The use of play and creative arts therapies for children with these issues is well developed in the UK and the USA. In many settings such as schools, social services and hospitals, play therapy is well established. There is a substantial body of research which shows that overall 70% of children with these problems show a positive change after receiving play and creative arts therapies. It has also been demonstrated that children from all countries benefit including Asia and Africa provided that the Western model is culturally adapted.
The necessity for standards to protect the children:
Because all parents are concerned about their children’s future there is the danger of untrained, uncertified, unsupervised practitioners exploiting families. It isn’t just about sitting alongside helping a child to play and claiming to be a “Play Therapist” after reading a book on the subject. Some children will become damaged by unsafe practice.
There has been an increasingly urgent need for a professional body in Hong Kong to set standards of practice and training for safe practice and also to provide a supporting infrastructure. This has now been set up as Play Therapy Hong Kong, a not for profit organisation.
A call for all professionals working with children to update their skills:
Play and Creative Arts therapies are soundly based on psychological and neuroscience principles, but these have to be acquired and incorporated into a therapist’s practice using experiential training as well as theory. There is considerable scope for bona fide professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, teachers, social workers, paediatricians and occupational therapists to update and extend their skills for working with children.
At last, a coherent and accredited play and creative arts training programme is available in Hong Kong:
A number of short ad hoc play therapy training events have taken place over recent years in Hong Kong but until now there hasn’t been an accredited, coherent, comprehensive course that leads to certification by a recognised body. Our training is a comprehensive course that is recognized by the UK Professional Standard Authority for its professionalism clinically.
Q: When will the receipt be issued?
A: The receipt will be emailed to you on the start of the course.
Q: Will there be a certificate for completion afterwards?
A: You will get a certificate of attendance at the end of the trainings. A proper certificate of award will be emailed to you after you have satisfactory met all the criteria of the training.
Q: Will there be a practicum involved?
A: Yes, there will be requirements for practicum for each course. 100 practicum sessions for the Certificate, another 100 practicum sessions for the Diploma course, 60 sessions for the Supervision Course and 40 sessions for the Filial Play Coaching Course.
Q: How will the practice hours be arranged after the training?
A: Information will be delivered at the training sessions.
Q: Who will be the supervisors?
A: A supervisor list will be handed at the Training.
Q: How many hours needed for supervised practice?
A: 1 hour of supervision for every 2 weeks during clinical practice weeks.
Q: If my background is not in child psychology, would it be ok?
A: Yes if you have relevant background training with children, mental health, education, social work, medical or allied–health related. If not, please write to us directly at playtherapyhk@gmail.com for further consideration.
Q: I understand that we have to join the membership of PTI before starting on the training. How does this go? How much is the membership fee?
A: You will be invited to join the membership when you submit the application form for the course. The trainee membership fee is HK$750 per year.
Q: Where can I find or get the application form for the courses?
A: Please write directly to playtherapyhk@gmail.com for the application procedure.
