CAPT - Canadian Association for Play Therapy

CAPT - Canadian Association for Play Therapy CAPT is the premier professional association in support of Play Therapy in Canada CAPT has a code of professional ethics to which each member must adhere.

The Canadian Association for Play Therapy is the professional organization for those interested in Child and Family Psychotherapy, Play Therapy and Counseling with children and families. CAPT performs many important functions for its members including:

Professional Standards: CAPT sets high professional standards for clinical practice. These standards help to ensure that skilled and effective therapy is available throughout the community. Policies and Procedures are in place to govern CAPT and guide professional and ethical practices. Specialized Training: CAPT sets standards of education and training for professional therapist as well as establishing programs of continuing education and training. CAPT examines and accredits programs and training centers in Child & Play Therapy. CAPT has established Foundation Play Therapy Days that is a set of trainings in order to meet our members' needs. Information is available upon request. Professional Publications: The Association periodicals are published to advance the professional understanding of Play Therapy. Articles are published on clinical practice, research and theory in Play Therapy. CAPT members receive these periodicals as a membership benefit.

Passionate about supporting children's mental health and well-being? 🌟 Want to be a part of a growing community of profe...
02/27/2026

Passionate about supporting children's mental health and well-being? 🌟 Want to be a part of a growing community of professionals dedicated to using play as a powerful tool for healing?

If this sounds like you, join the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT)!

Why join?
👉 Access to specialized training and certification in Play Therapy
👉 Connect with a network of child-focused mental health professionals
👉 Stay informed with exclusive resources, research, and best practices
👉 Advocate for the power of play in supporting children's emotional growth

Whether you're a therapist, educator, or healthcare provider, CAPT provides the knowledge, tools, and community to help you make a meaningful impact. 💗

Ready to become a member? Check out our different membership options 🟣 https://canadianplaytherapy.com/membership/

📚 Black History Month Reading ListStories that Support Identity, Belonging, and Brave ConversationsThis Black History Mo...
02/26/2026

📚 Black History Month Reading List

Stories that Support Identity, Belonging, and Brave Conversations

This Black History Month, we’re sharing a curated list of Black-authored children’s and youth books that support conversations about identity, resilience, community, and justice—across developmental stages.

From stories that celebrate joy, culture, and pride to those that gently introduce historical truths and social realities, these books can be meaningful tools in playrooms, classrooms, and homes when used with care and intention.

✨ Featured themes across the list include:

Identity and self-worth

Cultural pride and belonging

Courage, resistance, and community

Canadian and global Black histories

📖 The list includes age-grouped recommendations for:

Early Childhood (ages 3–6)

Early Elementary (ages 7–9)

Middle Grade (ages 8–12)

Upper Elementary & Youth (ages 10+)

🧠 Clinical Note for Play Therapists & Caregivers:
Books that address racism, segregation, or racial violence are best used with preparation, predictable structure, and opportunities for regulation and reflection. In play therapy, stories are most effective when paired with choice-based activities—such as drawing, role-play, sand tray, or storytelling—that externalize injustice as the problem, not the child

We encourage therapists and caregivers to follow the child’s lead, honour curiosity, and prioritize emotional safety while engaging with these stories.

📌 Save this post or share it with colleagues, educators, and families looking for thoughtful, developmentally appropriate Black History Month resources.

❄️ Move to Shift Your MoodA little movement can make a big difference during the deepest part of winter.Try:🌟 A 2-minute...
02/25/2026

❄️ Move to Shift Your Mood
A little movement can make a big difference during the deepest part of winter.

Try:
🌟 A 2-minute stretch
🌟 Shoulder rolls
🌟 A short walk
🌟 Standing in sunlight

Movement helps regulate the nervous system and release tension.

👚 Pink Shirt Day: Stand Up To Bullying 👚Pink Shirt Day is an important annual event dedicated to raising awareness about...
02/25/2026

👚 Pink Shirt Day: Stand Up To Bullying 👚

Pink Shirt Day is an important annual event dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and promoting kindness, inclusion, and acceptance. What started as a simple act of solidarity has grown into a global movement.

