Choosing the course
CTC run four types of courses: a wide array of short courses, QQI validated courses in Therapeutic Play Skills and Principles of Art Therapy, our full QQI Level 9 Masters in Creative Psychotherapy which includes a postgraduate diploma in Play Therapy and also a Diploma in Creative Supervision for therapists looking to become supervisors.
Our short courses include great introductions for those new to play therapy, providing opportunities to learn more therapeutic play to incorporate it into your work or parenting, or prepare you for more in-depth training. We also have short courses for play therapists, psychotherapists and othe professionals wishing to expand their knowledge and skill set and continue their professional development. These can vary from one-day to week-long events.
Our QQI Certificates build on the content of the one-day courses and provide a recognised academic award in either therapeutic play or art therapy. They equip participants to provide individual and group play or art interventions that support children’s development and enhances the general skill set of professionals including teachers, child care workers, social workers, so that they can provide therapeutic play experiences within their current professional role.
Our Masters programme is a four-year part time course that qualifies you as both a Play Therapist and Psychotherapist, and is fully recognised by professional bodies such as IAHIP and IAPTP, while our Diploma in Creative Supervision is a one year course for those who wish to become qualified supervisors.
Our Courses
Our guide to choosing the right course
The fact that you are reading this suggests that you are interested in training in the field of play, therapeutic and developmental play, play therapy, or psychotherapy.
The first thing for you to consider is what type of training you are interested in. Are you looking to build new skills to use in your existing job? Perhaps you need to engage in ongoing training to meet continuing professional development requirements? Or are you looking for a new career? Perhaps you want to gain another qualification to complement previous training. If you are hoping to launch yourself in a new career you need to consider entry criteria – are you currently eligible to apply or do you need to undertake other training first?
Most of our short courses are suitable for a wide range of professionals working in social care, educational, and therapeutic settings. A few are only open to therapists. Each course description gives details of whom the training is suitable for and a standard booking form is provided.
Other courses require you to go through an application process to assess suitability and ensure that you are aware of the demands that the training may make on you – psychotherapy training is not for everyone, it is personally demanding and involves a lot of personal growth work.
The initial step in identifying the right course for you is to identify 2 things: your starting point and your training needs and interests.
1. Your starting point will involve considering the training you have already completed and the work experience you have to date so as to build a personal profile.
-
- What level of academic training have you completed to date?
- What kind of professional training courses have you completed to date?
- What skills and experience have you acquired through training, life, and and work experience?
2. Issues to consider regarding training will include issues such as:
-
- Are looking for a short or long training?
- Financial implications – training is expensive especially if you are looking for a professionally recognised award.
- Time commitment – undertaking an academic training (such as the MA) will require participants to dedicate a lot of time to reading, study, assignments etc.
- Will you need to engage in additional prior training to make you eligible for the route you wish to follow? Read entry criteria carefully.
Short skill building and CPD courses
CTC offer a range of these in the areas of play (therapeutic and developmental), the expressive arts, and specialist approaches in psychotherapy and counselling. Some of these courses are open to all who are interested (see Introductory Short Courses). Some are linked to FETAC Level 6 awards (e.g. Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills). A few specialist courses are only open to play therapists and to counselling and psychotherapy students and practitioners (see Advanced Short Courses).
Diversification for Play Therapists Series
Play therapists often need support in entering new markets and providing a broader range of child and family interventions in addition to play therapy. These workshops are part of a series of training events which support this diversification of practice by play therapists and other suitably qualified professionals.
Play Therapy and Psychotherapy Training programmes
CTC offer routes to training, and accreditation, with the Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy, as a Play Therapist and as a Psychotherapist with a specialisation in Play Therapy
Our Master of Arts in Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic & Integrative Modality) is open to a range of professionals with suitable level 8 qualifications and relevant work experience. The Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy is an embedded award, It is only offered as part of the full MA course.
Supervisor Training Programme
This course is designed as an advanced experiential and skills based training for qualified psychotherapists, play therapists, creative arts therapists, psychologists and others with a supervisory role, usually with at least three years experience. Suitable psychotherapist candidates will usually have a busy practice, generally working with 8 or more clients each week. These clients may be adults or children or a combination of both.