module 4 – Working Therapeutically with Groups of Children – developing metaphorical play skills at an advanced level
The aim of this module is for students to utilise advanced play therapy interventions with children who have more severe problems and introduce working therapeutically with groups of children.
- Revisit the play therapy tools taught in the PG Certificate to enable the students to work with more severe problems
- Therapeutic group work.
- New theoretical concepts are introduced including the Embodiment, Projection and Role (EPR) framework and the Play Therapy Dimensions Model (PTDM).
- Particular attention is given throughout the module to the students’ abilities to work harmoniously and productively within a group as well as to run and be responsible for play therapy groups.
Module 5 – Therapeutic decision taking, based on deepening skills for working with more severe problems
The aim of this module is for students
- To be able to use and critically analyse sand play and art therapy techniques at a deeper level required for children with severe problems.
- To prepare students to act within a legal and ethical framework as advocates of children who are part of the legal process and who have disclosed abuse. This includes responding to requests from and writing reports for the Court.
Module 6 – Integrating the therapeutic tool-kit with practice and research
The aim of this module is for students
- To enable mastery of clay and masks for application within a broad range of conditions will be further enhanced.
- To enable the use of the tool-kit with a wide range of conditions.
- Extend knowledge of neurobiology and research methods.
- This includes contributing to the play therapy practice based evidence base and the consideration of new topics for research.
- Working therapeutically with groups is put into practice.
- Knowledge of neurobiology and links with psychotherapy are extended.
- Solutions are found to problems that have been encountered in setting up a play therapy service.
Before you start this course, you will need to become a member of Play Therapy UK (PTUK) in order to ensure that you are complying with the Ethical Framework when completing your clinical placement.
As you are studying with the University of Chichester, you will start this course at either the “Trainee” grade if you have not formally concluded Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (Stage I) (i.e. you are waiting to go through the Exam Board) and then change part-way through the course to “Certified Practitioner in Therapeutic Play Skills” until the end of the course.
Your current grade appears on the PTUK Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Once you complete this course and pass the University Exam Board, you will be awarded the next grade “Certified Play Therapist”.
For more detailed explanation on professional grades, please click here.
Please note that it is mandatory to maintain an active PTUK membership during your course.
PTUK Membership and PTUK accredited courses
- As per one of the PTUK’s mandate roles, PTUK accredits several Universities and Colleges overseas and other specialised training institutions based in the UK, such as Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) that offer a variety of courses in play therapy.
- It is a PTUK’s requirement that all course participants on any PTUK-accredited courses to hold a full practising PTUK / PTI membership whilst studying on an active course (e.g. “Trainee”, “Certified Practitioner in Therapeutic Play Skills”, “Certified Play Therapist”, etc). They cannot hold a “Non-Practising” grade during an active course.
- The practising grade cannot be downgraded until the course has been completed. Once the course has been completed and the full award has been received, the grade can be changed (e.g. to a “Non-Practising” if the member is not practising as soon as the course has finished). No refunds or additional fees will be issued in relation to the grade change during the membership year.
This means:
- if a member changes from a lower cost grade to a higher cost grade during their current membership year, they will not be charged an extra fee.
- If a member changes from a higher cost grade to a lower cost grade during their current membership year, they will not be eligible for a refund.
- Any member on a current PTUK-accredited course that are due to hand in their portfolio during the revalidation period must renew their membership at their current practising grade. At times, it may be more beneficial for members holding a “Trainee” grade who are due to hand in their portfolio and receive their full award before the end of the revalidation period, to renew as soon as possible at their “Trainee” grade rather than the next grade up to save some money.
Academic Award from the University of Chichester
Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Stage II) attracts 60 University credits.
Each of the stages is 60 credits, with 180 maximum upon completion of all three stages.
Please note that the graduation ceremony for the students on this course is organised by APAC, not the University of Chichester.
APAC has an excellent reputation for student satisfaction and retention. We are small enough to care but big enough to deliver.
We work with the accrediting Universities to provide a range of student services, amongst which is disability support (click here).
Complete The Application Form
In order to apply for this course, please click here when you have the following ready to upload with your application form effective from 1st August 2025:
- Students who began their Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills before 1st July 2024 must upload their 50-hour report.
- Students who began their Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills on or after 1st July 2024 must upload their 50-hour report and provide evidence of completing 75 clinical hours. This evidence can be submitted as a screenshot from Fortuna.
Next Steps
- We will acknowledge the receipt of your application form
- We will inform you whether your application has been successful or not and provide reasons why not
- We will request you to pay your deposit
- We will check your references
- We will be in touch with either a formal offer of the place for you to accept or decline or an explanation why you have not been successful
Once you accept the formal offer, your fees will become non-refundable.
After completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Stage II) with APAC, students can choose to progress to
- the final stage of the full MA programme by undertaking the MA in Practice-Based Play Therapy (Stage III)
This stage offers an opportunity to engage in in-depth research and critical reflection on a chosen area of clinical practice, contributing to the wider field of play therapy. Completion of the MA enhances academic and professional standing, supports specialist practice, and may open pathways into leadership, supervision, teaching, or further doctoral study.
For more details, please click here and go to “Entry Requirements” tab.
- Post Qualifying Certificate in Clinical Supervision
This course is designed to give an in-depth knowledge and understanding of general supervision principles applicable for clinical practitioners and how to use the creative arts to facilitate this process for those wishing to supervise other practitioners.
For more details, please click here and go to “Entry Requirements” tab.
- Post Qualifying Certificate in Filial Play Coaching
Training as a Filial Play Coach provides a big opportunity for play therapists to extend their practice to working with parents, carers and families as well as children.
For more details, please click here and go to “Entry Requirements” tab.
- Post Qualifying Certificate in Play and Creative Arts Counselling of Children and Young People
This post qualifying course is designed for Certified or Accredited Play Therapists who wish to extend their skills to use talking therapy with children and young people alongside creative arts media.
For more details, please click here and go to “Entry Requirements” tab.
