Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with PTUK and APAC
Important Information for UK and Ireland Applicants – Mandatory CPD Courses
- Equality, diversity and human rights
- Data management and GDPR for play therapists
- Safeguarding for play therapists
- Health, safety and risk assessment for play therapists
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Each participant may apply once for a course.
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Course transfers are not permitted. If you cannot attend your booked session, you will need to rebook for the next available cohort.
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If a course does not appear in the drop-down menu, it is fully booked.
- We’re looking forward to seeing you at a training event below. Upon booking you will receive confirmation of your space. Joining link will arrive with you the morning of the training event.
- Dates will be released by the end of January for post qualifying CPD courses.
We hope you enjoy our CPD programme. If you would like further details about a course, please call us on 01825 761143 or email us at contact@ptukorg.com
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Anxiety and Separation Anxiety in Children
Dates: January 29, 2026
Training Times: 18:30 - 20:30
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Joe Jardim-Hinds
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
Anxiety wears many faces in childhood — and often shows up in surprising ways in the playroom. This CPD training will help play therapists recognise and respond to different forms of anxiety, from generalised and social to the often-complex experience of separation anxiety. Together, we’ll explore how these anxieties connect to developmental stages and attachment needs, and how they may be expressed through play, avoidance, or shifting behaviours. You’ll also have space to reflect on your own experiences of separation and how these can surface in therapeutic relationships. Most importantly, we’ll look at how play therapy can support children to find resilience, regulation, and a secure base. Join us to deepen your understanding and feel more confident in supporting anxious children with compassion and skill.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and differentiate between common types of anxiety in children, recognising how they may present in the playroom.- Deepen understanding of separation anxiety and its relationship to attachment theory, including how it may manifest in therapeutic play.- Reflect on personal experiences of separation and explore strategies for supporting children through anxiety within the therapeutic process.
Presenter Bio:
I am an Accredited Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor and Certified Filial Play Coach. I am also a singer / performer in a professional A Cappella group. I spend most of my time persuading people that A Cappella and therapy match up perfectly…Facilitating training is one of my favourite parts of being a therapist and I’m delighted to be part of a team developing and delivering CPD at PTUK. I love exploring unique topics and absorbing a variety of perspectives from a room or zoom of different intellects. Clinically, I have a particular passion working with neurodiversity. I believe expression through play is the key to unconditional acceptance of diverse brain functions in our children. Additional to therapy, I work as a supervisor for teachers and support staff at SEMH schools. I believe that staff well-being has a direct impact on their ability to support children through trauma responses and attachment needs. All staff deserve reflective practice, a celebration of their achievements and emotional support.
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Eating Disorders and Play Therapy - Feb 26
Dates: February 2, 2026
Training Times: 19:00 - 21:00
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Lauren Lamberton
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
Eating disorders can have a profound impact on children and their families — and play therapists are often in a unique position to notice the signs and offer support. ? In this special session, co-facilitated with a CAMHS Eating Disorder specialist, we’ll explore what eating disorders are, how they present in childhood, and the ways they affect emotional and relational development. Together, we’ll review best practice models, reflect on the role of play therapy within a multi-agency response, and consider how our own experiences around food and body image may influence the therapeutic relationship. This is a rare opportunity to gain insight, confidence, and practical tools to better support children and families facing these challenges.
Learning Outcomes:
- To develop an understanding of what eating disorders are and how they impact on children
- To develop knowledge about recognising eating disorders and what type of intervention is needed
- To consider the role as play therapists within the support offered to families with children with eating disorders
- To personally consider experiences around eating and how this can influence the play therapy relationship
Presenter Bio:
Lauren is an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor and course director with APAC with over 20 years experience working with children and young people. As a qualified social worker, she has a background in working with care leavers, CAMHS, trauma and neurodiversity. She has a Masters in Social Researcher Methods, MPA in Public Administration and is currently a PhD candidate looking at digital interventions in children’s mental health.
