Voices of Experience.
Stories of Impact.

‘The MA in Creative Psychotherapy, specialising in play therapy is a unique course that masterfully integrates the depth of psychotherapeutic theory with developmentally appropriate, creative approaches to work with children and adolescents effectively. The trainers bring a wealth of expertise, ensuring that every aspect of the course is delivered to the highest professional standard. Their ability to bridge academic knowledge with real-world therapeutic application is invaluable and allowed me to feel confident in my practice from an early stage. The staff’s ongoing innovation and commitment to maintaining alignment with evolving regulatory standards ensure that the course remains both relevant and forward-thinking. It is also important to mention, the course fosters significant personal growth, encouraging deep self-reflection alongside professional skill development. This MA is an immersive, enriching experience that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and personal insight to work in the field of child and adolescent psychotherapy’

MA Graduate

I have attended CPD with CTC both fact-to-face and online. Each time I am increasingly impressed with the balance of theory with experiential activity I get to engage in. The multi-layered experience is a much richer learning environment and I always find when I leave I know more in mind AND body than I did before I began. Even though face-to-face is 100 percent my preference, CTC manages to maintain a high level of experiential when online also. I highly recommend attending any of their upcoming trainings in the future. You’ll be glad you did!

CPD Attendee

Having just completed the Therapeutic Play Skills course, I have come away from this experience with skills and knowledge that can be transferred to every aspect of my life, from my own children, to adults, and children I work with. These skills have taught me the power of truly listening compassionately to another little human.

Our group spent seven days together; this was spread out over a three-month period. Each weekend brought a different element of play from making puppets, creating therapeutic stories, creative storytelling and lots more. This course is unique as you are provided with a safe space, resources and freedom to express yourself in a fun and playful way.

I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn how to connect with children in a meaningful way. I have come away from this course with so much confidence and self-esteem from being surrounded by likeminded people and learning new skills. I have enjoyed this course so much that I am going to apply for the Masters in Psychotherapy and Play Therapy this year. It was a truly amazing experience. Thank you so much CTC for giving me amazing memories that I will treasure for ever.

TPS Graduate

I could not recommend the Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate enough. I feel that it is a course that everyone should do as it offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the therapeutic powers of play. We had an amazing lecturer, Laura, who always greeted us with a warm, bright energy. Laura created a safe space for everyone within the group. She is a fountain of knowledge, with a wonderful way with words to help people understand and grasp the therapeutic play skills. You are also given the opportunity to do some individual play sessions which I thoroughly enjoyed. You get to see the therapeutic powers of play at work here, which I found fascinating. It’s the most amazing form of treatment when a child gets to do what they do best- play and heal at the same time. There is also a great sense of community and support within the group, which again makes learning easier and fun. Unknown to yourself, overtime you’ll slowly notice a nice little collection of books, puppets, crafts etc accumulating as you become immersed in the course. Enjoy 🙂

TPS Certificate Graduate

CTC isn’t just a course, it’s the heart and soul of Play Therapy in this country.

MA Graduate

“My training with CTC has changed my life for the better, in so many ways. This course, the amazing colleagues, lecturers and the experiential and humanistic lens through which it is delivered, means that you are always growing, learning and challenging yourself in a most supportive community. Training with CTC has added so much to my life already, both professionally and personally, in terms of self-discovery, relationships, understanding of behaviours in myself and others, and even my parenting skills!” (Which have gladly much improved since!) I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to study with CTC!”

MA Graduate

I absolutely loved the Therapeutic Play Skills course. The content is incredibly relevant and valuable for anyone working with children, regardless of their profession. One of the standout aspects for me was the experiential nature of the course—it really allowed me to reconnect with my own sense of playfulness, which in turn gave me a wealth of practical ideas to bring into my work with children as a teacher.

Cathy was a wonderful facilitator—so warm, calm, and thoughtful in her approach. She created a safe and supportive space where everyone felt heard and engaged, and she made sure we all got the most out of each session. The course was well-structured, with the modules spaced out perfectly to allow for reflection and learning, while still being full of rich, enjoyable content. I’d highly recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of therapeutic play and bring new energy to their work with children.

TPS Certificate Graduate

“Since qualifying from the MA & working in Psychotherapy, attending CPD trainings with CTC has been a transformative experience for my practice. I continue to gain new insights, learning & resources, that have directly enhanced my therapeutic skills. I’ve gained a deeper understanding in more specialised areas & the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals has expanded my confidence and competence. These trainings have truly enriched my ability to support my clients & their families in a more holistic and effective way, allowing me to offer them the best care possible.”

“I recently completed the Live Online Therapeutic Play Skills Course through the Children’s Therapy Centre, facilitated by the wonderful Edel Lawlor. This training was truly insightful, empowering, and deeply rooted in the power of play. The course not only enriched my understanding of therapeutic play but also provided me with practical, hands-on skills that I can confidently bring into my work with children.

My experience with CTC has been overwhelmingly positive. The team, especially Siobhán Prendiville, is incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and always available to answer any questions. Their dedication to high-quality training and professional development is evident in every aspect of the course.

I would highly recommend training with CTC to anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of therapeutic play. It’s a transformative experience that blends theory with creativity.”
Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate Graduate

I completed the Therapeutic Play Skills training in person in Kilcock with Elaine. The training was so enjoyable, it challenged me to reflect on my own practice, and to become really curious about the children’s behaviour. I feel that it changed the way I teach and interact with the children I work with, for the better. It is, hands down, the best CPD I have done in my 10 years of teaching.

I completed the Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate course with the lovely Cathy at CTC. It was such a wonderful and rich experience. A fabulous mix of experiential learning – games, role play, self reflection, and so much fun and creativity! It was a completely new way of learning for me. The course was a real eye opener, both personally as a parent, and professionally, and was a very important stepping stone towards a new and exciting career path.

