About Play Therapy UK (PTUK)

Many children need support in emotional literacy.  Others have behaviour or mental health problems at some stage that prevents them from fulfilling their full potential.      

There are a number of studies indicating that 20% of children have some form of emotional, behaviour or mental health problem: Venables (1983); Rutter, Cox et al (1975); Jeffers & Fitzgerald (1991); Porteous (1991), Department of Education statistics etc.   The 1999 and 2004 British government surveys estimated that 10% of children have a mental health problem.  It is also essential to realise that mental health, like physical health, is as much about prevention as cure.  

PTUK's clinical evidence base, containing over 12,000 cases, shows that between 77% and 84% of children show a positive change through the use of play and creative arts therapies when delivered to PTUK standards.   The more severe the problem, the higher the percentage of children that show a positive change.

PTUK was established in October 2000.  Our main activities are:

  • Managing the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
  • Quality assuring our registrants through a stringent revalidation process and managing standards of clinical supervision.
  • Accrediting training courses for the initial training required to meet the standards of the register and for continuous professional training (CPD).
  • Extending our clinical evidence base to improve the quality of our registrants' practice and to demonstrate the effectiveness of play therapy delivered to PTUK standards.
  • Providing a range of services to support the career development of our registrants

Our registrants use an Integrative Holistic model of Play Therapy.  It was introduced in 2002 to replace earlier models.  It is  validated by the PTUK clinical evidence base.  It integrates the therapeutic use of a wide range of creative arts media - the Play Therapy Tool-Kit; working  with unconscious as well as conscious processes; using non-directive and directive approaches and integrating research with practice.

We have grown to be the largest and most progressive Play Therapy professional organisation in the UK  through our high standards and programme of continual innovation.

Conditions helped by Play Therapy that therapeutic play and play therapy can help - a short check list - Do you know a child who.......?    

Indications for Referral This short article is a very useful guide for parents, carers and other lay persons who may be worried about a child's emotional condition and the desirability of referral for play therapy.    

The Play Continuum shows how different applications of play can deal with a spectrum of children's emotional, behaviour and mental health problems.  

Find out all you need to know about Play Therapy UK (PTUK) using these links:

About - Many children need support in emotional literacy. Others have behaviour or mental health problems at some stage that prevents them from fulfilling their full potential.

The Register Of Play And Creative Arts Therapists - PTUK has registered members in over 80 counties and Beckett areas in Great Britain. Many of these members work independently and are able to accept new referrals and clients.

About Registration - The PTUK register, was the first one for Play Therapists, to be accredited under the programme in April 2013 by the Professional Standards Authority, an independent body, who are accountable to Parliament.

Importance Of Certification - Certification by PTUK requires applicants to have completed an accredited training programme that is based on the required competencies and has been validated by clinical outcomes research.

Registration Benefits - It is clear from the comments that we have received, that our Registrants are enjoying substantial benefits from being on the PTUK Register

Role In Professional Regulation - PTUK follows the principles of a Community Interest Company (CIC), being a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

Affiliations

Affiliations - PTUK is affiliated to Play Therapy International (PTI) the foremost international association in the field.

Corporate Governance

Articles of Association - The Memorandum and Articles of Association together form the Constitution of Play Therapy UK (PTUK)

Our Constitution & Structure - Play Therapy UK's constitution reflects the principles of its founding members.

About Us - Executive Board - Play Therapy UK is managed by an Executive Board of two members: Monika Jephcott (Chief Executive and Clinical Director) and Jeff Thomas (Registrar and Director responsible for Communications, Systems and Research).

Privacy Policy - Play Therapy UK (PTUK)’s Privacy Policy is in accordance with de facto web site standards.

Memorandum and Articles of Association - The Memorandum and Articles of Association together form the Constitution of Play Therapy UK (PTUK).

Our Role in Professional Regulation - PTUK follows the principles of a Community Interest Company (CIC), being a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

Public Consultations - PTUK Registrants are consulting on a daily basis with the parents and carers whose children are receiving play therapy or therapeutic play, about the quality of the service being provided.

Standing Orders - These Standing Orders are the regulations of the Society, determined by the Board of Directors under Article 84 of the Articles of Association.

Contacting PTUK

Contacting PTUK - Here we show you various ways to contact us.

What We Are About

Our Values - The values of an organisation look back in terms of reflecting its origins, the present - its ethical framework and also look forward as determinants of policies.

Our Objectives - Our detailed objectives are set out formally in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

PTUK History - Play Therapy (UK) – The United Kingdom Society for Play and Creative Arts Therapies Limited (known in short as PTUK) was originally set up in October 2000 as Play Therapy UK.

Who Are We For - Practitioner Membership is open, at various levels, to all those working therapeutically with children and those who have an interest in the subject.

Working With Other Prof Bodies -

Our Purpose and Mission - PTUK intends to lead the way in improving the quality and safety of practice of therapy with children in line with the principles of Right Touch Regulation, the foundation of Government’s health and social care policies.

PTUK Firsts - Play Therapy UK has led the play therapy profession through continuous innovation.

Professional Practitioners

Professional Practitioners - Discover more detailed information as a professional practitioner such as a Play Therapist, Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Clinical Psychologist, Teacher, Nurse, Care Worker, and Social Worker.

Public Involvement

Public Involvement - Our Register includes qualified practitioners from all over the world who meet our standards.

Clinical Governance

Clinical Governance - Clinical governance is the process of managing the quality of the therapists' clinical work. PTUK regards it as an essential element in its ethical system.

Regulation of the Play Therapy Profession -

Clinical DB - The UK government has set up right touch regulation of a number of health care professions using a system of Accredited Registers (ARs) through the Professional Standards Authority.

Complaints

PTUK Complaint Procedures - We try to ensure that all PTUK members deliver the highest standards of therapeutic care.

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