Graduate School Play Therapy Class Syllabus 

See my actual Play Therapy 101 Graduate School Class Syllabus I teach to Graduate Counseling Students.

Below you will find the syllabus for my new book entitled, "Play Therapy 101". 

Introduction and Syllabus of Play Therapy 101:

Introduction to Play Therapy:

Welcome to Play Therapy 101! You are about to partake in an incredible journey.

This play therapy syllabus will give you some training and expertise that I offer to my graduate play therapy students at a major university in Atlanta, Ga.

I have taught Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy to graduate students and other professionals just like you. The only difference is that you get to go at your own pace and you are not graded.

I teach play therapy 101 differently than other college professors. I put the creative edge into the learning process. My belief is that if you are a creative therapist you can handle anything in the play therapy session with clients both young and old.

This syllabus is geared for play therapist and other mental health professionals who want to learn creative skills to enhance their therapeutic knowledge and ability.

We begin by exploring the relationship you have with your inner child. If you follow the step by step process and actually create your inner child scrapbook you will connect with your inner child on a deeper level. (See the Inner Child tab to the right).

Some play therapy students have actually forgotten who their inner child was and actually found their inner child again by doing this project. You will learn how to use play therapy in the first few sessions as a warm up to try to build the rapport with your play therapy clients.

It is helpful if you actually do these techniques on yourself first. We then move into the basics of play therapy.

The basic principles of this syllabus in play therapy are the following:

Play Therapy Puppets

Play Therapy Art Counseling

Play Therapy Sand Tray

Miniatures & Miniature Worlds Play Therapy Doll House

Play Therapy Games

Extras Include:

Bibliotherapy

Visual Imagery

Closure in Play Therapy

Mystery Counseling Play Therapy Session & More!

Play Therapy 101 Table of Contents

Page 6: Suggested Play Therapy Videos for Course

Page 8: Lesson 1 / What is Play Therapy?

Page 13: Lesson 2 / The History of Play Therapy

Page 21: Lesson 3 / Play Therapy Toys

Page 27: Lesson 4 / The Play Therapy Room

Page 32: Lesson 5 / How to use Play Therapy

Page 38: Lesson 6 / Terms You Should Know in Play Therapy

Page 39: Lesson 7 / Your Inner Child in Play Therapy

Page 47: Lesson 8 / Warm Ups in Play Therapy

Page 54: Lesson 9 / The Sand Tray in Play Therapy

Page 62: Lesson 10 / Art Counseling in Play Therapy

Page 88: Lesson 11/ Mandalas in Play Therapy

Page 95: Lesson 12 / Genograms in Play Therapy

Page 101: Lesson 13 / Puppets and Puppet Theaters in Play Therapy

Page 107: Lesson 14 / Taste Therapy in Play Therapy

Page 111: Lesson 15 / Feelings in Play Therapy

Page 114: Lesson 16/ Games in Play Therapy

Page 116: Lesson 17/ Miniatures in Play Therapy

Page 134: Lesson 18 / Miniature Worlds in Play Therapy

Page 157: Lesson 19 / The Mystery Counseling Session

Page 159: Lesson 20 /Bibliotherapy in Play Therapy

Page 161: Lesson 21 / Visual Imagery in Play Therapy

Page 165: Lesson 22 /Affirmations in Play Therapy

Page 167: Lesson 23 / Stress Reduction in Play Therapy

Page 173: Lesson 24 / The Doll House in Play Therapy

Page 177: Lesson 25 / Endings in Play Therapy

Page 178: Certificate of Attendance and Participation Directions

Page 180: About Dr. Michelle Stangline

Suggested Videos for the Course:

U-Tube Videos: Plug in the following titles in U-Tube.

Intro to the Sand Tray Sand Play Room

Sand Play Therapy – A Brief Overview (Dr. Barbara Turner regarding sand tray / sand play therapy)

Hypnosis for positive thinking and relaxation

Hula Dancing Tips for Beginners: Tiny Bubbles (Fun Warm-up)

Bernard, the Hospital Puppet – Puppet Therapy

Cat Herding Video

Travelers “Get Along” video: Go to TRV U Tube Page

Children See, Children Do

Play Therapy for Parents

Play Therapy Room

Anne Murphy Play Therapy

Ultimate Dog Tease (Cute warm up)

Dr. Jean’s Banana Dance (Cute warm up)

The Banana Rap (Cute warm up)

BAPT: Play Therapy in Action Play Therapy Works!

History Speaks: The History of Play Therapy Child Centered Play Therapy and Filial Therapy

Play Therapy Adults

Autism Teaching Tools: Play and Language Therapy

Art Therapy for Mental Health

Why Art Therapy?

Creative Arts Therapy for Children and Families

Sensory Art Therapy

Meditation on the Beach (Visual Imagery)

Are You Ready to Learn More About Play Therapy? 

Check out "Creative Play Therapy eBook" based on Dr. Stangline's play therapy class she teaches to graduate school students at Mercer University in Atlanta, Ga. While this is not an actual "online class" you can learn everything I teach and follow along at your own pace. This is a step by step guide to becoming a better play therapist.

For more information on how to purchase your copy today:

Play Therapy eBook For Sale Link

See Examples of Play Therapy Here:

Play Therapy 101 Class Syllabus to Play Therapy Examples Page 

Play Therapy 101 Syllabus to Creative Counseling 101 Home

Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.