PTUK Firsts  

Play Therapy UK has led the play therapy profession through continuous innovation.  Here are some of our firsts:    

2000   PTUK adopts a new style of Constitution to allow faster decision making.   A better foundation for getting things done.    

2001   Two new communication tools: a Spectrum of Needs and the Therapeutic Play Continuum.   Recognises that each child is different and that interventions and resources need to be matched to needs.    

2001   Replaces a Code of Ethics with an Ethical Framework that is designed for working with children.   Aids faster therapeutic decision taking by practitioners. Takes into account the great variety of ethical issues.    

2001   Introduces clinical governance procedures based on pre and post therapy measures.   Improves the quality assurance of work and data for practice based research.    

2002   Develops a Profession Structure model and the first set of Play Therapy competencies.   More focused learning objectives for training courses; improved job descriptions; better employer understanding.    

2003   SEPACTO system launched.   Addresses the objectives of the agency employing Play Therapists and how much play therapy contributes to them.    

2004   Play Therapy Demand Model developed.   Provides supporting evidence for obtaining funding for play therapy in local areas.    

2005   Programme evaluation chosen as the main research method to show the effectiveness of Play Therapy.   Being based on real life conditions it includes all the variables influencing the child and the therapist.  Results shown to be reproducible.    

2006   Filial Play Coaching competencies developed   Recognises that parents are an important agent of change, but are not therapists, so need special coaching.    

2009   Research started on the therapeutic activities of children.   Will be used to inform the updating of competencies and training content.    

2011   Publication of large scale research study based on over 8000 cases.  Results less than one in a thousand due to chance.   Between 74% and 83% of children receiving play therapy, delivered to   PTUK/PTI standards, show a positive change.         Provides bench mark guidelines for clinical audits.    

2012   Competencies for Clinical Supervisors of Play and Creative Arts Therapists published   Improves the training for a key position in the quality assurance of practitioners’ work.     April 2013   First Play Therapy Register to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the new AR programme.   Increased recognition and credibility of Play Therapy as a distinct health profession with high quality standards of practice.    

2013   Develops competencies and a grade for a Counsellor of Children and Young People.   Integrates play and creative arts therapies with talking therapy.    

2014   Free of charge software launched for Registrants to manage their annual revalidation process and information for their own clinical and management reports. (Caerus project)   Releases time for clinical work; improves accuracy of information; enables the Registrant to conduct a more thorough clinical audit of their work.