UA Designated as a National Approved Center of Play Therapy Education

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —The Office of Play Therapy Research & Learning at The University of Alabama has earned the designation as an Approved Center of Play Therapy Education by the Association for Play Therapy, according to its executive director, Bill Burns.  

The Office of Play Therapy Research & Learning was established in May 2010 by its director, Dr. Karla Carmichael, professor of counselor education at The University of Alabama.  

“Because the rapidly increasing use of play therapy is also boosting demand for more university play therapy programs, APT applauds The University of Alabama for approving the establishment of the Center,” said Burns.  

“We are confident that, under Dr. Carmichael’s leadership, it will significantly advance our growing field and serve those who counsel clients, particularly children, in schools, public agencies, private practices and other venues.”   

According to Carmichael, play therapy is a form of mental health counseling or psychotherapy used by licensed mental health professionals 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 and express themselves, children use play,” she said.   

APT, a national professional society, estimates that play therapy is routinely utilized by thousands of licensed psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists within and outside of the United States.  

Noting membership has doubled during the last decade, Burns reported that nearly 16 percent of accredited universities now offer some combination of play therapy graduate instruction and supervised play therapy experiences.