01/27/2026
Have you thought about becoming a Play Therapist or are interested in using play therapy? Check out becoming a Registered Play Therapist™!
An RPT™ is a licensed mental health professional who has pursued specialized training and supervision in play therapy, an evidence-based approach that meets children where they are developmentally. Play therapy isn’t about filling time with toys. It’s about understanding play themes, building safety, and helping children process experiences in ways words alone can’t reach.
Children communicate through play long before they can put big experiences into words. Registered Play Therapists receive specialized training to understand and respond to this language in a therapeutic, developmentally appropriate way. When you see “RPT™,” it means your child’s therapist has gone beyond general training to specialize in play therapy.
Do you need to be an RPT™ to use play therapy skills in sessions? Of course not! Many clinicians appropriately use play-based and expressive tools in their work with children. The RPT™ credential simply reflects advanced training and supervised experience in using play therapy as a primary clinical approach, not a restriction on creativity or connection in the therapy room.
