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PTUK - The UK Society for Play and Creative Arts Therapies

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PTUK - The UK Society for Play and Creative Arts Therapies

The first, largest and most innovative Register of Play And Creative Arts Therapists in the UK, accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

PTUK was the first Play Therapy organisation in the world that was accredited by the Professional Standard authority that oversees all Health Care professions in the UK. Play Therapy International ratifies the PTUK standards as they do for many other countries in the world. The Society exists to further the good practice of therapeutic work with children. This includes improving children's emotional literacy as well as alleviating behavioural and mental health problems. Research conducted by PTUK based on over 10,000 cases shows that between 72% and 83% of the children receiving play therapy delivered to PTUK standards show a positive change. PTUK: Helping the children - Protecting the public - Supporting the practitioner. Small enough to care. Large enough to count. Our objectives are:

To act as a professional organisation for anyone working therapeutically with children in the UK using Play and Creative Arts

To promote the benefits of therapeutic work with children. To set standards and provide an ethical framework. To make training and other resources available for therapeutic work with children by working with training providers, disseminating information and accrediting appropriate courses in Play and Creative Therapies. PTUK is forming links with a number of colleges and other specialised training institutions which can offer a variety of Introductory, Certificate, Diploma, Supervisor, Filial coaching courses up to Post Graduate Level and post qualifying. To promote and advance discussion, education and research in Play therapy, Creative Arts Therapies and Child Psychotherapy. To establish and develop professional standards for all those working therapeutically with children. Our detailed objectives are set out formally in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/AboutPTUK/MemandArts.htm

12/09/2025

Clay is one of the tools used in play therapy to help children express their feelings, relax, and show experiences they may find hard to put into words. Playing with clay lets children feel calm and focused, and what they make can give therapists clues about their thoughts and emotions.

For example:
🦕 Showing Feelings: children can make shapes or figures that reflect how they feel.
🦕 Boosting Confidence: completing a creation can make a child feel proud.
🦕 Working Through Experiences: playing with clay helps children deal with tricky emotions safely.
🦕 Improving Focus & Skills: handling clay can strengthen concentration and fine motor skills.

Discover more about play therapy here: https://zurl.co/KBJRo
Explore Play Therapy courses: https://zurl.co/iMBeq

💡 Tip for parents or educators: give children some clay and a simple prompt like “Make something that shows how you feel today.” Let them lead – sometimes their creation tells the story better than words.

11/09/2025

Confidence isn’t built overnight – it grows through small, playful moments. 🌟

That’s why we created The Confidence Toolkit – playful ways to help children feel braver every day. Here’s how each tool can make a difference:

🦸 Role-play superhero strengths: taking on a character allows children to practise bravery and problem-solving in a safe space.
🎨 Create a “proud wall”: visual reminders of achievements build self-esteem and show children how far they’ve come.
🎲 Celebrate effort in games, not just winning: shifting the focus from outcomes to effort helps children value persistence, even when they don’t “win”.
📖 Storytelling with overcoming characters: stories give children language for resilience and show them they’re not alone in facing challenges.
🎶 Dance breaks: movement releases energy, builds joy, and reminds children that confidence can come from expressing themselves freely.

💭 What would you add to the toolkit?

Discover more about play therapy here: https://zurl.co/S8qa6
Or, if you’d like to find a play therapist, visit the Register: https://zurl.co/Lplbs

08/09/2025

Approved Supervisor Membership Renewal is here! 📌

Swipe through for all the instructions you need to renew your membership. Make sure your details are up to date and enjoy seamless access to resources.

If you are having difficulty accessing Resources, please contact: andrea@ptukorg.com

✨ New: Membership E-Cards will now be issued for all Approved Supervisors – carry your membership digitally and easily!

05/09/2025

Children often struggle to express complex emotions through words. Play therapy provides a safe and structured way for them to communicate feelings, process experiences, and develop emotional resilience.

🎯 Benefits of Play Therapy for Emotional Expression:

• Identifying emotions: Children use toys, art, and role-play to show feelings they might not verbalise.
• Processing difficult experiences: play helps children work through anxiety, loss, or trauma in a safe environment.
• Building emotional vocabulary: therapists guide children to recognise and name emotions, supporting self-awareness.
• Enhancing coping strategies: through guided play, children develop ways to manage strong feelings effectively.

💡 Tip for Parents: Observe your child’s play patterns. Repeated themes or behaviours can give insight into their emotional world.

Play is not just fun – it’s how children communicate what words cannot capture.

Discover more about play therapy here: https://zurl.co/OjEI5

04/09/2025

PTI & PTUK 2025 Annual Online Winter Conference 🌟

📅 Friday 21st November 2025

Following the success of Global Play Therapy Week, we’re excited to invite you to our Annual Online Conference, continuing the theme of movement in play therapy practice.

Our keynote speaker, Odilia Mabrouk, dance movement psychotherapist, will lead an inspiring, interactive session exploring how movement connects us to ourselves and others. Expect a mix of theory, insight, and hands-on experiences.

💡 Plus, enjoy a variety of workshops designed to deepen learning, strengthen connections, and celebrate the global play therapy community.

📖 Explore the full programme in our interactive flipbook brochure.

✨ Join us online on 21st November 2025 – the event goes live, and bookings open from tomorrow, Friday 5th: https://playtherapy.org/2025-online-conference/

For questions, contact the Conference Team: contact@ptukorg.com

We can’t wait to see you online! 🌍

02/09/2025

Family Relationships & Play Therapy 👨👩👧

5.2% of referrals to PTUK & PTI practitioners are for children struggling due to family relationship problems.

