Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy

Empowering Children. Elevating Clinicians. Advancing Play Therapy.

Welcome to the Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy!

The Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy at the University of Pikeville prepares graduate students and professionals to provide evidence-informed, developmentally responsive mental health care for children and families through specialized play therapy training rooted in compassion and clinical excellence.

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The Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy, an initiative of the School of Social Work at UPIKE, is an Approved Center of Play Therapy Education through the Association for Play Therapy (APT) Association for Play Therapy (APT).

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Why Play Therapy Matters

Children often communicate experiences, emotions, trauma, fear, grief, and resilience through play rather than words. Play therapy provides developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed approaches that help children express themselves, build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and heal. It is an effective treatment approach for children experiencing:

Introducing Andrew Association for Play Therapy (2016, Feb 17). Introducing Andrew

Become a Leader in Play Therapy. Change a Child’s World.

Who Should Apply?

Graduate & Post-Graduate Pathways

Whether you are preparing to enter the mental health profession or seeking advanced clinical specialization, the Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy offers pathways designed to support your professional growth.

Current Graduate Students

Students enrolled in graduate programs in:

may apply to complete the Institute’s specialized play therapy training sequence alongside their graduate education.

Students enrolled in the University of Pikeville Master of Social Work program may integrate play therapy training directly into their educational pathway.

Licensed & Post-Graduate Professionals

Professionals who already hold a graduate degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or related disciplines may enroll in courses as advanced professional training or continuing education.

This pathway is ideal for clinicians seeking to:

• Strengthen child and adolescent clinical skills
• Expand trauma-informed practice
• Pursue Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT) credentialing pathways
• Integrate expressive and developmentally responsive interventions into practice.

Not in Graduate School Yet?

Start Your Journey with UPIKE’s 4+1 BSW + MSW Pathway

Students beginning with a Bachelor of Social Work can pursue an accelerated pathway into graduate education through UPIKE’s 4+1 BSW + MSW program.

Qualified students may complete both degrees in as few as five years, creating a direct pathway toward advanced clinical training through the Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy.

The Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy prepares graduate and post-graduate students to become highly skilled practitioners, grounded in theory and equipped with specialized knowledge to engage, understand, and support children through their natural language—play.

The Institute encompasses a three-course sequence offered online:

Course	Offered
Introduction to Play Therapy	Fall I · Spring I · Summer I
Advanced Play Therapy I	Fall I · Spring I · Summer I
Advanced Play Therapy II	Fall II · Spring II · Summer II

These three courses provide up to 135 hours of training needed to meet the university-level educational requirements to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).

You should familiarize yourself with the standards and application for the RPT credential and be aware of the requirement for integrated training and supervised clinical experiences over a two-year window. Reach out to the Association for Play Therapy for any questions about their credential.

Get Started

Ready to learn more or take the next step? Contact the Appalachian Institute for Play Therapy at the UPIKE School of Social Work.

Preferred Application Due Dates:

Summer: February 28th
Fall: June 30th
Spring: September 30th

For More Information: Contact Dr. Renee Krebel: reneekrebel@upike.edu