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Neuroscience and Play Therapy
Dates: February 5, 2026
Training Times: 19:00 - 21:00
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Lauren Lamberton
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
Neuroscience is unlocking incredible insights into how children heal — and play therapy is right at the heart of it. ?✨ This webinar will give play therapists a clear and practical understanding of the key brain-based principles that underpin effective therapeutic work. We’ll explore how early experiences shape the developing brain, how trauma and adversity affect regulation, and why play is so powerful in promoting integration, resilience, and healing. You’ll discover how to apply this knowledge directly to your practice, and how to communicate the science of play therapy to parents, carers, referrers, and commissioners in a way that truly resonates. Join us to strengthen your confidence and show the world the neuroscience behind what makes play therapy work.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe key concepts of brain development relevant to play therapy, including neuroplasticity, brain integration, and the stress response system.
- Understand how play supports regulation, emotional processing, and neural integration.
Identify how trauma, attachment disruption, and chronic stress impact the developing brain.
- Use neuroscience to inform interventions that support co-regulation, safety, and therapeutic change.
- Communicate the science behind play therapy to parents, carers, and other professionals in an accessible and engaging way.
Presenter Bio:
Lauren is an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor and course director with APAC with over 20 years experience working with children and young people. As a qualified social worker, she has a background in working with care leavers, CAMHS, trauma and neurodiversity. She has a Masters in Social Researcher Methods, MPA in Public Administration and is currently a PhD candidate looking at digital interventions in children’s mental health.
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Introduction into Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing - Feb 26
Dates: February 6, 2026
Training Times: 09:30 - 11:30
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Sarah Bentley
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
Children’s mental health needs are rising faster than ever, and play therapists are often on the frontline. ? This webinar offers an accessible introduction to the most common mental health difficulties affecting children and young people today. You’ll learn how to recognise signs and symptoms, explore the role of play therapy in building resilience and promoting healing, and know when specialist support may be needed. Designed to boost your knowledge and confidence, this training will help you take a more informed, holistic approach to supporting children’s mental health in your practice.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the core concepts of mental health as they relate to children’s developmental stages
- Be able to identify common mental health difficulties
- Explore contributing factors such as family dynamic, school environments, peer relationships and wider communities and how these can influence children’s mental health
- Consider how to use play therapy to support children with mental health difficulties
- Recognise the importance of early intervention and the impact of this on outcomes of children
- Recognise when and where to refer children to for additional specialised support
Presenter Bio:
Sarah is an Accredited Play Therapist, with over 25000 sessions of Play Therapy practised. She has a Masters in Play Therapy, in an award-winning children’s author & has created her own podcasts too. Sarah has children’s emotional well-being running through her veins. She is also the current chair of the Child Mental Health Charter, which takes her passion for children’s emotional well-being to local and national levels of government.
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Using Humour and Fun in the Play Room
Dates: February 26, 2026
Training Times: 18:30 - 20:30
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Joe Jardim-Hinds
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
Humour and fun are powerful tools in the playroom — but they can also hide deeper emotions. ? This CPD training invites play therapists to explore the complexity of laughter in therapeutic work. Together, we’ll examine how humour can support regulation, connection, and trust, while also considering when it may mask underlying distress. Through theory, discussion, and reflection, you’ll explore your own experiences of humour and discover how they shape your responses in the playroom. Join us to unlock the potential of laughter as a tool for connection, insight, and healing — and learn to tune in to the messages behind the smiles.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the dual role of humour in the playroom as both a regulation tool and a possible defence or mask for emotional discomfort.
- Reflect on personal experiences of humour and consider how these influence therapeutic presence and responsiveness.
- Develop confidence in identifying when humour may be supporting connection and safety, and when it may be protecting against deeper emotional expression.
Presenter Bio:
I am an Accredited Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor and Certified Filial Play Coach. I am also a singer / performer in a professional A Cappella group. I spend most of my time persuading people that A Cappella and therapy match up perfectly… Facilitating training is one of my favourite parts of being a therapist and I’m delighted to be part of a team developing and delivering CPD at PTUK. I love exploring unique topics and absorbing a variety of perspectives from a room or zoom of different intellects. Clinically, I have a particular passion working with neurodiversity. I believe expression through play is the key to unconditional acceptance of diverse brain functions in our children. Additional to therapy, I work as a supervisor for teachers and support staff at SEMH schools. I believe that staff well-being has a direct impact on their ability to support children through trauma responses and attachment needs. All staff deserve reflective practice, a celebration of their achievements and emotional support.
