What is the Postgraduate Certificate in Play Therapy and Musical Play Programme?

The Postgraduate Certificate in Play Therapy and Musical Play provides theoretical and practical knowledge relating to Play therapy, drawing on the fields of Clinical Arts Therapy, Child Psychology, Early Intervention, Play Therapy and Musical Play.

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What makes this course unique?

This is the only course that brings music and play together in ways that enhance children’s physical, mental, and emotional health.

Play is the universal language of all children; the way they explore their world, develop physical and social skills and regulate personal responses to difficult situations and conflicts.

Play promotes sensory, social and emotional understanding, enhancing positive emotions, helping children to develop resilience and problem solving skills.

Musical play activities engage the whole brain: calming the lower brain, engaging the mid-brain and stimulating the upper cortex.

Musical play develops a sense of self, regulation, communication, relationships, sensitivity, timing, social skills, spatial awareness.

Musical play helps therapists to understand how each child processes the world, and what their movements, words, and ideas tell about the child and their emotional state and learning.

This course not only focuses on working with typically developing children but also with children with a range of special needs and developmental profiles. Play Therapy and Musical Playnaturally combine to foster children’s creative thinking, self-expression and musicality thus promoting their well-being.

What does this programme consist of?

The course of study for the Certificate comprises four courses and three practice-based workshops. Participants will complete the following courses:

History and theories of Play Therapy and Musical Play

Developmental ages & stages in Play Therapy and Musical play

Play Therapy and theoretical and practical Musical Play techniques, applications, and skills.

The language of play, musical play and developmentally appropriate practices

What are the entry requirements?

Students entering the programme typically have completed a three-year undergraduate degree in a relevant professional qualification, including, Teaching, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Psychology or Nursing plus a minimum of two years’ post-graduation work experience.

Is this Programme for me?

The course will benefit professionals working in the following fields

Psychology

Occupational Therapy

Clinical Arts Therapy

Counselling

Nursing

Social Work

Teaching

Early Intervention

Psychotherapy

When can I start using Play Therapy and Musical Play in my clinical practice?

The Postgraduate Certificate in Play Therapy and Musical Play is Stage One of our Training Programme. Those who have successfully completed the Certificate may be eligible to apply for Stage Two which includes the Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy and Therapeutic Musical Play. This advanced qualification is clinically oriented and focuses on therapeutic application of Play Therapy and Musical Play for children with various mental health conditions, multi-system developmental disabilities and/or learning difficulties.

Please note that our courses are not NZQA-approved. Due to the size of our centre and cost of becoming an NZQA approved training establishment, it is not practical for us to pursue accreditation at this stage. We believe that Play Therapy training should be affordable and easily accessible by teachers, mental health and early intervention professionals. The cost of pursuing NZQA approval would make it difficult to offer our courses at low tuition fees.

What is the Postgraduate Certificate in Play Therapy and Musical Play Programme?

What makes this course unique?

What does this programme consist of?

What are the entry requirements?

Is this Programme for me?

When can I start using Play Therapy and Musical Play in my clinical practice?

Available courses

The Postgraduate Certificate in Musical Play Therapy: Module 1

The Postgraduate Certificate in Musical Play Therapy: Module 2

The Postgraduate Certificate in Musical Play Therapy: Module 3

The Postgraduate Certificate in Musical Play Therapy: Module 4

Module 5: Musical Play

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