Designing Your Play Therapy Space

From The Play Room To On The Go

Approved for 3.25 APT Non-Contact Credit Hours by Meehan Mental Health Services (APT Approved Provider 19-580).  This course is taught by Ann Meehan, MS, LPCC, RPT-S, owner of Meehan Mental Health Services.

Do you to make the most of your play space? Maybe just looking at the list of all the toys that you should have in your place space makes you overwhelmed because your aren't quite sure where to start, your play space doesn't really look like a traditional play room, and it seems impossible to get all the "right" toys.  You might be on a limited budget and want to know the most important toys that are essential for your playroom.

Now, what if I told you that there are MANY ways to design a play therapy office?  That healing can happen in the tiny office with no windows, a school conference room, or out of a portable play therapy kit as much as it does in that perfect play therapy room of your dreams.

Learn how to make the most of your play therapy space from in office to….wherever you play, letting theory lead the way! This course will teach you the specific categories of toys that need to be represented, what the physical characteristics of the room should be (with modification for spaces less than ideal), and how you put it all together with tons of examples from real life playrooms!  This course will also teach you to select your toys instead of collect and create a space with intention to do the work of play therapy!

This training will cover how to set up a traditional playroom, hybrid playrooms, playing "on the go", play therapy in schools, and playing virtually.  We will dive in to how to set up a Child Centered Play Therapy room as well as a Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy room, as well as good general play room principles. Special topics of consideration for designing your playroom and creating your play therapy space will include how gender shows up in the playroom, cultural considerations, physical limitations, and medical trauma.

Dr. Garry Landreth famously said "Toys are the children's words and play is their language". This course will help you select the right "words" to ensure that children will be able to do the hard work they need and create healing through the powers of play therapy!

Don't have 3.25 hours of uninterrupted time? Train when it works for you! This course is an online self paced course where the modules are broken up into smaller digestible chunks that can be completed during a client cancellation, on the weekends, early in the morning, late at night - whenever!

This course is approved for 3.25 APT Non-Contact hours by Meehan Mental Health Services (APT Approved Provider 19-580).

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the 3 categories of Child Centered Play Therapy toys, according to CCPT theory and list at least 10 toys from each category. 
  • Identify at least 2 ways a Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy playroom is different than a Child Centered Play Therapy playroom.
  • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate appropriateness of toys to be included in the playroom and appropriate placement of toys according to play therapy theory.
  • Explain at least 2 considerations for play room setup each for topics of gender, culture, and differing abilities. 
  • Identify at least 10 items in a portable play therapy kit, explain how to transport, and set up a portable play therapy space. 


Course Format:  Train when it works for you! This course is an online self paced course where the modules are broken up into smaller digestible pre-recorded video segments that can be completed during a client cancellation, on the weekends, early in the morning, late at night - whenever! You can login at your own pace, re-watch content, and have unlimited access to the course. This course is designated "Non-Contact" by the Association for Play Therapy.

Who should attend:  This is a beginning play therapy course who are new to play therapy or are struggling to identify appropriate play therapy materials in line with their specific theory. This course is also for Play Therapists who play at schools, on the go, or virtually and are wanting to get more support in setting up their play space in the most efficient and effective way.

Cost: $67.00

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Introduction

    • Handouts

    • Powerpoint Handout Slides

    • Course Disclaimer

  • 2

    Module 1: Child Centered Play Therapy and The Playroom

    • Child Centered Play Therapy and The Playroom

  • 3

    Module 2: Child Centered Play Therapy Toy Selection

    • Child Centered Play Therapy Toy Selection

  • 4

    Module 3: Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy Toy Selection

    • Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy Toy Selection

  • 5

    Module 4: General Play Room Setup

    • General Play Room Setup

  • 6

    Module 5: Sources for Play Therapy Toys

    • Sources for Play Therapy Toys

  • 7

    Module 6: Special Topics

    • Special Topics

  • 8

    Module 7: Play Room Tours

    • Play Room Tours

  • 9

    Module 8: Play Rooms: School, Virtual, and Portable

    • Play Rooms: School, Virtual, and Portable

  • 10

    Bibliography

    • Bibliography

  • 11

    Getting Your CE

    • Getting Your CE