Play Therapy Questions and Answers
Hi everyone and welcome to my blog. I’m just sharing this post about my reflections on the play therapy course I’m doing so far, how I’m finding it and then I’m going to answer some questions I got on Instagram.
I started this course back in September. I had been interested in play therapy for quite a while but with young kids I just felt like there was never a good time. I was busy with school, with my blog, with the kids and then I was expecting Charlie and I just kept putting it off . When Charlie was 3 months old, I got the email from APAC for the registration of interest in the course and they said they were starting a course in September. I felt like it’s now or never so I just went for it. I applied and then I had to do a short interview which was very casual through a zoom meeting , then I accepted my place and started in September.
I am doing the certificate course with APAC and APAC is accredited through University College Cork. It’s five three day weekends and they’re quite full on . Friday is 9 -7 then Saturday and Sunday 9:00 – 5:00 and they do tend to keep you the full time you know there’s no getting out early! It is quite intense. The weekends are really tough going, I find them exhausting but I also really enjoy them. I find myself feeling very motivated, very inspired and very excited about the future after the onsite weekends.
The course also consists of 100 placement hours so you find a placement resource and you do 100 hours , which I really need to get started on. You have to do 100 hours over the 18 months and then every two weeks you have supervision as well with your supervisor.
How much did the course cost?
I can’t remember exactly I have to check I think it was around 4 1/2 thousand for the certificate and then it will be around that again for the diploma. You have to do supervision which is an extra expense too. Its roughly E60 every two weeks once you start placement so that’s an extra cost as well and then obviously if you have to travel you have to pay for you know your hotel stays etc.
What leave do you use?
In terms of leave I’m using my EPV days. I know a lot of teachers are and others are using different types of leave it just depends on your school.
Do I think it’s doable with school?
Honestly I do think it’s doable with school. I’m teaching full time and I plan to continue teaching full time so it is doable, in my opinion. You’ll have to take the five Fridays off so keep that in mind. There’s a lot of assignments as well which again I find doable. I completed a masters so the academic side of this isn’t as challenging as a masters, so they are perfectly manageable but just factor that into your time as well. The only thing I find difficult really is being away from my family for those weekends. All in all it is keeping me very busy but I think it will be worth it in the long run. I am enjoying it, I just wish there were more hours in the day sometimes!
Am I planning on leaving teaching for this?
NO! I know we complain about how hard teaching is getting, ( because it is) but I never see myself leaving the classroom. I just know that for sure. I love teaching even on the hard days. So honestly, I don’t know where actually working as a play therapist fits into my life, maybe in the evenings when my children are older, who knows, but for now I am just happy and grateful to be learning about something new and challenging myself.
How am I managing placement?
I will be doing placement straight after school three days a week.
What is in my playkit?
Sand tray, symbols, instruments, clay, paint, play doh, dinosaurs, doll house and figures, cars, action figures, and anything else I can borrow from my kids playroom!