I have had the pleasure of doing quite a number of short courses with some fantastic and well experienced CTC facilitators over the last couple of months. I found the learning intentions of each course were always clearly stated and what I took away from the training always far exceeded my expectations. I have been given lots of food for thought to enhance my own wellbeing and that of my family and the children I work with. It is evident to me that CTC ensure the quality of their courses are top notch.There is great communication from the CTC team and the booking process is always super easy. I look forward to engaging in more upcoming courses as I find them thoroughly enjoyable. I have laughed and cried in nearly every session and love how much I have to been able to take away from each day. Thank you so much!

The most sparkly silver lining of this pandemic is that I have the opportunity to do training with the Children’s Therapy Centre. Being based in Hong Kong, it is lovely to experience training with those at home in Ireland. I have done a number of courses through the Children’s Therapy Centre, and all of them have been exceptional. This is true of the entire process. Booking online is easy. Siobhán is wonderful and is super friendly, helpful and speedy in answering any of my questions. All of the facilitators have been excellent; very knowledgeable, approachable (even with the added hurdle of doing this through Zoom) and have delivered fantastic courses that will resonate with me for the rest of my career. And Rachel in the office is awesome at sending out the certificates and answering queries. It has all been terrific. I look forward to one day meeting all the fabulous people I have met in doing these courses and am very excited to participate in the courses to come. Thanks a million CTC!

CTC is the third time I’ve been to college. I used to like the idea of college, learning & broadening my mind, however I never had the focus to really experience or enjoy it.

Fast forward to 2022 when I signed up to take part in the Therapeutic Play Skills Certificate course, that was it, I was hooked! I applied to the MA in Creative Psychotherapy the following year.

I had found an educational centre that taught in a way that reached out to all learning styles. I have never learned the way I have in CTC. My body learns alongside my brain, giving me a much deeper understanding. I get giddy when I think about it. I want the whole world to know this way of learning. When I got accepted on the MA, I said “I feel like someone has told me Hogwarts is real & I can go learn magic”. I am learning magic!

As well as learning in the class environment we get to develop and learn through our work placement, supervision, personal psychotherapy and through mediums such as sand, toys, movement and more. This isn’t just an academic course for me, it is a new way of life. One that breaks through barriers & promotes allowing children to simply “be” …all they can be.

What an empowering and invigorating two years I have spent with Children’s Therapy Centre. Each module inspired and exposed new ways of being. The balanced and integrated course builds on the theories of experts through the years right up to current practice which exposes the sheer joy and power of play.

As a primary school teacher, my class benefited from my newfound skills and experiential learning. I found there is a playful and creative way of doing everything! Personally, I was overwhelmed by the kindness and consideration shown by the CTC tutors and mentors.

I look forward to the support offered in further learning over the next two years and to embracing my role as play therapist equipped with the skills and focus to face the challenges of play therapy.

The MA in Creative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy offered by The Children’s Therapy Centre is second to none. It is enlightening! This MA sparked a love of learning in me and ignited so many passions that my life has completely changed for the better. The emphasis placed on personal development is of equal importance to professional development…imagine a course where you take time to get to rediscover your own authenticity and learn who you were before the world told you who to be. People frequently tell me “I am a fountain of knowledge,” the source of this knowledge was CTC. I will be forever grateful that I learned how to parent with kindness, creativity and compassion. It is such a privilege to be part of a child’s journey and speak their language of ‘play.’ I recommend this MA wholeheartedly.

To say this course has been life changing feels like an understatement. In 4 years, I have changed my entire career, grown professionally and interpersonally more than I could ever have imagined, all the while gaining a deeply rich and integrated knowledge of theory, clinical practice and Self-knowledge. All this knowledge has been garnered from a course that is so intelligently designed that a new-found Self emerges, following layer after layer of practical, hands-on creative learning, mixed with just the right amount of academia. Ultimately this all culminates in the whole-hearted ability to really be with a child, to hold their distress, and to witness healing occur through the potent powers of play. These are the real privileges, the true gifts from CTC.

My CTC experience was nothing short of excellent. Now that I have transitioned out of CTC and established my private practice while also working as a psychotherapist in an organization, I feel immense gratitude for the comprehensive training I received. The quality of education and support at CTC truly is second to none. I am excited about the upcoming short courses and CPD opportunities, as there is always fantastic training and new information to learn. The commitment to ongoing professional development at CTC is remarkable, and I look forward to continuing my journey with them. Thank you, CTC, for equipping me with the skills and knowledge to thrive in my career!

As the saying goes, “It only takes one golden opportunity to shape a different future.” For me, that opportunity came in the form of the four year Master of Arts in Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic & Integrative), which I pursued at the Children’s Therapy Centre from 2019 to 2023. I cannot recommend this course offered by CTC highly enough. The content of the course is grounded in a blend of theory, clinical practice and experiential learning which ensures a high-standard and strong foundation in Psychotherapy is established.

Over the four years we explored ethical considerations, trauma-informed care, child development and clinical practice in depth. The lecturers and supervisors at CTC are highly experienced professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to their teaching of the various modules. Their support and guidance made a significant impact on my learning journey too. Utilising creative therapeutic approaches in an experiential, hands-on way was one of the highlights of the course for me. This approach allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Aside from academic learning the course fostered a deep self-refection and personal development through the form of personal therapy and reflective practice which I do believe is necessary for any therapeutic practitioner-in-training. I’ve also made friends for life too! Whilst this course is challenging it is incredibly rewarding and I would highly recommend it to anyone passionate about helping children and adolescents therapeutically.