Certificate in Nature-Based Therapeutic Play

Exploring the Therapeutic Powers of Nature-Based Play

A blended-learning course comprising online sessions containing demonstration and theory of best practice, and experiential directed study tasks, leading to the QQI Level 6, 15 credit, Certificate in Nature-Based Therapeutic Play (PG25605).

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Payment Plan Details
Apply Now
Payment Plan Details

Course Overview

This experiential course is designed to equip healthcare, social care, or education professionals with knowledge, confidence and skills to use nature-based therapeutic play in their current role and current practice with individuals, small nurture groups and families. This includes teachers, therapists, project workers, social workers, childcare workers and others whose professional life brings them into regular contact with children, adolescents, and/or adults, including those considered to be vulnerable and at risk/in crisis.

It is suitable for professionals who wish to gain a recognised award in the area of therapeutic play with the emphasis on both indoor and outdoor nature-based play. The NBTP Course addresses many forms of nature-based play for use both outdoors and indoors, play to support emotion regulation, and a variety of models and frameworks to both conceptualise and aid in the planning of therapeutic play for both groups and individuals. It also addresses professional practice and scope of practice to ensure ethical implementation in various settings.

It builds on core skills to enable more effective interactions with clients with reference to age, stage of development, and current needs and priorities, while building knowledge, skills and competence to incorporate play, natural materials, and creative interventions to support development, build resiliency, and address challenges with a variety of client groups.  Opportunities to engage in activities that promote personal development, increase personal awareness, and prepare participants to become more confident in their professional identity are provided.

Upcoming Dates:
All learners are provided access to the Moodle platform for supplementary materials, session handouts, academic writing supports, and more.

By the end of this course, participants will have completed and developed knowledge and competence in:

  • Applying knowledge and understanding of the therapeutic powers of play and how playing in and with nature supports holistic development.
  • Experiencing and reflecting on 2 experiential play activities for immersion and orientation in nature.
  • Demonstrating the potential for natural materials to support structured therapeutic play activities indoors.
  • Apply learning regarding the value of risk and how to balance risk and benefit to plan and implement a child led group play session in a natural space outdoors.
  • Developing a range of creative ideas in different modalities to support outdoor therapeutic play for a group of children, adolescents or adults.
  • Incorporating nature based therapeutic play into their own professional role, including scope of practice, ethical and inclusion considerations, and health & safety.

Certificate in Nature-Based Therapeutic Play runs over 7 Saturdays from 09:30 – 13:30. Please check individual course information files for specific dates.

Students will also engage in activities linked to the theme of each unit (7 hours); a series of directed study tasks (10 hours); and independent learning.

Space and technology:

  • A confidential space without interruptions or distractions
  • 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: If you have difficulties with sound (microphone or volume) on computer, use of external microphone and/or speakers may work better than adding a second devise.

 

And creative materials that include:

  • A4 paper and scissors
  • Art materials – g. crayons, colouring pencils, markers
  • Small toys and props

The trainer will advise participants of additional resources to have to hand for each session.

Each learner is given access to the online platform with additional resources over the duration of the course. This includes access to the material for each course, Online Library and Resources, and Academic Writing Support.

  • Course Fee: €700
  • A non-refundable application fee of €50 is due at application stage. This fee is deducted from the overall fee for succesful applicants.
  • Payment Plans Available for those who want to pay in instalments.
  • A discount of €110 applies to those completing this course and the Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate Course to achieve the “Certificate in Therapeutic Play Practice” – a full Level 6 Special Purpose Award.
  • If you have previously completed CTC’s Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate course please include details of when you did so in your online application.

Terms and Conditions €50 application fee and €260 deposit included in the initial payment are non-refundable. All fees are non-refundable within one month of the course dates. Prior to this, fees paid outside of the application fee and deposit are refundable less the associated stripe fees. Full fees are due regardless of level of attendance at the course.

