Play Therapy

You will study the following modules:

Year One

• Practice, Theory & Placement 1 (40 credits): An understanding of therapeutic practice and play therapy theory will be developed through on-placement practice, lectures, skills practice and clinical supervision. This module includes preparation for placement practice, the development of a range of play therapy skills as well as introduction of the implementation of professional codes of conduct. You will be working with two children for 8 weeks and 10 weeks.
• Child Development & Observations 1 (20 credits): This module focuses on child and adolescent development using direct observation and grounded in child and adolescent developmental and clinical theory including attachment theory, stage theories of development and object relations theorists. As well as direct teaching, there are experiential elements to the teaching and learning methods. You will undertake 20 direct observations of the infant – carer relationship in order to reflect upon the importance of the early attachment relationship. These sessions will require detailed write ups and participation in observation seminars

Year Two

• Practice, Theory & Placement 2 (20 credits): This module will enable you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of therapeutic practice and play therapy theory through lectures, supervision and on-placement practice.  This will include consolidating a range of play therapy skills as well as knowledge of professional codes of conduct. The placement practice experience will link with the clinical play therapy theory developing a deeper understanding of the unconscious internal world of the child, as well as symbolic communication. You will develop an advancing capacity to facilitate a therapeutic relationship and to evaluate the therapeutic process. The supplementary skills required to support a therapeutic intervention are also developed, eg meeting with parents/referrer, assessment, report writing. You will work with two children for 15 sessions and 20 sessions.
• Child Development & Observations 2 (20 credits): This module focuses on the complexity of child and adolescent development in considering the impact of adverse conditions and experiences in the light of child and adolescent developmental and clinical theory. Students will explore the wider context for the child in relation to society, diversity, disability as well as health and environment while considering relevant legislation, ethics and social policy all in the context of play therapy practice. The module will use recent relevant research and literature to provide a learning framework for exploration. There will be a total of 10 hours of observations with children at two different stages of development, pre-school and primary. These will require detailed write ups and attendance at observation seminars.
• Play Therapy Research, Theory & Practice (20 credits):
  This module focuses on exploring theoretical links with play therapy practice. You will be introduced to a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, with particular reference to those methods most commonly used in play therapy research. There will be a focus on play therapy research and professional development which inform the advanced understanding of practice in the context of a theoretical perspective. The links between theory and practice will be explored through discussion groups, papers and individual journals. This module will be completed over 3 semesters. Two semesters in 2nd year and the 1st semester in 3rd year.

Year Three

• Practi