Play therapist

You'll help children and young people work through a range of emotional, behavioural, mental health and other challenges, including:

• abuse and neglect
• bereavement
• depression and anxiety
• divorce and family separation
• relationship and attachment issues
• traumatic experiences and violence.

Through play therapy, you'll provide a safe, accessible and supportive environment where children can express themselves, explore their feelings and process difficult experiences at their own pace. You'll help them better understand their emotions and find ways to manage challenging experiences. You may also work with parents, carers and other family members.

Children may find it difficult to put their thoughts, feelings and experiences into words. You'll therefore need to understand child development and how children communicate and express themselves through play.

What does a play therapist do?

As a play therapist, you'll need to:

• receive and manage referrals from parents, carers and professionals such as teachers, health professionals and social workers
• assess each child's needs and whether play therapy is appropriate, consulting with parents, carers and other professionals as necessary
• plan and deliver individual or group play therapy sessions, usually on a regular basis
• build a trusting therapeutic relationship with children and provide a safe, consistent environment where they can express themselves through play
• observe and respond to children's play, helping them explore and make sense of their feelings and experiences
• review and evaluate play therapy sessions and the child's progress
• work within professional and ethical guidelines, maintaining confidentiality and following safeguarding procedures
• keep accurate and confidential records and produce reports where required
• liaise with parents, carers and other professionals involved in the child's care, including attending review meetings and providing appropriate advice or consultation
• undertake regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development (CPD) to reflect on your practice and keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Play therapist salaries

• BAPT (British Association of Play Therapists) recommends that entry-level play therapist roles in the NHS should start at Band 7 of the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates. In England, Band 7 salaries range from £49,387 to £56,515. With further experience, training and specialist expertise, you may earn more.
• Many play therapists also work independently or take on private clients in addition to paid employment. Fees typically range from £50 to £100 per session, depending on factors such as experience, location and the nature of the work. Additional charges may apply for services such as assessments, report writing, meetings, travel or court attendance.
• Play therapists work in a range of settings, such as social services, education and healthcare, so salaries vary. If you're working for a local council, school or the NHS, for example, you may follow a graded salary structure. If you also hold another professional qualification, such as teaching or social work, your salary may be based on the relevant professional pay scale.

Pay can also vary according to your level of responsibility and location. Salaries for jobs in London, for example, are usually higher, although living costs are also higher.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Play therapist working hours

If you're employed by a school, local authority, healthcare service or other organisation, you'll usually work during normal daytime hours, Monday to Friday. If you work independently or see private clients, you may offer appointments in the evenings or at other times to suit clients.

How do you become a play therapist?

You'll need to complete postgraduate training in play therapy that is recognised by either the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) or Play Therapy UK (PTUK). Both organisations hold voluntary professional registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Entry requirements vary between courses. You'll usually need a relevant degree or professional qualification, together with considerable relevant professional experience of working with children and young people. Relevant subjects include:

• childhood studies
• education
• health and social care
• occupational therapy
• paediatric nursing
• psychology
• social work
• teaching.

You'll typically need at least two years' relevant professional experience, although some courses require around five years' experience for applicants with an academic rather than professional qualification. Check individual course requirements carefully.

BAPT accredits Masters-level play therapy courses at:

• Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
• University of Roehampton
• University of South Wales

For more information, see BAPT Play Therapy Training.

PTUK also accredits training leading to registration as a play therapist. Training arrangements are currently changing, so check the PTUK Play Therapy Training pages for the latest information on approved routes.

Courses include a mix of academic study and supervised clinical practice. Clinical supervision is an essential part of training. BAPT-accredited courses also require students to undertake personal therapy during training.

As you'll be working with children and young people, you'll need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (England and Wales) or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership (Scotland). You may also need health screening and professional indemnity insurance, depending on the course and professional body.

Play therapy is often a second career for people who already have relevant professional experience.

Play therapist skills

You'll need:

• a good understanding of child development, play and how children communicate through play
• strong observation, active listening and communication skills to understand and respond to children, young people and their families
• empathy, patience and a non-judgemental approach, with the ability to build trusting therapeutic relationships
• self-awareness and reflective skills to understand your own responses and use clinical supervision effectively
• the ability to work collaboratively with parents and carers, teachers, health professionals and other people involved in a child's care
• good professional judgement and organisation skills to assess needs and risk, manage a caseload, maintain appropriate boundaries and keep accurate records in line with safeguarding, confidentiality and professional standards.

Do you need play therapy experience?

You don't usually need direct experience of play therapy before applying for training, but you'll need substantial professional experience, either paid or voluntary, of working directly with children and young people.

Relevant experience can come from areas such as:

• education and teaching
• healthcare and mental health services
• paediatric nursing and occupational therapy
• psychology and counselling
• social work and family support
• youth and community work.

Experience of supporting children and young people with social, emotional, developmental or additional needs, or those who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, foster care or adoption, can be particularly useful.

You'll gain useful experience in settings such as schools and nurseries, hospitals and other healthcare services, social care, charities and community organisations. Check individual course requirements carefully, as providers differ in the type and amount of experience they accept.

It can be difficult to arrange work experience with a play therapist because of client confidentiality. However, speaking to a practising play therapist or attending an introductory or taster course can help you learn more about the profession before applying for training.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs play therapists?

You can work for a range of employers, including:

• child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
• children and family charities
• early years settings and children's centres
• fostering and adoption services
• hospitals, hospices and other NHS or private healthcare services
• residential services for children and young people
• schools
• social care and social work services.

Self-employment is also an option, and you can work independently with clients in private practice or through specialist agencies providing play therapy services.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BAPT Jobs
• CharityJob
• NHS Jobs and NHSScotland Jobs
• PTUK - Job Vacancies

Networking can also be useful when looking for work.

Employers will often expect you to hold an accredited play therapy qualification and be registered with BAPT, PTUK or another relevant professional body.

Where can a career as a play therapist lead?

As you gain experience, you can develop expertise in particular client groups or areas of practice, such as working with children affected by trauma, abuse, bereavement, disability or family difficulties. You may also undertake further training in specialist therapeutic approaches relevant to your area of practice. With further experience, you could move into service management with increased responsibility for the supervision of staff, the management of budgets, and writing or presenting reports.

There are also some opportunities to move into teaching and training or research. If you want to develop a research or academic career, you may choose to undertake further postgraduate study, including a PhD. With sufficient experience and additional training, you may also progress into clinical supervision.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is important throughout your career. BAPT and PTUK expect registered practitioners to keep their knowledge and skills up to date, and regular clinical supervision remains an essential part of professional practice. CPD can include short courses, workshops, conferences and specialist training in areas such as safeguarding, working with families, trauma-informed practice and developments in therapeutic practice.

As your career develops, you may choose to work freelance or set up your own private practice, either alongside employed work or as your main career. You may also develop a portfolio career combining clinical practice with supervision, training, consultancy or research.