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Four Stage Training Model

The PTI Four Stage Training Model has been developed as part of the Profession Structure Model to support the Career Development Map. They are also mapped to United Kingdom University QAA and vocational NVQ levels. It has been adopted by PTISA.

Four Stages

The four stages of the training model span the entire career development map from initial entrant with no previous experience to certified Play Therapists who wish to progress further eg MA in Practised Based Play Therapy, Filial Play Coach, Supervisor, Trainer. (We use the term 'stage' to avoid confusion with the university and QCA models that use ‘levels’). The stages also cater for other professionals who wish to add therapeutic play skills to increase their clinical expertise and widen their client base. The training model and the competency framework provides a basis for training providers who wish to have their programmes and courses accredited by PTI.

1st Stage     |     2nd Stage     |     3rd Stage     |     4th Stage

Career Development Pathways

1st Stage

Short courses, workshops, seminars and programmes (typically 1 - 3 days) at this stage are extremely important since they:

  • Provide an experiential introduction to therapeutic play skills
  • Give participants some basic understanding of the history, informing theories and issues
  • Enable further career development decisions to be undertaken

  • Other longer learning programmes at this stage, including distance learning such as the Morita programme. These may provide sufficient grounding in the relevant psychological theories to enable successful participants, who have not previously acquired this knowledge to proceed to stage 2 programmes. These may viewed as foundation or conversion courses.

    The material at this stage does not normally entitle participants to practice therapeutic play or play therapy skills with children or adults.

    2nd Stage
    (Certificate stage)

    Courses and programmes will normally have a sufficient theoretical, experiential and practical content to enable successful participants to use their skills with individual children who have slight to moderate conditions.

    Training at this stage requires a minimum of 100 hours clinically supervised work with children as an essential part of the learning process. Participants are required to work within the
    PTI Ethical System.

    The award for those who successfully complete a PTI accredited programme at this stage will normally be a PTI Certificate of Therapeutic Play.

    3rd Stage
    (Diploma Stage)

    Courses and programmes will normally have a sufficient theoretical, experiential and practical content to enable successful participants to use their skills with individual and groups of children who have moderate to severe conditions.

    Training at this stage also requires a minimum of 100 hours clinically supervised work with children as an essential part of the learning process. Participants are required to work within the PTI Ethical System.

    The award for those who successfully complete a PTI accredited programme at this stage will normally be a PTI Diploma in Play Therapy. They will also be certified by IBECPT as a 'Certified Play Therapist' in countries outside Canada and the United States.

    This stage provides a natural progression for those who have completed a stage 2 programme

    4th Stage
    (Advanced Stage)

    Courses and programmes will normally have a sufficient theoretical, experiential and practical content to enable successful participants to build upon their skills as a Play Therapist or practitioner with specialist play therapy skills.

    Training at this stage may also require further hours of clinically supervised work with children as an essential part of the learning process. Participants are required to work within the PTI Ethical System.

    A variety of programmes at this stage may be offered for those wishing to become:

    A Certified Filial Play Coach/Mentor
    A Clinical Supervisor of Play Therapy
    A Play Therapy Trainer

    or to be awarded an M.A. in Practised Based Play Therapy

    This stage provides:

  • A natural progression for those who have completed a stage 3 programme
  • An entry stage for experienced and qualified Play Therapists


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