Play therapy is inherently visual and tactile — sandtray arrangements, art materials, puppets, games, and the subtle interplay between therapist and child. That physicality makes some clinicians assume it can't translate to online training. But the educational components of play therapy — theory, case conceptualization, technique demonstration, and even supervised observation — work well in online formats when the video production and course structure are designed for it.
Online play therapy training teaches the theory, techniques, and case conceptualization skills that therapists need to work with children. The hands-on practicum component still requires real interaction with clients — but it can be supervised remotely through video observation, making training accessible to clinicians who don't live near an Association for Play Therapy (APT) approved training center.
This guide covers the play therapy training market, how to demonstrate techniques through video, structuring a training program, building practicum components, navigating APT credentialing, and reaching your target students.
The Play Therapy Training Market
Play therapy is a growing specialization within mental health. The Association for Play Therapy (APT) reports thousands of Registered Play Therapists (RPT) and RPT-Supervisors (RPT-S) across the United States, with growing international interest. The pathway to the RPT credential requires specific educational hours in play therapy theory and techniques — creating a structured demand for training that meets APT standards.
The primary audiences for play therapy training:
- Graduate students in counseling, psychology, and social work programs who want to specialize in child therapy. Many graduate programs don't offer dedicated play therapy coursework, so students seek it externally.
- Licensed therapists adding play therapy to their practice — LPCs, LCSWs, psychologists who see children but haven't had formal play therapy training.
- School counselors who work with young children and want play-based techniques for non-clinical settings.
- Therapists pursuing RPT or RPT-S credentials who need documented training hours from approved providers.
On Ruzuku, therapy and counseling courses have a median price of $190, with specialized training programs commanding higher prices. Cohort-based courses achieve 71.4% median completion, which aligns with the structured, sequential nature that play therapy training requires.
Demonstrate Techniques via Video
Play therapy is a show-don't-tell discipline. Text descriptions of sandtray techniques or art therapy interventions fall flat without visual demonstration. The quality of your video production directly affects the quality of your training. Here's what works:
Multi-Camera Setup
The most effective play therapy demonstrations use at least two camera angles simultaneously:
- Face camera: Shows your facial expressions, eye tracking, and emotional attunement — the relational elements that distinguish play therapy from just "playing with a kid"
- Overhead or materials camera: Shows the play materials, the child's (or demonstration partner's) hands, the sandtray arrangement, the art process — the detail that students need to see to replicate the technique
Edit these angles together so students can see both the relational and technical dimensions. Many demonstrations benefit from a picture-in-picture format: the materials view as the primary frame with the therapist's face in a corner insert.
Technique-Specific Video Approaches
- Sandtray therapy: Overhead camera captures the full tray. Time-lapse of a sandtray being built shows the process — and you can narrate the clinical significance of placement decisions after the fact. Close-ups of specific miniatures and their positioning add detail.
- Art therapy: Side-angle camera captures both the drawing/painting process and the creator's engagement with the material. Screen recordings of digital art tools work for supplementary demonstrations.
- Puppetry and dramatic play: Front-facing camera captures the puppet interaction. Split screen can show the therapist's face alongside the puppet characters. Narrate the therapeutic intent behind each intervention.
- Games and structured activities: Standard camera angle showing both participants. Zoom in on game boards, cards, or materials as needed. Post-activity analysis is where the learning deepens — what happened, what it means clinically, what to do next.
Record demonstrations with volunteer participants, colleagues, or actors — never with actual therapy clients. This keeps your training clearly in the education space and avoids consent complications. For more on video production for therapy training, see our guide to online vs. in-person therapy training.
Structure Your Training Program
Play therapy training programs typically follow a progressive structure that builds from theory through observation to supervised practice. The educational components — everything except direct client contact — can be delivered online.
Program Architecture
Typical Play Therapy Training Progression
- Module 1: Foundations (6-8 hours): History of play therapy, major theoretical models (child-centered, Adlerian, Gestalt, cognitive-behavioral), child development foundations, neuroscience of play
- Module 2: Core Techniques (10-15 hours): Sandtray, art therapy, puppetry, storytelling, games, structured and unstructured play — each with video demonstrations and analysis
- Module 3: Case Conceptualization (8-10 hours): Assessment through play, treatment planning, progress monitoring, working with families, cultural considerations in play therapy
- Module 4: Special Populations (6-8 hours): Trauma-focused play therapy, play therapy with autistic children, grief and loss, behavioral challenges, parent-child interaction techniques
- Module 5: Practicum (varies): Supervised practice with actual clients — see section below
A 30-hour introductory program covers Modules 1-2 and gives participants a foundation for beginning supervised practice. A 150-hour comprehensive program covers all modules and aligns with APT educational requirements. Design your program to match your expertise and your audience's needs — you don't have to cover everything in a single course.
