About Us

The California Association for Play Therapy is a state branch of the Association for Play Therapy. Our 300 members come from throughout the state and represent a variety of professions and disciplines, including counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, teachers, recreational therapists, nurses, and interns.

Our primary purpose is to provide a forum for the discussion of play therapy ideas and concerns. We publish a newsletter quarterly and sponsor an annual conference. Chartered in 1993, we are a non-profit organization that with the following goals:

1. Seek to advance the discipline of play therapy

2. Conduct and foster programs of education in the field of play therapy

3. Promote sound play therapy practices in the interest of society and the individual

4. Advance high standards of professional conduct by conducting educational and professional meetings and conferences

5. Inform and educate the general public and the mental health community about the play therapy profession

6. Establish contacts with various organizations for support and eductional pursuits

7. Advocate for the rights of children, their families and significant others.

History

The California Association for Play Therapy is a state branch of the Association for Play Therapy, an international organization whose mission is to advance the psychosocial development and mental health of people through play and play therapy by promoting:

(1) the understanding of play and play therapy

(2) the effective practice of play therapy through training, research, and support

(3) the recognition, incorporation, and preservation of diversity in play and play therapy, and

(4) the development and maintenance of a strong professional organization to accomplish these objectives.

Click here to find local referrals for play therapists
Association for Play Therapy