GHP / Mental Health Awards 2022 17 , Mar22288 Play therapy is an incredibly successful tool in the treatment of children. Indeed, be it for combatting communication issues or as a way of processing traumatic events, the therapy has displayed numerous benefits. At the forefront of this method is Play Therapy UK, a passionate advocate for improving the mental health systemand a leading play therapy training and membership organisation. Since its founding in October 2000, Play Therapy UK has devoted itself to providing exceptional play and creative arts therapy training, as well as quality assuring those therapists who are registered through it. Indeed, over the past two decades the company has evolved into the largest and most progressive play therapy professional organisation in the UK, with much of this growth stemming from its programme of continual innovation and high standards. Play Therapy UK works off solid evidence and experience, and it constantly strives to expand its clinical evidence base to improve the quality of its registrants’ practice and to demonstrate the effectiveness of play therapy delivered to Play Therapy UK standards. Furthermore, the company boasts a Clinical Evidence Base, which contains data from over 12,000 cases. This has enabled Play Therapy UK to successfully demonstrate the efficacy of play and creative arts therapies and further identify trends in children’s mental health to allow continuous development of the content delivered through its university accredited training programmes. In addition, this database shows that between 77% and 84% of children display a positive change when exposed to consistent, high-quality use of play and creative arts therapies. Consequently, Play Therapy UK takes an informed approach that stems from such data. Since 2002, its therapists – each of whom are registered and highly-qualified – have utilised a holistic approach. This method has proven to be effective in the treatment of children who have social, emotional, behavioural, or mental health problems, and has also aided parent/child relationships. Most importantly, Play Therapy UK truly understands that no two children are the same – they come from different backgrounds, present different issues, and communicate differently. Henceforth, its services are tailored to the child’s needs, and are supplied with kindness, understanding, and patience. Therapists registered with Play Therapy UK must have completed some or all of Play Therapy UK’s three-stage Post-Graduate Masters in Practice Based Play Therapy training programme, delivered in partnership with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy and Leeds Beckett University, and undertake a yearly revalidation process. On top of this, Play Therapy UK’ Register was the first in its field to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under their Accredited Registers programme – an authority that independently assesses organisations who register those working in professions that are not currently regulated by law, including play therapy. This further acts as a guarantee that Play Therapy UK registered therapists are wholly competent and qualified. The company is currently working on numerous campaigns, including the Child Mental Health Charter campaign which places children at the centre of mental health policy reform in order to improve the support available for those who need it. In addition, due to the conflict in Ukraine, Play Therapy UK has increased its support for its colleagues at Play Therapy International Poland. Play Therapy UK created and presented two CPD webinars for its registrants, the proceeds of which were all donated to the A Teddy for Masha and Sasha Foundation, formed by Play Therapy International Poland to provide ‘Anti-Stress Packages’ for children arriving in Poland as refugees from Ukraine. Additionally, Play Therapy UK are working on the publication of several illustrated therapeutic stories which will then be translated into Ukrainian and provided to children in order to help them process their feelings and trauma. Unsurprisingly, 2022 is set to be an incredibly busy year for Play Therapy UK. The introduction of a plethora of new courses is set to become a key project throughout the year, including the launch of its Level 5 Diploma in Developing Emotional Well-Being in Children and Adolescents - Convergent Practice Course. However, the company’s main priority is its work with the Child Mental Health Charter Campaign, as it plans to continue to lobby the Government for practical and meaningful mental health policy reform that acknowledges and caters for the needs of children as well as adults and adolescents. Contact: Maria Bayne Company: APAC Ltd / Play Therapy UK Web Address: https://playtherapy.org.uk/ Best Play Therapy Training Provider - UK
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