Pink Shirt Day encourages everyone to choose kindness and work together to prevent bullying in schools, workplaces and online.

👚 Speak Up: Encourage bystanders to intervene safely or report bullying
👚 Choose Kindness: Promote positive social interactions and empathy.
👚 Inclusion & Acceptance: Celebrate diversity and ensure everyone feels safe and valued.

💗 Play Therapy can help children process emotions and experiences related to bullying or witnessing it, while also helping them develop empathy, build resilience, and practice social skills.

🖤 Celebrating Black voices in play therapy & child-centred careWe’re honoured to spotlight a CAPT member in Nova Scotia ...
02/23/2026

🖤 Celebrating Black voices in play therapy & child-centred care

We’re honoured to spotlight a CAPT member in Nova Scotia whose work reflects the power of culturally affirming resources in supporting children’s identity, self-expression, and emotional wellbeing.

Stacy Darku is a Registered Counselling Therapist and Play Therapy Intern with over 15 years of experience in the mental health field.
Her work centres on supporting individuals healing from trauma, identity struggles, and lived experiences of racial injustice.

📘 Featured Resource: Imani and the Shades of Black
This beautifully illustrated children’s book celebrates the many shades of Black identity—inviting conversations about self-love, belonging, and pride in a way that feels accessible, gentle, and joyful for young readers.

Resources like this can be meaningful additions to the playroom, offering children mirrors that reflect who they are—and windows into the experiences of others.

✨ Representation matters.
✨ Stories matter.
✨ Play and storytelling can be powerful tools for healing.

❄️ Winter of Play: Winter Story StonesPaint or draw winter symbols on stones and use them to inspire stories, emotions, ...
02/23/2026

❄️ Winter of Play: Winter Story Stones
Paint or draw winter symbols on stones and use them to inspire stories, emotions, or shared narratives. Paint symbols like snowflakes, mittens, stars, or animals.

Use them for:
➡️ Story prompts
➡️ “Pick a feeling” discussions
➡️ Hero journeys
➡️ Sibling or peer storytelling

Great for expressive play.

💛 Black Play Therapy is more than just play—it’s a safe space for healing, identity affirmation, and emotional expressio...
02/20/2026

💛 Black Play Therapy is more than just play—it’s a safe space for healing, identity affirmation, and emotional expression for Black children.

⭐️ Culturally Responsive: Therapy tools, books, and toys reflect Black identity & lived experiences.

⭐️ Healing Racial Trauma: Supports children in processing race-related stress, discrimination, and systemic challenges.

⭐️ Community-Centered: Emphasizes family, storytelling, and Afrocentric principles to foster resilience.

Representation matters in mental health care. Let’s create spaces where Black children feel seen, heard, and supported.

Learn more 🔗 blackplaytherapy.com

🎭 CAPT™ Foundation Play Therapy Training – Spring 2026 🎭Are you a mental health professional looking to integrate Play T...
02/19/2026

🎭 CAPT™ Foundation Play Therapy Training – Spring 2026 🎭

Are you a mental health professional looking to integrate Play Therapy into your practice? CAPT’s Foundation Play Therapy Training offers individual training days covering key theory & practice topics.

This training is perfect for:
✅ Play Therapists
✅ Psychotherapists & Counselors
✅ Social Workers
✅ Psychologists
✅ Educators & School Counselors
✅ Child & Youth Workers
✅ Occupational Therapists

✅ Complete 180 hours at your own pace
✅ Learn from expert Play Therapists
✅ Flexible training to fit your schedule

Join us this Summer 2026 and take the next step in your Play Therapy journey!

📅 Stay tuned for upcoming posts highlighting each training session.

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/45Wn1vE

In times of loss, trauma, or uncertainty, children may struggle to express what they are feeling.Play therapy provides a...
02/19/2026

In times of loss, trauma, or uncertainty, children may struggle to express what they are feeling.

