Gann earns Play Therapy credential

Sarah Gann, MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling, LPC, of Sallisaw, has earned the prestigious Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential conferred by the Association for Play Therapy (APT), according to its President & CEO, Kathryn Lebby, CAE, CMP.

To become a Registered Play Therapist, applicants must have earned a traditional master’s or higher mental health degree from an institution of higher education, 150 clock hours of play therapy training, two years and 2,000 hours of clinical experience, 500 hours of supervised play therapy experience, and be licensed or certified by their state boards of practice.

Play Therapy is a mental health modality used by licensed mental health professionals, when developmentally appropriate, to better communicate with and help clients achieve optimal mental health. It is particularly effective with children because, just as adults use words to communicate ideas and feelings, children use play.

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) is a national professional society formed in 1982 to advance the play therapy modality and serve the research, training, and credentialing needs of its member counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Licensed mental health professionals may earn and maintain its Registered Play Therapist (RPT), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ (RPT-S), and School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT) credentials. Additional information is available at www.a4pt. org.