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| Play Therapy International | |
|---|---|
| Name | Play Therapy International |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Founded | 1980s |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Focus | Child psychotherapy, therapeutic play |
Play Therapy International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development, training, and promotion of therapeutic play approaches for children and adolescents. It operates within a network of professional bodies, training institutions, and clinical services to advance standards, research, and practice in child mental health. The organization interfaces with practitioners, researchers, and policymakers across multiple countries to integrate play-based interventions into clinical and educational settings.
Founded in the late 20th century, the organization emerged amid renewed interest in child psychotherapy influenced by figures and movements such as Anna Freud, Donald Winnicott, Melanie Klein, Carl Jung, and the resurgence of attachment theory associated with John Bowlby. Early collaborations involved clinical sites in the United Kingdom, links with training programmes at institutions like the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and exchanges with practitioners from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Key milestones included establishing accredited training pathways, hosting international conferences featuring scholars from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and publishing clinical guidelines adopted by regional child welfare services such as those in England and Scotland.
The organization's mission emphasizes improving outcomes for children affected by trauma, bereavement, developmental disorders, and attachment difficulties by promoting evidence-informed therapeutic play. Strategic aims include setting competency standards aligned with bodies such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, informing policymakers in agencies like the National Health Service (England), and supporting community services coordinated with charities such as Barnardo's, Save the Children, and UNICEF. It seeks to influence curricula at professional schools including the University of Oxford, University College London, and the University of Cambridge.
Training offerings are delivered through certified programmes that mirror frameworks used by the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations and comparable to postgraduate pathways at institutions like the King's College London and the University of Edinburgh. Accreditation standards reference competency models from regulatory bodies including the Health and Care Professions Council and professional registers maintained by the British Psychological Society. Courses range from foundation certificates to advanced clinical diplomas used by clinicians in settings affiliated with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Clinical services include short-term and long-term therapeutic interventions provided in partnership with local authorities such as London Borough of Camden and community providers like Coram and The Children's Society. Programmatic work addresses trauma response in collaboration with emergency responders including Ambulance Service (United Kingdom) teams and family support services coordinated with agencies like the Family Rights Group. Services extend to schools, integrating with initiatives from bodies like the Department for Education (United Kingdom) and regional health trusts including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Research activities have produced empirical evaluations and practice manuals disseminated in journals and forums associated with the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the British Journal of Social Work, and conference proceedings for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Collaborative studies have been undertaken with university research centres such as the Anna Freud Centre, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, and the Wellcome Trust-funded projects. Publications include practitioner handbooks cited by professionals at the Institute of Education, University College London and training syllabi used by the European Association for Play Therapy.
The organization is governed by a board of trustees drawn from clinicians, academics, and sector leaders with affiliations to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and university departments at the University of Manchester and the University of Birmingham. Funding streams combine philanthropic grants from foundations like the National Lottery Community Fund and charitable trusts, fees from accredited training alongside commissioned contracts with local health commissioners such as NHS England foundations. Financial oversight is conducted to meet charity commission standards analogous to those enforced by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
The organization convenes international symposia and workshops in partnership with entities including the World Health Organization, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and regional associations such as the European Association for Psychotherapy. Conference hosts have included venues in cities like London, New York City, Sydney, Toronto, and Stockholm and attracted keynote speakers from institutions such as the Harvard Medical School and the University of Melbourne. Collaborative networks extend to training exchanges with the South African Medical Research Council and programme development with NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontières and Red Cross societies.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United Kingdom Category:Child and adolescent mental health organizations