The Start of My Play Therapy Journey
Good morning everyone,
I have a bit of time on my hands this morning so I said I’d sit down and write an old fashioned blog post. I am on site for our second weekend of the play therapy certificate training. I left way ahead of time to avoid traffic and arrived an hour and half early. Since starting this course I have had so many people contact me saying they have been thinking about it, want to start it but aren’t sure etc etc. That was me too! I have been thinking about this for quite a while now and decided for some reason, that now with a new baby, is the right time. I felt like if I didn’t start it now, I never would so I just went for it.
My thoughts so far? It is a lot of work. I did a Masters three years ago and this, in my opinion, is way more work and it is early days yet! So more work that I anticipated, but yet I am really enjoying the nature of the work involved. I am so glad I decided to go for it. I am studying with Play Therapy Ireland, APAC, through UCC. I am doing the certificate month, which is 20 months. I then hope to progress to the diploma which is a further 20 months, and will be equipped then to work with children aged three to twelve years old as a play therapist.
What’s involved in the course?
Five three day, on site weekends. Friday is 9-7, and 9-5 Saturday and Sunday. This for me, is the hardest part. The weekends are really interesting and fun, but I miss the kids and I don’t like being away from them all day. It is particularly hard leaving Charlie as he is only six months and is so attached to me. I just keep telling myself it will be worth it in the long run, and it is only five weekends.
Supervision- every two weeks or every six sessions. You need to find a supervisor yourself and meet them every two weeks, the cost is around E60 a session.
100 hours placement – max four hours a week. This will be tricky if you are teaching full time like me, but I’ll get there eventually!
Assignments- there’s lots of assignments and reflective diary work etc but I am really enjoying this part of the course and the research and reading aspect.
Play Kit: I was so excited to go shopping for my play kit, but I already have everything on the list and more from my own children so I’ll be using that for a start and will over time start gathering some new bits for myself!
My eventual plan is unclear. I don’t want to give up teaching, or even job share. Despite how difficult our profession is becoming, I still love it. I am also developing a real interest and love of play therapy so I don’t know how I’ll do both! Ideally I would like to work with maybe two clients a week after school until my own children are older and then I will review it. I must say though, even though it is busy and hectic, I am so enjoying learning something completely new and different to teaching, something just for me. I’d say if you’re thinking about it just go for it! Class starts now in 20 minutes so I better go.
Valerie