Five University of Texas Permian Basin Counseling students completed their Play Therapy Certificates in April. The certificates equip counseling students with the knowledge they need to utilize play therapy with children in counseling sessions.
“The research shows that counselors will work with children at some point in their career, yet most counselor education programs, nation-wide, do not offer a single course specific to child counseling. Once our students complete the UTPB Play Therapy Certificate, they have had hands-on experience, and they feel more confident counseling children,” said UTPB Counseling Assistant Adjunct Professor, Dr. Cynthia Anderson.
To earn a certificate, students are required to complete courses including Child and Adolescent Counseling, Play Therapy Basics, Advanced Play Therapy, and Sand Tray Therapy. UTPB Alumni Rachel Orona graduated in May with a Master of Arts in Counseling, and she was amongst the cohort that earned their certificate. Orona describes studying play therapy as a heartwarming and transformative experience, opening doors for her that she never imagined.
“It allowed me, as a future therapist, to understand how to create a safe and accepting space for children, a space where they can feel truly seen and heard, even without words,” said Orona. “Play therapy taught me to listen to the 'voice' of the child in their silence and their play, an incredibly powerful and healing form of expression.”
Students completed their play therapy session evaluations at the UTPB clinic playroom and High Sky Children's Shelter play therapy rooms with children that UTPB counseling students brought after receiving consent from parents.
“The language of children is play and toys are their words. Traditional talk therapy does not work effectively with most children and, therefore, play therapy is better suited to assist children in expressing thoughts and feelings through play in counseling sessions,” said Dr. Anderson.
Orona plans to work as a school counselor and is pursuing opportunities to apply her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in a clinical setting.
"Through play therapy, I've learned that silence doesn't mean absence—sometimes, it's where the loudest stories live. My goal is to help children tell those stories, one play session at a time. One day at a time," said Orona.
The Play Therapy Program has tripled over the past three cohorts, from just 10 students to now 31 enrolled.
“UTPB is a leader in the field of counseling by offering the Play Therapy Certificate in the counselor education program. The students who complete the Play Therapy Certificate are well equipped to meet the growing need of providing counseling services to children in our community and beyond,” said Dr. Anderson.
Learn more about the Play Therapy Program at UTPB.