Payment Plans for Nature Based Therapeutic Play Certificate 2026 Courses

The course fee is €700 and is inclusive of registration and QQI fees.  Liability for full course fee arises at the beginning of the course.  A non-refundable application fee of €50 is due at application stage. This is deducted from the overall course fee. A further non-refundable deposit of €260 is payable to secure your place – this payment is due within 2 weeks of being offered a place on the course. If the course is starting in less than two weeks this payment is due immediately. CTC cannot guarantee holding any offer open should the deposit not be received within the designated time. We recognize that not everyone will be able to pay in full at registration stage, so an instalment payment plan is available to facilitate such learners. Those who choose a payment plan that delays full payment of course fees pay small additional charges to cover extra administration costs.

 

Each student is responsible for full payment of course fees, regardless of level of attendance.

 

Option 1: Pay in Full at Registration – Total Fee €700

  1. Pay €50 Online Application Fee
  2. Pay €650 Registration Fee within 2 weeks of being offered a place. **Note: If the course is starting in less than two weeks full payment is due immediately. **

Option 2: Pay in Instalments – Total Fee €730

  1. Pay €50 Online Application Fee
  2. Pay €260 Registration Fee within 2 weeks of being offered a place. **Note: If the course is starting in less than two weeks this payment is due immediately. **
  3. Pay €140 via Standing Order 1 month later
  4. Pay €140 via Standing Order 1 month later
  5. Pay €140 via Standing Order 1 month later

 

Terms and Conditions €50 application fee and €260 deposit included in the initial payment are non-refundable. All fees are non-refundable within one month of the course dates. Prior to this, fees paid outside of the application fee and deposit are refundable less the associated stripe fees. Full fees are due regardless of level of attendance at the course.

ALL MONTHLY INSTALMENT PLANS MUST BE PAID BY STANDING ORDER

Course Content

Online Content

The course comprises of a mixture of live teaching, lecture, video demonstration, Q&A discussion, directed study tasks and small group reflection.

Assessment is by Portfolio development and presentation.

Participants will receive an accompanying pack of handouts and resources for each unit.

7 x 4 hrs units – spread over a 3-month period. Each unit comprises an online session with tutor from 9.30-1.30 and an additional hour for each learner to engage in specified activities linked to the theme of the unit.

 

Unit 1: Introduction, Immersion & Orientation
Focus is on reflection on participants’ own experiences and exploring relationship with the natural world.

Unit 2: Nature-based therapeutic play: Theory and Practice
Focus is on the evidence base that highlights the therapeutic value of play for holistic development.

Unit 3: Bringing the Outside Inside
How to select and bring natural materials indoors for use in structured therapeutic play activities with individuals and groups

Unit 4: Taking Inside Out 1
Focus is on sensory and projective play in nature with individuals and groups.

Unit 5: Taking Inside Out 2
Focus is on whole body immersive play in nature – both embodied play and role play with individuals and groups.

Unit 6: Application to Practice
Focus is on planning, risk assessing and preparing a nature-based therapeutic play session within participants’ own settings.

Unit 7: Sharing Practice, Reflection and Assessment
Participants share their portfolios with their peers and have the opportunity for in-depth reflection on their learning.

In addition, there will be 5 x 2-hour asynchronous sessions scheduled over the duration of the course plus independent study.

 

Each student builds a portfolio of evidence of their learning, uploads the portfolio by the submission date and presents their portfolio to the group in the final session.

  • Experience and reflect on two (out of three examples provided) experiential activities in nature that meet the sensory and regulatory needs of a child, adolescent or adult, with reference to key theory.
  • Select natural materials and demonstrate how they can support therapeutic play indoors using the EPR framework.
  • Complete a risk/benefit analysis for a nature-based group play session for children, adolescents, or adults in a natural space outdoors
  • Plan, deliver and evaluate a group play session in a natural space outdoors.

Important When Applying

When Filling in your application please ensure to have the following information to hand.

  • Name, contact details, current role, education background
  • Copy of photo ID
  • What course date preference you have
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Payment Plan Details
Children’s Therapy Centre (CTC) is Ireland’s longest established leading provider of training in the field of Play Therapy, Therapeutic Play, and Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.
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Children’s Therapy Centre
Stewart House
Lonsdale Road,
National Technology Park,
Plassey, Limerick.
V94 KN70, Ireland
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