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Neurobiology of Play
Dates: March 2, 2026
Training Times: 19:00-21:00
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Lauren Lamberton
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
This course explores the neurobiological foundations of play and how they inform and enhance therapeutic work with children. This session looks at how play affects the developing brain, supports emotional regulation, and fosters healing in the context of relational safety. Drawing on key concepts from the neuroscience field including the polyvagal theory, attachment theory, and the role of play in brain development, this course will link the theory to our practice. Participants will gain an understanding of how different types of play activate specific neural pathways, promote integration between brain regions, and support trauma recovery and the development of resilience. Participants will deepen their capacity to observe, interpret, and facilitate play in ways that are attuned to the neurobiological needs of the child.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop understanding of key neurobiological principles related to play, including the role of the nervous system, brain development, and stress responses.
- Understand how play supports emotional regulation, attachment, and neural integration.
Identify the impact of trauma on the developing brain and how therapeutic play can support healing.
- Recognise the signs of play that reflect different states of nervous system activation (e.g., fight, flight, freeze, safety).
- Apply neurobiologically-informed thinking to clinical observations in the playroom.
Presenter Bio:
Lauren is an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor and course director with APAC with over 20 years experience working with children and young people. As a qualified social worker, she has a background in working with care leavers, CAMHS, trauma and neurodiversity. She has a Masters in Social Researcher Methods, MPA in Public Administration and is currently a PhD candidate looking at digital interventions in children’s mental health.
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Sensory Play
Dates: March 9, 2026
Training Times: 18:30-20:30
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Rebecca Bradley
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
This course will help participants deepen their understanding of sensory play and how to use it intentionally and therapeutically within the playroom. Sensory play supports emotional regulation and nervous system integration through all the sensory systems. Together, we will explore how sight, sound, touch, taste, vestibular, introception and smell can be used within the playroom and beyond to support children develop self regulation and promote healing. We will consider how we can use these systems to support neurodiverse children, and those impacted by trauma. Combining theory with practical strategies, participants will feel more confident to incorporate sensory play into their sessions.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the role of sensory processing in child development, regulation, and emotional expression.
- Recognise how sensory play supports therapeutic goals, including safety, connection, and integration.
- Identify common sensory-seeking and sensory-avoiding behaviours in the playroom.
- Choose and use a range of sensory materials and activities intentionally to support different sensory profiles and therapeutic needs.
- Adapt sensory play approaches to meet the needs of neurodiverse children, including those with sensory processing differences.
Presenter Bio:
Rebecca (aka Becca) is a play therapist and a big advocate for play! You will often find Rebecca rummaging around charity shops or recycling centres looking for the next best bargain to add to the toolkit, or her nephew’s ever-expanding toy box! Rebecca has over a decade worth of experience working with children and young people in different capacities, including lunchtime supervisor, nursery nurse, teaching assistant, and ‘play ranger’. Her role as a play therapist began back in September 2013 (Cor blimey!) and has seen her work in partnership with primary and SEN schools, Service Six (a children’s charity based in Northamptonshire), local authorities, and post-adoption. Now, she is stepping into supporting the team facilitating CPD workshops and is very excited (and nervous) to be holding space for fellow play therapists, to come together in community to continue to evolve as professionals and be the best we can be for our children.
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Holding the Holder
Dates: March 12, 2026
Training Times: 18:30 - 20:30
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Joe Jardim-Hinds
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
Nourish You: A Restorative Workshop for Play Therapists
Take a pause and refill your cup! This uplifting, creative workshop is designed especially for play therapists who spend so much time caring for others they sometimes forget about themselves.
Rooted in PTUK’s core value of self-respect, this session goes far beyond generic “self-care tips”. Instead, we’ll explore what real nourishment looks like – the kind that is embodied, authentic and completely tailored to you.
✨ What to expect:
• Gentle creative reflection to help you reconnect with your own rhythm and boundaries
• Space to challenge unhelpful “you should…” narratives about rest and renewal
• Inspiring discussion with peers about what truly sustains you in this work
• Permission to be curious, compassionate and honest about your own needs
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach – it’s an invitation to trust your own internal compass and rediscover what genuinely restores your energy and passion.
Come away feeling grounded, re-energised and reconnected with why you do what you do.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand self-respect as an ethical foundation for well-being.
- Reflect on and challenge dominant narratives around self-care.
- Identify personal values and needs that support sustainable self-care.
