Blended Learning Training Course – Offered Live Online & In Person
Therapeutic Play Skills is a QQI Level 6 Minor Award (15 credits, PG25614) offered on a part-time basis which will equip the learner with the relevant knowledge, skill and competence to plan, deliver and evaluate both group and individual play based interventions. It is a blended learning programme with experiential learning opportunities built in throughout all online sessions. Participants engage in creative activities that enhance personal development, develop insight and awareness, and contribute to understanding, and meeting, the needs of all children including those living in adverse circumstances. Course content includes coverage of many therapeutic play interventions, including creative visualisation, interactive play, use of puppets and creative storytelling, skills to support self-directed play and running groups for personal and social development. Therapeutic Play Skills training is foundation level training in therapeutic play designed for professionals who want to gain new knowledge and skills to use within their current professional role. Directive and non-directive therapeutic approaches are addressed.
April 2025 – Limerick in person
Programme Aims
This programme aims to enhance the professional practice of participants by building on core skills to work creatively and play effectively with children, adolescents, and sometimes adults, with reference to their age, stage of development, and current needs and priorities. We aim to enhance your capacity to incorporate play, and creative interventions to support holistic development, build resiliency, and address challenges within the role you hold by virtue of your current career in education, social care, childcare, or any area connected with health and wellbeing. The programme delves deeply into the impact of play in:
- promoting positive mental health;
- facilitating social and emotional development,
- overcoming struggles and stressful experiences; and
- building resiliency.
Participants will engage in theoretical learning and experiential creative activities. Assessment is based on demonstration of achievement of the required learning outcomes through activity based tasks. On successful completion of the programme and the required assessments students will receive CTC’s Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills.
This programme is suitable for those who:
- Have a particular interest in the therapeutic powers of play, and creative interventions, and wish to acquire skills to facilitate children, adolescents, and/or adults to overcome negative influences and circumstances in their lives, and facilitate them in achieving their potential.
- Wish to further their own knowledge and understanding of what play is; how it supports children’s social and emotional development; and learn more about the influences of the environment on this.
- Wish to enhance a professional career in working with people in a range of settings.
- Wish to further their own knowledge and understanding of play, and creative interventions, and associated developmental, educational and therapeutic applications.
- Would like to upskill to enhance employment prospects and/or job satisfaction and promotion opportunities
This award will be of interest to a range of healthcare, social care, and education professionals who wish to incorporate the use of play and creativity into their practice with adults, adolescents or children. This includes teachers, childcare workers, playworkers, social workers, counsellors, psychotherapists, expressive arts therapists, and others working in any area connected with health and wellbeing, whose professional life brings them into regular contact with people, including those considered to be vulnerable and at risk/in crisis.
This award, together with its partner course, the Certificate in Nature-Based Therapeutic Play, comprises CTC’s Certificate in Therapeutic Play Practice, a 30 credit, Level 6, Special Purpose Award.
Learning outcomes for the Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate Course
On completion of this programme, the learner will be able to ..
- Demonstrate understanding and awareness of interpersonal communication to include one to one and group dynamics.
- Demonstrate use of skills known to assist children in developing their capacity for self-regulation and decision making within the context of a safe, ethical relationship.
- Use play based interventions to address the needs of children and/or adolescents in special circumstances
- Identify own personal skills and competencies in utilizing play developmentally, educationally and therapeutically with children and/or adolescents
- Plan, prepare and deliver a groupwork session to include a range of appropriate techniques for children or adolescents
- Adapt play interventions to ensure each child has an equal opportunity to fully participate.
- Demonstrate the use of appropriate terminology used in play based programmes and interventions.
- Work independently to develop, design and implement play-based sessions/interventions
- Design and implement a play intervention including puppetry
- Write a therapeutic story that addresses a specific difficulty
- Make links between play theory, including the identification of specific therapeutic powers of play when implementing a play activity.
To access this programme, learners should have reached the standards of knowledge, skills and competence associated with level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This may have been achieved through a formal qualification or through relevant life and work experiences.
The course requires verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills in English, equivalent to QQI level 5. If English is an applicant’s second language, they must demonstrate proficiency at B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We have prepared an Inherent Requirements document for prospective students.
Cost: €700 (Payment plan options available on request).
Venue: As per particular option – remote and on-site (various locations) learning options are offered.
Content
Unit 1 – Professional Practice
Unit 2 – Understanding Play
Unit 3 – Plan for and Support Self-directed Play
Unit 4 – Planning and Implementing Play Interventions: Self-directed play
Unit 5 – Planning and Implementing Play Interventions: Creative Visualization
Unit 6 – Planning and implementing Play Interventions: Interactive Play
Unit 7 – Working with Groups for Personal and Social Development
Unit 8 – Planning and Implementing Play Interventions: Therapeutic Storytelling
Unit 9 – Planning and Implementing Play Interventions: Therapeutic Use of Puppets
On completion of the programme and the attainment of 15 credits the learner will be awarded a Level 6 component certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills. (PG25606).
Dates
The course runs over a three month period and includes 7 full days of online attendance (10am-5pm). The course runs on Saturdays and Sundays. Sufficient numbers are required for the course to go ahead on planned dates.
Moodle: Each learner will also have access to the online platform with additional resources over the duration of the course.
Participants are required to have the following tools for any live online sessions.
Space and technology:
- A confidential space without interruptions or distractions.
- Students are required to keep their cameras turned on during live online zoom sessions.
- A computer or other suitable device that can use Zoom (e.g. i pad, desktop, laptop), with built in, or external, microphone, speaker and camera. have screen size that facilitate clear viewing of course material and participants, and engagement and interaction with peers, and utilising a split screen so as to concurrently view the virtual classroom and any related material that you may wish to open separately on your device.
- Stable internet connection (download speed of 1.5Mbps)
- A sound cancelling headset can be useful
Note: The content of the sessions are noy suitable for children. If you have children you will need to arrange childcare for the training days.
And creative materials that include:
- A4 paper and a scissors
- Art material – g. crayons, colouring pencils, markers
- Small toys and props
The trainer will advise participants of additional resources to have to hand for each session.
Applications
Applications are accepted by letter/email giving details of the applicant’s name, address, email and phone numbers, educational background, current employment, and reasons for wishing to complete the course. Proof of identity in the form of (scan of official photo id, e.g. passport) is required. Please indicate if you are currently applying for the full principal programme (i.e. both minor awards) or for the Certificate in Therapeutic Play, or the Certificate in Nature-Based Therapeutic Play.
The course requires verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills in English, equivalent to QQI level 5. If English is an applicant’s second language, they must demonstrate proficiency at B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). We have prepared an Inherent Requirements document for prospective students.
Please indicate if you have already been Garda vetted and if you have access to children in a suitable work (paid or voluntary) setting within which you could complete play sessions.
Email application to ctcsiobhan@gmail.com.
Fees: Payable directly to bank account (details available on Fee Statements) or post to: Children’s Therapy Centre, Stewart House, Lonsdale Road, National Technology Park, Plassey, Limerick, V94 KN70. Cheques, drafts, PO’s payable to Children’s Therapy Centre.
Requirements document for prospective students.
Please indicate if you have already been Garda vetted and if you have access to children in a suitable work (paid or voluntary) setting within which you could complete play sessions.
Email application to ctcsiobhan@gmail.com
Course Fees: €700 (Payment Plans Available)
If you have any queries please email us at ctccourseinfo@gmail.com
Or call our office on Phone 061 – 338767(9:30 – 1:30 Mon – Fri.