Understanding the Play Therapy Landscape: Expertise Matters

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Choosing a Therapist

What's the Difference Between a Registered Play Therapist (RPT™) and a Therapist Who Uses Play?

When searching for a therapist for your child, you may see different titles and credentials. Understanding the distinction between a therapist who simply uses play and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT™) is important. Both can be wonderful, qualified professionals, but their level of specialized expertise is different.

Think of it like the difference between a family doctor and a heart specialist (a cardiologist). Your family doctor is highly skilled and can treat a wide range of issues, including some heart-related ones. However, a cardiologist has undergone extensive, specialized training and supervision focused solely on the heart. For complex heart conditions, you would want the specialist.

Let's apply this to therapy for your child.

A Therapist Who Uses Play

This is a licensed mental health professional (like a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) who incorporates toys, games, and art into their sessions.

  • Approach: They use play-based activities as tools or techniques to help build rapport with a child, make them feel comfortable, or illustrate a concept.

  • Training: They may have attended workshops or received some training in using play, but they have not completed the rigorous, multi-year process required for the RPT credential.

  • Good For: This approach can be very effective for children who need help with general skill-building, communication, or who feel more comfortable with a less formal, talk-based therapy.

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A Registered Play Therapist (RPT™)

A Registered Play Therapist is a licensed mental health professional who has also completed extensive, specialized education, training, and supervision in play therapy. The RPT™ credential is a nationally recognized mark of expertise awarded by the Association for Play Therapy (APT).

  • Approach: For an RPT, play therapy is not just a tool; it is their primary theoretical model. They are trained to understand the symbolic meaning of a child's play and use it as the central mechanism for healing and change. Their work is highly intentional and grounded in established play therapy theories.

  • Training: To become an RPT, a therapist must:

    • Hold a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field.
    • Be a fully licensed, independent clinical practitioner.
    • Complete 150 hours of graduate-level coursework specifically in play therapy.
    • Complete at least 350 hours of supervised, direct clinical experience in play therapy.
    • Receive ongoing supervision from a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S™).