Education Requirements for Certification

  • A master’s degree or higher in a mental health field, working with children and/or families. Licensure in a mental health field that allows you to work independently.

  • Training and consultation can be accrued as licensure hours are being accrued, but a Certificate cannot be granted until a graduate is independently licensed.

  • Nurture House, the home of TraumaPlay™, is an APT Approved Provider. Trainings sponsored by Nurture House that support TraumaPlay SM Certification can also be counted towards your Registration as a Play Therapist.

Quick Guide to Certification

Step 1: 

Readings and Homework Assignments/Evaluations on Primary Text (Play Therapy with Traumatized Children)

  • equivalent to 12 hours CE
  • Flat $60 fee


Step 2: 

Three day live virtual TraumaPlay™ training totaling 20 hour CE credit.

This includes:

  • Instructional material
  • Supervised practicum
  • Ongoing evaluation of core competencies
  • Payment of $750 is due prior to beginning the live weekend.
  • Endorsement by your trainer is needed to continue the Certification Process



Step 3:  

  • 10 hours of consultation/supervision while applying the model in at least 30 clinical sessions, TraumaPlay™ core competencies covered in the first live training and Role Play (see detailed breakdown of content covered in each training) will be assessed through videotape review
  • Between the foundational and advanced trainings, participants will read Trauma and Play Therapy in its entirety and complete homework assignments/quizzes on all nine chapters. Participants accrue 9 more CEs upon completion of the assignments.
  • Up to five hours of supervision should be group supervision. The fee for group supervision is $50 per person. The fee for individual supervision is $100 per hour.
  • Endorsement by your consultant is needed to continue the Certification Process



Step 4:  

Advanced three day live virtual TraumaPlay™ training totaling 20 hours CE credit. This includes:

  • instructional material
  • supervised practicum
  • ongoing evaluation of core competencies
  • Payment of $750 is due prior to the beginning of the Advanced training. Payment of $60 for the 9 CE hours is due prior to taking the online quizzes.
  • Endorsement by the trainer is needed to continue the Certification Process



Step 5:  

  • 10 hours of consultation/supervision while applying the model in at least 30 clinical sessions, TraumaPlay™ core competencies covered in the first live training (see detailed breakdown of content covered in each training) will be assessed through videotape review.
  • Up to five hours of supervision should be group supervision. Same fees as listed in step 3.
  • Endorsement by your consultant is needed to continue the Certification Process




  • Life Changing

    TraumaPlay training was life changing for me! The wealth of knowledge that I left with is amazing! It has given me the inspiration and drive that I was in need of. Hands down, best training conference I have ever been to! Thank you!" - Recent TraumaPlay trainee

  • Dive Deep

    "The intensive, small group setting encouraged us to dive deep while learning from each other, practicing in the fantastic Nurture House playrooms, relaxing in the mindful outdoor space and enjoying the quaint feel of downtown Franklin!" - Recent Foundational Weekend Participant

  • Bonus material

    "Paris gave me words for what we do and ways to take the work deeper with parents. Growing with the colleagues in my TraumaPlay cohort has made the whole certification process relationally rewarding while deepening my knowledge and skills. This second weekend, full of laughter and self-care really rounded out the training!" - Advanced TraumaPlay Weekend Trainee

TraumaPlay™ Part 1: Foundations and Clinical Application

Attend an initial three-day training, equaling 20 hours of continuing education. Each component of the model will be taught through lecture, demonstrated live, or through video clips and case examples, and experienced in dyads or small groups, so that didactic teaching is augmented with live practice by participants. Specific skill sets will be assessed longingly and will help clinicians show proficiency will clinical skill sets and the application of specific interventions.

What will be covered?

  • Key Concepts for Treating Traumatized Children
  • What do we mean by Flexible and Sequential?
  • Enhancing Safety and Security-the Neurobiology of Trauma and the
  • Neurobiology of Play The Trauma Informed Playroom
  • Assessing for Current Coping and Augmenting Adaptive Coping
  • Soothing the Physiology:
    • Enhancing Self-Regulation
    • The SOOTHE Strategies, Increasing Emotional Literacy should be its own bullet point beneath
  • Play-Based Gradual Exposure/PostTraumatic Play including a deep dive into:
    • The Continuum of Disclosure
    • Experiential Mastery Play
    • Trauma Narrative Work
  • Addressing the Thought Life
  • Making Positive Meaning of the Post-Trauma Self

TraumaPlay™ Part 2: Advanced Applications and Special Populations

Attend a second three-day training that totals 20 hours of continuing education. Part 2 training will build on initial skills, work with advanced applications of the model and how to modify it for special populations. Bringing clinical nuance to all components of the model will help clinicians go deeper in their application of treatment components to a variety of presentations.

  • Complex Coping Assessment and Anger Management Work
  • The Play Therapist’s Palette
  • Titration Work in Play-Based Trauma Narrative
  • Nurturing Nuance with Parents as Partners
  • Handling Remaining Idiosyncratic Anxiety Symptoms (Play-Based Exposure/ Response Prevention)
  • Handling Sexual Behavior Problems with Children
  • Person of the Therapist Dynamics in TraumaPlay
  • Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatization, and Self-Care
  • Mindfulness work
  • Live case consultation and application of the palette mitigators to specific clinical presentations Expanded Mediums for Trauma Narrative Work

Upcoming Training Dates

Foundational Training: 


April 19-21, 2024 [live webinar]

August 16-18, 2024 [In-Person: Nashville, TN, USA]


Advanced Training 

September 20-22, 2024 [live webinar]



Email [email protected] for more information on upcoming trainings.