How Did We Get Here? History of Play Therapy - EmpathyWell | Counseling and Play Therapy in Dallas

The APT Registered Play Therapist Credentialing Standards require that play therapists gain at least five hours in history of play therapy. The purpose of this standard is to help play therapists have a deeper grounding in philosophy, practice, and research of play therapy. Knowing history of play therapy allows therapists to have better understanding of the current state of various approaches, as well as understanding of the public’s embrace of play therapy practices. History of play therapy is filled with philosophical and ethical dilemmas faced by founding practitioners and researchers. Play therapy can be traced back 100 years indicating that play therapy is one of the oldest forms of therapy still currently in practice. Such a long history leads a play therapist to wonder why play therapy has endured, why some approaches have thrived while others have evolved or ceased to be practiced, and how have the early play therapy architects shaped our current state.

This workshop will trace the roots of play therapy from the beginning to uncover stories of early play therapists and how their work affects our values, beliefs, similarities, differences, and practice today. Using an experiential instructional style, Dr. Ray will actively engage participants in the critique of artifacts, literature pieces, stories, and research tidbits related to play therapy history. This workshop will be presented atheoretically in order to objectively evaluate the events and work of play therapists over the last 100 years, leading participants to draw their own conclusions based on critical view of history.

Earn 5 Non-Contact CEs!

Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT

Location: Live Webinar

Learning Objectives:

Participants will list two major philosophies that impacted the beginning of play therapy.
Participants will describe the differences between Klein and Freud in their approach to play therapy.
Participants will identify the early struggles of the play therapy approach.
Participants will describe how early and current research has impacted the practice of play therapy.
Participants will be able to trace the history of at least 5 current approaches to play therapy.

Speaker:

Dee C. Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S is co-owner of the counseling practice, EmpathyWell, in Highland Village, TX where she facilitates play therapy, training, consultation, and supervision. Dr. Ray is Regents Emerita Professor in the Counseling Program and Director Emerita of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas. Dr. Ray has published over 150 articles, chapters, and books in the field of play therapy, specializing in research specifically examining the process and effects of Child Centered Play Therapy. Dr. Ray is author of Playful Education: Using Play Therapy Strategies to Elevate Your Classroom, A Therapist’s Guide to Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years, Advanced Play Therapy: Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice, and co-author of Multicultural Play Therapy and Group Play Therapy. She is a founding board member and past president of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, as well as past board chair of the Association for Play Therapy. She is an American Counseling Association Fellow, and two-time recipient of the Association for Play Therapy Outstanding Research Award, among many others.

Fees, CEs, and Participation

This online and live training is only $150 per participant. This fee gets you 5 Non-Contact CE hours. EmpathyWell, PLLC is an Approved APT Provider: 22-674. Participants must be present in order to receive the CE credits and full completion of the course.

Complaints Review & Resolutions: Individuals may contact EmpathyWell, PLLC at [email protected] or (972) 498-1307 if they would like to express a concern about a continuing education program provided by EmpathyWell, PLLC. We will consider all complaints, make any necessary decisions or changes, and respond within 5-10 business days.

Confidentiality and Security of Participant Information: EmpathyWell, PLLC will keep all participant information received during registration confidential and secure including participant name, phone number, email address, address, education level, and license/certification information. During any live webinar or in-person program, EmpathyWell, PLLC will ask for verbal consent prior to taking photos involving participants or sharing photos including participant images on marketing materials or social media.

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