Membership Categories & Criteria
APT(S) has developed a set of guidelines and eligibility criteria for Play Therapy Membership in order to set practice standards that support the development of Play Therapy in Singapore. These standards protect the integrity of play therapy services, providing clients with the option of making informed choices in the mental health treatment of children, adolescents and adults, especially in the Play Therapy modality. The chart below summarises the criteria that applicants must satisfy in order to apply for membership with APT(S). The criteria are designed to ensure a well-rounded education and training in play therapy.
​All membership applications are to be approved by APT(S) Membership Sub-Committee and forwarded onto Executive Committee for final approval.
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Individual applicants must supply APTS with the following:
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Completed application form
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Certified copies of supporting qualifications and relevant documents
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Payment of membership fee (only upon approval)
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Membership fees for a period of two years are due on 1 January or 1 July each year
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For all new members a one-time administration fee of S$50 will be added to the first fee payment.
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CRITERIA FOR EACH CATEGORY
(Fees indicated are for a two year period)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($150.00)
Accreditation/ License
Current and active member of a local and/or international mental health professional body
Educational Degrees
Must hold an undergraduate or post graduate qualification in general practice disciplines such as counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology, psychiatry or other mental health related fields
Play Therapy Specific Education (cumulative hours should not exceed 5 years)
Through the completion of play therapy specific training, the applicants are to demonstrate a well rounded education in play therapy competencies.
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150 hours of play therapy specific training in four primary areas;
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Not more than 50 of the 150 hours play therapy training hours may be online/non-synchronous;
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Instructional hours must be accrued within 5 years;
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The training can be obtained from institutions of higher education (either local or overseas) or APT(S) Approved Providers;
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Recommended play therapy training areas and training hours as follows:
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Play Therapy Basics - Recommended minimum of 20 training hours
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Introduction to play therapy
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Play therapy history, approaches and processes
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Therapeutic powers of play
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Attachment theory, neuroscience, developmental stages in play
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Ethical practice in play therapy
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Play therapy theories, skills and methods - Recommended minimum of 70 training hours
Specialisation in at least one play therapy approach, for example, Adlerian, Child-Centered, Cognitive-Behavioral, Developmental, Ecosystemic, Filial, Gestalt or Theraplay,
and to include the following:
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Assessment and conceptualisation of needs
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Treatment goals and planning
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Skills and techniques
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Play themes, dynamics, stages and clinical considerations
Play therapy special topics - Recommended minimum of 35 training hours
Play therapy with special populations and childhood related issues and mental health diagnosis/disorders. For example, depression and anxiety, trauma, divorce and separation, behavioral, learning issues, chronic illness, death and dying
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Applicant’s choice
The remaining hours may be earned in any 25 hours choice of the domains listed above
Supervised Play Therapy Experience
Through the supervised play therapy experiences, the applicants are expected to demonstrate play therapy clinical competencies such as engagement, assessment, treatment planning, play therapy stages and processes, ethical practices and self care.
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Complete a minimum of 40 hours of play therapy supervision and 240 hours simultaneous play therapy clinical experiences
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Of the required 40 hours, no more than 10 group supervision hours will be accepted.
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Group supervision consists of one supervisor and at least two but no more than 10 supervisees;
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Supervisors (local or overseas) must be recognised by their licensing or professional bodies as eligible to supervise, has play therapy supervisory experiences and/or approved by APT(S);
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Meeting with your supervisor can be held via in person or online platform;
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Supervisor must have observed at least 5 play therapy sessions either live or via video recordings;
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Supervision hours and play therapy clinical hours must be accrued within 5 years
Note:
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Play therapy supervision should be conducted during or right after the completion of Play Therapy Basics Training Hours (refer to notes on Education)
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Recommended 1 hour of supervision for every 6 client contact hours
RENEWAL REQUIREMENT
Continuous Professional Development
At least 30 hours of APT(S) approved continuous professional development in play therapy every 2 years:
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Either local or overseas
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Via in person or online
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For example: conferences, webinars, workshops.
Supervision
At least 20 hours supervision by APT(S) approved Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor every 2 years:
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Either local or overseas
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Via in person or online platform
Play Therapy Session Hours
At least 120 hours of clinical work in play therapy every two years
PROVISIONAL MEMBER ($120)
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Accreditation/ License
Current and active member of a local and/or international mental health professional body
Educational Degrees
Must hold an undergraduate or post-graduate qualification in general practice disciplines such as counselling, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology, psychiatry or other mental health related fields
Play Therapy Specific Education (cumulative hours should not exceed 5 years)
At least 35 hours of Play Therapy specific instructions obtained from:
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Institutions of higher education (either local or overseas), or
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Online/non synchronous or online/synchronous or face to face platforms; or
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Approved providers from the Association for Play Therapy (Singapore).
RENEWAL REQUIREMENT
At least 20 hours of APT(S) approved continuous professional development activities every two years
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Either local or overseas
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Via in person or online platform
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For example: conferences, webinars, workshops.
PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISOR MEMBER ($200.00)
Academic Qualifications
Current Professional Member (Registered Play Therapist)
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Practice Hours
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Minimum 3 years Professional Member
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Minimum 1200 play therapy practice hours, of which at least 50 hours were for the provision of play therapy supervision
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Supervision Hours
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Minimum of 100 hours of supervision received post-graduation
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Training in Clinical Supervision
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Minimum 24 hours of play therapy specific supervisor training
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Minimum 6 hours of supervisor training every 24 months
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