Module One
CCPT Professional Foundations
CCPT Professional Foundations is your introduction to Child-Centred Play Therapy, one of the most widely researched and practised therapeutic approaches for working with children aged 3–12.
This one-day live online workshop is designed for allied health professionals, counsellors, educators and anyone interested in exploring play therapy as a career direction or adding it to their existing practice. No prior play therapy experience is required.
It is also the required first step for anyone wishing to enrol in the Advanced Certificate in Child-Centred Play Therapy Studies, Australia's most comprehensive CCPT qualification pathway.
What You'll Learn
Origins & Theoretical Framework
• History and development of CCPT
• Key influences and child-centred play therapy theory
• The role of play in children’s emotional processing and self-expression
Core Principles of CCPT
• Unconditional positive regard
• Empathic understanding
• Congruence & authenticity
• The child leads / therapist follows
• Freedom within consistent, therapeutic limits
Skills Introduction & Development
• Tracking behaviour
• Reflecting feelings
• Facilitative responses
• Limit setting (ACT model)
• Maintaining presence and emotional attunement
Delivery:
One day online workshop delivered live via Zoom.
Upcoming Workshop Dates:
• Thursday 30th April 2026 - 8:30am to 4pm (QLD Time)
• Friday 19th June 2026 - 8:30am to 4pm (QLD Time)
• Friday 17th July 2026 - 8:30am to 4pm (QLD Time)
Please note the below times adjusted for daylight savings states (October to April only)
• NSW / VIC / TAS - 9:30am to 5pm
• SA - 9am to 4:30pm
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to module one. Anyone who is interested in child-centred play therapy is welcome to enrol.
Who should attend?
This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning about child-centred play therapy. It is particularly well suited to:
- Counsellors and psychotherapists who work with children or want to
- Teachers and school counsellors supporting students’ emotional wellbeing
- Social workers and child protection professionals
- Psychologists wanting to explore play-based therapeutic approaches
- Occupational therapists working with children
- Early childhood professionals and educators
- Anyone considering a career change into child therapy
There are no prerequisites – you do not need a formal therapeutic background to attend Module One. It can be taken as a standalone professional development day or as the first step toward full CCPT certification.
What is Child-Centred Play Therapy?
Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is a developmentally responsive, evidence-based therapeutic approach grounded in the belief that play is a child’s natural language and primary mode of self-expression.
Developed from the humanistic tradition of Carl Rogers and pioneered by Virginia Axline in the 1940s, CCPT has over 70 years of research supporting its effectiveness with children experiencing anxiety, trauma, behavioural difficulties, grief, family breakdown and a wide range of emotional and social challenges.
Unlike directive play therapy approaches, CCPT follows the child’s lead, the therapist creates a safe, consistent and accepting therapeutic relationship in which the child directs the play, allowing natural emotional healing and self-regulation to occur at the child’s own pace.
This introductory module explores the theory, philosophy and core principles behind this approach, and gives participants hands-on practice of the foundational skills that underpin effective CCPT practice.
What Happens After Module One?
Module One is the gateway to the full Advanced Certificate in Child-Centred Play Therapy Studies, a comprehensive five-module program delivering 224 hours of training and the CCPT-AU Credential on completion.
Many practitioners attend Module One first to experience the approach before committing to the full certificate. Others come with a clear goal of full qualification and use Module One as the foundation for their broader training pathway.
Either way, you’ll leave the day with a clear understanding of whether CCPT is the right fit for your practice and exactly what the pathway to full qualification looks like.