Build Practicum Components
The practicum is what separates play therapy training from play therapy education. Knowing the theory is necessary but not sufficient — therapists need supervised practice with real children to develop competency. Here's how to structure the practicum for an online program:
Video Observation Model
Trainees record themselves conducting play therapy sessions (with appropriate client consent and IRB/ethical approval) and submit the recordings for supervision. This model is already standard in many in-person training programs — the online version simply uses secure video sharing instead of one-way mirrors.
- Session recording: Trainees record full sessions from a fixed camera angle that captures both therapist and child
- Video review: In small group supervision sessions (4-6 trainees), review clips together. The instructor pauses, rewinds, and annotates clinical decision points
- Written reflection: Trainees submit session notes and self-evaluation alongside each recording, identifying what they did, why, and what they'd do differently
Live Observation via Video Conference
For more intensive supervision, observe sessions in real time via secure video conference. The supervisor watches through a camera in the play therapy room (with client consent) and provides immediate feedback after the session. This mirrors the one-way mirror model used in many training clinics.
Both models require clear consent processes, secure technology, and attention to confidentiality. Build templates for consent forms and recording agreements into your course materials.
Navigate APT Credentialing
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) offers two primary credentials:
- Registered Play Therapist (RPT): Requires a mental health master's degree, clinical licensure, 150 hours of play therapy-specific instruction, and 350 hours of supervised play therapy experience (under an RPT-S)
- Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S): RPT credential plus additional supervision training and experience. RPT-S supervisors can sign off on trainees' practicum hours.
If your training program counts toward RPT requirements, you'll need to ensure your content aligns with APT's educational standards. Key considerations:
- APT specifies content areas that must be covered in the 150 instructional hours — ensure your curriculum maps to these areas
- Document training hours clearly so graduates can submit them to APT
- If you hold RPT-S status, you can offer both training and supervised practicum hours — a significant value proposition
- APT-approved providers can market their programs as meeting RPT educational requirements, which is a powerful differentiator
For details on CE accreditation processes that apply to play therapy training, see our guide on creating CE/CEU-approved courses.
Price Play Therapy Training
Play therapy training pricing reflects the specialization level and the credential value. Programs that count toward APT requirements command premium prices because graduates receive tangible professional benefit.
| Program Type | Hours | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory workshop | 6-12 hours | $150-$350 |
| Foundational training | 30-50 hours | $500-$1,000 |
| Comprehensive (RPT-aligned) | 150 hours | $2,000-$4,000 |
| Training + supervised practicum | 150+ instruction + 350 supervised | $4,000-$8,000 |
Payment plans are essential at the higher price points. Breaking a $3,000 comprehensive program into 6 monthly payments of $500 makes it accessible to graduate students and early-career therapists who are investing in their specialization. For detailed pricing strategy, see our pricing guide for therapy courses.
Reach Your Target Audience
Play therapy training has specific channels where your audience gathers:
- APT chapters and conferences: The Association for Play Therapy has state and regional chapters that host conferences, workshops, and networking events. Presenting at these events establishes your authority and feeds into your online program.
- Graduate program partnerships: Offer your program as a supplement to counseling and psychology programs that don't have dedicated play therapy faculty. Some programs will recommend or even formally partner with external training providers.
- Professional associations: ACA (American Counseling Association), NASW (National Association of Social Workers), and state-level counseling associations have play therapy interest groups and can promote approved training.
- Social media and content: Share short technique demonstrations (sandtray setups, puppet interactions) on platforms where therapists gather. These serve as proof of your teaching quality and drive enrollment.
For more strategies on finding your first students as a therapy course creator, see our guide to getting your first therapy students. And for a broader look at how Ruzuku compares to other platforms for delivering therapy training, see our best platforms for therapist course creators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can play therapy techniques be taught effectively online?
The educational and demonstration components translate well to online delivery — video demonstrations of play therapy techniques, case study analysis, and discussion of theoretical frameworks. The practicum component (supervised practice with actual clients) still requires in-person or live observation, which can be done via video conferencing with appropriate consent.
Who takes play therapy courses?
Licensed mental health professionals (LPCs, LCSWs, psychologists) seeking specialization, school counselors, and graduate students in counseling or psychology. Many are pursuing credentials from the Association for Play Therapy (APT), which requires specific training hours in play therapy theory and techniques.
What credentials do I need to teach play therapy?
A Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) credential from the Association for Play Therapy is the standard. Clinical experience in play therapy and a mental health license (LPC, LCSW, or equivalent) are essential. APT-approved providers can offer training that counts toward RPT requirements.
How do I demonstrate play therapy techniques online?
Use multi-camera video setups showing both the therapist's face and the play materials simultaneously. Record demonstrations with volunteer participants (not actual clients). Screen recordings can show sandtray arrangements, art therapy processes, and puppetry techniques. Live sessions allow for role-play practice among course participants.
How do I structure a play therapy training program?
A typical online play therapy training includes: foundational theory (child development, play therapy models), technique demonstrations (sandtray, art, puppetry, games), case conceptualization practice, and supervised practicum hours. Programs range from 30-hour introductory courses to 150-hour comprehensive training tracks aligned with APT requirements.