Play therapy provides a safe, developmentally appropriate way for children to process grief, fear, anger, and so much more. Play is the universal language of all children and a primary way for them to process their healthy and challenging experiences.

Certified Play Therapists are trained to help children navigate difficult experiences and support emotional healing. To find a qualified Play Therapist you can go to the CAPT website below and click on “Find a Play Therapist”.

As well, you can connect with the BC Play Therapy Association (bcplaytherapy.ca) or The B.C. Children’s Hospital.

To learn more about the healing benefits of play or find a Certified Play Therapist near you, visit: https://canadianplaytherapy.com

You do not have to go through this alone.

📚 Celebrating Black History Month with Children's Author Itah Sadu 📚This Black History Month, CAPT celebrates the vital ...
02/18/2026

📚 Celebrating Black History Month with Children's Author Itah Sadu 📚

This Black History Month, CAPT celebrates the vital role of diverse voices in children's literature, particularly within Play Therapy, where stories are essential for shaping identity, healing, and belonging.

We spotlight Itah Sadu, an award-winning children's author, co-owner of A Different Booklist bookstore, Managing Director of Blackhurst Cultural Centre and founder of the Emancipation Day Freedom Trainride. Itah Sadu's books centre and celebrate the experiences of Black children, offering crucial representation that Play Therapists can incorporate into their resources.

📖 Books by Itah Sadu:
✨ I Am Big! – A powerful story about self-confidence and identity.
✨ Greetings, Leroy – A heartwarming tale of immigration and new beginnings.
✨ Christopher, Please Clean Up Your Room! – A fun and relatable story about responsibility and independence.

Including diverse literature in Play Therapy fosters inclusivity, empathy, and cultural awareness, ensuring that every child feels seen and valued.

🌍 Let’s continue to uplift diverse voices in children's literature!

Our hearts are with the community of Tumbler Ridge, BC during this difficult time.We extend our deepest condolences to t...
02/17/2026

Our hearts are with the community of Tumbler Ridge, BC during this difficult time.

We extend our deepest condolences to the children, families, educators, and community members affected. When a community experiences loss, it is felt collectively—especially by children, who often experience grief in ways that may not yet have words.

Please know that you are not alone. Communities across Canada stand with you, holding space for healing, connection, and care. ♥️

With compassion,
Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT)

❄️ Winter of Play: Breathing CloudsTry “Breathing Clouds”—watch your breath make a cloud in the cold air.How:🌬️ Take a s...
02/16/2026

❄️ Winter of Play: Breathing Clouds
Try “Breathing Clouds”—watch your breath make a cloud in the cold air.

How:
🌬️ Take a slow breath in
🌬️ Exhale and watch your “cloud” appear
🌬️ Repeat 3–5 times
🌬️ Pair with a grounding phrase (“I am calm,” “I am safe”)

Pair with slow, mindful breaths for grounding.

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Grimsby, ON

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+19059455905

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The Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) is the professional organization for those interested in Psychotherapy, Social Work, Psychology, Play Therapy, Medicine and Counseling with families. CAPT performs many important functions for its members including: Professional Standards: CAPT sets high professional standards for clinical practice. These standards help to ensure that skilled and effective therapy is available throughout the community. CAPT has a code of professional ethics to which each member must adhere. Policies and Procedures are in place to govern CAPT and guide professional and ethical practices. Specialized Training: CAPT sets standards of education and training for professional therapist as well as establishing programs of continuing education and training. CAPT examines and accredits programs and training centers in Play Therapy. CAPT has established a set of individual days of Foundation Play Therapy Training in order to meet our members' needs. Information is available upon request. Professional Publications: The Association periodicals are published to advance the professional understanding of Play Therapy. Articles are published on clinical practice, research and theory in Play Therapy. CAPT members receive these periodicals as a membership benefit. Members also receive the American Psychological Association, Association for Play Therapy Journal on Play Therapy as part of their membership.