Presenter Bio:
I am an Accredited Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor and Certified Filial Play Coach. I am also a singer / performer in a professional A Cappella group. I spend most of my time persuading people that A Cappella and therapy match up perfectly… Facilitating training is one of my favourite parts of being a therapist and I’m delighted to be part of a team developing and delivering CPD at PTUK. I love exploring unique topics and absorbing a variety of perspectives from a room or zoom of different intellects. Clinically, I have a particular passion working with neurodiversity. I believe expression through play is the key to unconditional acceptance of diverse brain functions in our children. Additional to therapy, I work as a supervisor for teachers and support staff at SEMH schools. I believe that staff well-being has a direct impact on their ability to support children through trauma responses and attachment needs. All staff deserve reflective practice, a celebration of their achievements and emotional support.
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Archetypes in Sand
Dates: March 19, 2026
Training Times: 18:30-20:30
Venue: Online
Fees: £45.00
Entry Requirements: Any grade, must be a current PTUK / PTI member
PTUK CPD Points: 2
Presented by: Joe Jardim-Hinds
Mandatory Course: No
Synopsis:
This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training offers Play Therapists an opportunity to explore the rich symbolic world of archetypes within sand tray work. We will begin by revisiting the concept of archetypes and how they may appear through symbolic play and sandtray images. Drawing on Carl Jung’s four major archetypes; the Self, the Shadow, the Anima/Animus, and the Persona. We will reflect on how the expression of these universal patterns may support children (and therapists) in navigating identity and self-acceptance. Participants will also be invited to explore how cultural narratives, personal context, and lived experience shape the meaning of symbols, and how traditional archetype definitions may be expanded, challenged, or reimagined in the therapy space.
Learning Outcomes:
-Deepen understanding of archetypes and their appearance in symbolic sand tray play, with a focus on Jung’s four core archetypes.
-Explore how engagement with archetypal themes in sand can support emotional expression, integration, and self-acceptance in clients.
-Consider the impact of culture, identity, and individual context in shaping the meaning of archetypal symbols, and how to hold these narratives with curiosity and care.
Presenter Bio:
I am an Accredited Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor and Certified Filial Play Coach. I am also a singer / performer in a professional A Cappella group. I spend most of my time persuading people that A Cappella and therapy match up perfectly… Facilitating training is one of my favourite parts of being a therapist and I’m delighted to be part of a team developing and delivering CPD at PTUK. I love exploring unique topics and absorbing a variety of perspectives from a room or zoom of different intellects. Clinically, I have a particular passion working with neurodiversity. I believe expression through play is the key to unconditional acceptance of diverse brain functions in our children. Additional to therapy, I work as a supervisor for teachers and support staff at SEMH schools. I believe that staff well-being has a direct impact on their ability to support children through trauma responses and attachment needs. All staff deserve reflective practice, a celebration of their achievements and emotional support.
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Why CPD Matters
PTUK’s primary objective is to protect the public—especially children—from unsafe and ineffective therapeutic practice.
One of the ways we achieve this is through high-quality, ongoing professional development.
PTUK is committed to:
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Promoting lifelong learning
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Supporting practitioners to remain current and competent
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Upholding safe, ethical, and effective practice
What You Will Learn
Our CPD courses aim to:
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Refresh and revise essential aspects of your core training
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Keep you up to date with current issues, research, and debates
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Strengthen your skills and professional knowledge in key areas of practice
CPD Requirements
CPD is a mandatory requirement for all certified and accredited PTUK practitioner members.
Click here for full CPD requirements
How the Courses Are Delivered
All CPD sessions are delivered live online.
There are two types of sessions:
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Free sessions available to PTUK members depending on the topic and eligibility
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Paid sessions available to members and non-members
Some courses are also open to non-members who work professionally with children in:
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Play therapy
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Mental health
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Wellbeing and education sectors
Please register using the email address linked to your APAC/PTUK account to ensure correct pricing is applied.
Important Information About Live Events
No Recordings Available
Our live CPD sessions are not recorded and cannot be accessed later.
Independent recording or screen capture is strictly not permitted, in order to:
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Maintain a safe and confidential learning space
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Encourage active participation and interactivity
Content Use Policy
All course materials and content are protected.
You may not share, reproduce, or distribute CPD content in any format or on any platform.
Need Help?
If you have questions about eligibility, pricing, or registration, please contact the APAC team at contact@apac.org.uk
