Therapy Parents' Page Finding a Play Therapist . Finding a Play Therapist I sometimes receive emails from parents looking for a play therapist for their children. This segment discusses ways to find a play therapist. Credentials Many play therapists are also licensed in another mental health field, such as psychology, social work, counseling, etc.
Licenses usually permit a professional to practice independently.
Mental health counselors without licenses usually practice under the direct supervision of a licensed professional or within an agency. In general, it's desirable to find someone with a license or someone who is regularly supervised by a licensed professional. This credential is provided through the Association for Play Therapy. It requires the play therapist to have at least a master's degree in a mental health field, to complete a substantial amount of play therapy training, to have extensive clinical experience, and to have received play therapy supervision. There are also specialty credentials in play therapy.