✨ Play Therapy outcomes:
• 71% of these children show improvements in their mental health
• Rising to 85% for those with higher levels of need at referral

🎨 These children often spend more time with clay, drawing, and painting, and significantly less time talking compared to other referrals.

📊 (Fortuna practice data, extracted 14.07.2025, Fortuna Data Management System, Play Therapy UK/Play Therapy International, https://zurl.co/fal9S)

29/08/2025

Express, Explore, Heal: Drawing & Painting in Play Therapy 🎨

Did you know that drawing and painting are not just fun activities – they can actually help children process complex emotions? In play therapy, art provides a safe space for children to explore feelings like fear, sadness, or joy that they might struggle to express in words.

✨ Benefits of Art in Play Therapy:
• Helps children communicate emotions safely
• Encourages self-expression and creativity
• Supports emotional regulation and coping skills
• Builds confidence and self-awareness
• Can reveal underlying thoughts or concerns that adults might not notice

Through their creations, children tell stories, work through challenges, and learn to make sense of their experiences. Every brushstroke and sketch becomes a window into their inner world.

🌈 Art in play therapy is more than colouring – it’s a pathway to understanding, growth, and healing.

Discover more about play therapy here: https://zurl.co/yAOrH

Explore Play Therapy courses: https://zurl.co/iyXO5

28/08/2025

There’s more to play therapy than meets the eye 🧸

In Part Four of our series, we set the record straight on common misconceptions about play therapy – and who it can help. From non-verbal expression to the therapist’s role, the truth is fascinating – and powerful.

💡 Swipe through to see the facts and learn how play supports children’s emotional growth.

✨ Know someone who would find this interesting? Share it with them!

If you want to learn more about play therapy, visit: https://zurl.co/REUou
To find a qualified Play Therapist, visit: https://zurl.co/lTWU2
Or get in touch with us at: contact@ptuk.com

26/08/2025

September CPD Workshops for Play Therapists 🌟

Invest in your professional growth and wellbeing this September with two online CPD sessions designed for play therapists:

1️⃣ Holding the Holder: Wellbeing & Self-Care – 10 Sept | 18:30-20:30
Take a pause and refill your cup! This creative, restorative workshop helps you reconnect with your own rhythm, explore authentic self-care, and rediscover what truly sustains you in your work. Perfect for all PTUK/PTI members looking to nourish themselves while caring for others. Joe Jardim-Hinds
🎓 PTUK CPD Points: 2

2️⃣ Co-Regulating with Caregivers – 25 Sept | 19:00-21:00
Spend two hours with Lisa Dion (Synergetic Play Therapy Institute) learning how to partner effectively with caregivers by becoming an external regulator. This session covers co-regulation strategies, emotional flooding, and handling caregiver resistance – essential skills to enhance your therapeutic practice.
🎓 PTUK CPD Points: 2

Both workshops are fully online, suitable for any grade, but current PTUK/PTI members only.

✨ Take time for yourself and your professional development – spaces are limited!

👉 Apply now – https://zurl.co/JZEZK
📩 Questions? Email: contact@apac.org.uk

22/08/2025

🌊 Gentle waves in the sand remind us that learning to support others starts with finding calm within ourselves.

Through play therapy training, you’ll discover how creative and mindful techniques, like sand tray, play with bricks can help children explore emotions, reduce stress, and build resilience.✨

Take a deep breath. Watch the rhythm. Imagine bringing this calm into your practice.

If you’d like to discover more about our courses to become a Play Therapist, visit our website: https://playtherapy.ie/training-courses-new

Or contact us at: contact@ptuk.com | contact@ptirl.com

💡Tax Relief on APAC Course Fees (Ireland)APAC course fees are eligible for tax relief under Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as the programmes are delivered in partnership with University College Cork (UCC), a Revenue-approved Irish third-level institution.These courses appear on Revenue’s list of approved postgraduate programmes for the academic year 2025/2026.For further information on tuition fee relief, please refer to Revenue Leaflet IT31 – Tax Relief for Tuition Fees in Respect of Third-Level Education or visit: www.revenue.ie

21/08/2025

Some children may need extra support for educational, social, or emotional reasons. While many challenges can be supported in everyday environments, sometimes more specialised help can make a real difference. That’s where Play Therapy comes in.

💡 Play Therapy sessions – individual or group – provide children with a safe, creative space to understand and manage their thoughts and feelings.

🎨 Individual Play Therapy: Weekly sessions allow children to express themselves through play, art, and creativity. The relationship with the therapist provides a safe framework for exploration and self-understanding.

🤝 Group Play Therapy: Children explore and share experiences in a supportive group setting, addressing challenges such as loss, bullying, low self-esteem, or difficulties forming friendships.

👪 Filial Coaching: Supports parents and children together, helping families listen, understand, and strengthen relationships through guided exercises and tasks at home.

To learn more or find a qualified Play Therapist, visit: https://playtherapyregister.org.uk/

Explore Play Therapy courses: https://apac.org.uk/

19/08/2025

We are proud to announce that the Child Mental Health Charter (CMHC) logo is now officially TRADEMARKED ® 🎉

This is a huge milestone – protecting the Charter means safeguarding the values and standards that drive our mission to put children’s mental health at the heart of society. 💛

Why is this important?

✅ It strengthens the identity and credibility of the Charter
✅ It protects the principles we stand for
✅ It ensures lasting recognition of our commitment to children’s emotional well-being

At PTUK, we are absolutely delighted with this achievement and what it means for the future of child mental health. 🌟

Together, we will continue to champion children’s voices, well-being, and rights.

🔗 Learn more about the CMHC here: https://zurl.co/lBeiI

Address

The Coach House, Belmont Road
Uckfield
TN221BP

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/

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