NJCU earns national designation for play therapy education

The Center for Studies of Play Therapy at New Jersey City University (NJCU) has earned designation as an Approved Center of Play Therapy Education by the Association for Play Therapy (APT).

As such, the NJCU counseling program will offer play therapy graduate and supervisor training courses in addition to generating publications and presentations to benefit students, faculty, and practitioners. These programs may be applied to satisfy state licensing requirements and to earn the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and Supervisor (RPT-S) credentials conferred by APT. 

The center was launched by its director, Yumiko Ogawa, PhD, LPC, RPT-S, an assistant professor of counselor education at NJCU.

“Because the rapidly increasing use of play therapy is also boosting demand for more university play therapy programs, APT applauds NJCU President Sue Henderson, Ph.D. and College of Education Dean Allan De Fina, Ph.D. for approving the establishment of the center,” says APT CEO Bill Burns, CAE. “We are confident that, under the leadership of Dr. Ogawa, it will significantly advance our growing field and serve those who counsel clients, particularly children, in schools, public agencies, private practices, and other venues.” 

APT, a national professional society, estimates that play therapy is routinely utilized by thousands of licensed psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists within and outside of the United States.

Mr. Burns reports that nearly 16% of accredited universities now offer some combination of play therapy graduate instruction and supervised play therapy experiences.

For interviews: Yumiko Ogawa, (201) 200-2474,yogawa@njcu.edu, or Bill Burns, APT, (559) 294-2128, x6,bburns@a4pt.org. 

For more information: Play Therapy,http://www.youtube.com/Assn4PlayTherapy, APT,www.a4pt.org, and NJCU,http://www.njcu.edu/edld/counseling