Play Therapy Career path
The two Gestalt courses offered by the Centre for Play Therapy and Training provide valuable knowledge and practical techniques that can significantly enhance your skills.
There are more comprehensive training programmes available, some extending over two years and costing considerably more. However, before enrolling in any programme, it is important to determine whether it leads to professional registration with a statutory board and provides you with a PR number. Only then can you legally refer to yourself as a registered Play Therapist. Without statutory registration, you may practise as a Play Practitioner and provide play intervention services.
Our recommendation is to complete the Centre for Play Therapy and Training Levels 1 and 2, and then evaluate whether you would benefit from further training. Every individual has different learning needs, goals, and perspectives. Some people prefer a longer period of study to fully integrate the theory and practice. Ultimately, you are the best person to decide what is right for your own professional journey. Remember, each of us is the architect of our own life.
One of our past students, with an educational background, completed this training and now provides play intervention on a full-time basis. Her practice is fully booked several months in advance.
What we can say with confidence is that if you apply Gestalt theory with love, dedication, and genuine care, you can achieve excellent professional outcomes. Equally important is recognising that you already possess valuable personal qualities, gifts given by God, that enable you to connect with children. It is your warmth, compassion, empathy, and understanding that children need most. Theory provides the foundation, but it is your ability to apply it with authenticity and care that makes the intervention process truly effective.
While the courses are CPD accredited, completion of the training program does not authorise participants to practice as therapists unless they are formally registered with the relevant statutory board or licensing authority to call themselves Therapists and practice as Play Therapists. Without statutory registration, you may only practice as a Play Practitioner and provide play intervention services. This course should be seen as an add-on to your educational background and not a qualification in Play Therapy.
Accreditation & CPD
Yes. Successful participants may qualify for the following Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits:
• Level 1: 12.5 CPD points
• Level 2: 8 CPD points
Yes. For participants who are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), certificates and relevant information will be submitted to the HPCSA by The Centre for Play Therapy and Training following successful completion of the course.
Course Entry Requirements
Applicants who are registered and in good standing with a recognised professional body and have experience working with children are granted automatic admission to the course.
Statutory Professional Boards
Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), including:
* Psychologists (PS)
* Registered Counsellors (PRC)
* Speech, Language and Hearing Professionals (STA)
* Art Therapists (AT)
* Psychometrists (PMT)
South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP), including:
* Social Workers
* Social Auxiliary Workers
* Child and Youth Care Workers
Non-Statutory Professional Bodies
* Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP)
* South African Council for Educators (SACE)
* South African Professional Institute for Kinderkinetics (SAPIK)
Alternative Admission Requirements
Applicants who are not registered with one of the above professional bodies may still enrol in the course if they meet all of the following requirements:
* Have at least a Grade 10 qualification.
* Have a minimum of 18 months' experience working with children.
* Be willing to work under the supervision of a qualified Play Practitioner or Play Therapist for the duration of the course.
These courses are designed for individuals who work with children and meet the minimum entry requirements. They may be particularly beneficial for professionals and practitioners in the following fields:
• Social Workers
• Social Auxiliary Workers
• Psychologists and Psychology Students
• Play Practitioners
• Play Therapists (in training or practicing)
• Counsellors
• Teachers and Educators
• Early Childhood Development (ECD) Practitioners
• Teaching Assistants
• Child and Youth Care Workers
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech Therapists
• Registered Counsellors
• Community Development Workers
• Childcare Centre Staff
• Foster Care Workers
• Residential Care Staff
• NGO and NPO Staff Working with Children
• Youth Workers
• Pastoral Counsellors
• Children's Ministry Workers
• Caregivers and Child Development Practitioners
Applicants from other professions who work directly with children may also be considered, provided they:
• Have at least a Grade 10 qualification.
• Have a minimum of 18 months' experience working with children.
• Are willing to work under the supervision of a Play Practitioner or Play Therapist where required.
If you are unsure whether your professional background qualifies, please email us for guidance before applying.
No. Being registered with a statutory board is not required to take these courses. If you are registered with a professional board, you qualify for the courses automatically.
Applicants who are not registered with a professional board may still enrol in the course if they meet all of the following requirements:
* Have at least a Grade 10 qualification.
* Have a minimum of 18 months' experience working with children.
* Be willing to work under the supervision of a qualified Play Practitioner or Play Therapist for the duration of the course.
How to Apply and Payment options
1. Complete the Application Form.
2. You will receive a copy to your email address.
3. Your Application will be reviewed by Dr Hannie Schoeman.
4. You will receive an email notification with the review result.
5. If your application is successful you will receive an invoice for payment by your chosen payment method.
We accept the following payments:
1. EFT (bank transfer).
2. Credit and Debit card via PayFast secure online payment link.
3. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay are all available also via PayFast secure online payment directly from your invoice.
1. For EFT payments please email us your proof of payment.
2. Card payments can be confirmed on the same day as your payment if it is during business hours. If your payment is made after hours your payment will be confirmed on the next working day.
3. As soon as payment has been confirmed as received you will be added to the course program and will be able to start.
No, your course time only starts once you login and click START NOW to begin your course. You have 8 weeks from that date to finish your course.
Course Structure & Duration
LEVEL 1:
• 30 hours of video lessons.
• Additional practical exercises
• Four (4) Feedback Evaluation Forms
• A written assignment to be completed at the end of the course.
LEVEL 2:
• 30 hours of video lessons.
• Additional practical exercises
• Three (3) Feedback Evaluation Forms
• A written assignment to be completed at the end of the course.
Participants have 8 weeks for each level from their start date to complete the course requirements.
This includes:
• Watching all video lessons.
• Completing all exercises.
• Submitting all Feedback Evaluation Forms.
• Submitting the final written assignment.
Your time allowed (8 weeks per level) starts when you click on START NOW to ENROL in the course. Enrolment is not automatic and you can choose when to enrol.
Study Guide and GIFPP book
Each of the modules includes a Study Guide for that module containing the course notes. You should download the relevant Study Guide in the first lesson of each module, before starting that module’s online lessons.
The Study Guide is designed to be used alongside the video lessons and lesson summaries. For the best learning experience, study all three resources together throughout the module.
A GESTALT INTERVENTION FRAMEWORK FOR PLAY PRACTITIONERS (GIFPP)
by Hannie Schoeman (D.Phil)
This book serves as a practical and reflective support tool for practitioners, empowering them to validate the child as the architect of their own life. It can be used as a reference guide for interventions.
The book is recommended for Level 1 and required for Level 2. If you are doing only Level 1 you can purchase the book for R599.00 plus delivery to a PUDO locker @ R59.00 or a PostNet branch @ R109.00.
The book is a comprehensive resource for Gestalt Play Therapy and can be ordered on its own without course registration.
You can order the book via our website here: Book order form
When you register and pay for both courses and complete them consecutively - Level 1 and Level 2 – you qualify for a complimentary copy of the book, A Gestalt Intervention Framework for Play Practitioners (520 pages, R599.00) including delivery to a PUDO locker.
Participation & Assessment
To complete the course successfully, participants must:
• Submit all required Feedback Evaluation Forms during the course.
• Submit the final written Assignment.
• Successful completion will be based on meeting the requirements outlined in the assignment description.
• To qualify for the certificate, your submission must demonstrate that the required learning outcomes have been achieved.
• If your Assignment does not yet meet these requirements, Dr. Hannie will provide feedback and may ask you to add or revise information until the expected outcomes have been achieved.
The course platform allows the presenter to monitor participant engagement, including the time spent accessing and interacting with course materials.
Should any irregularities be detected, the presenter reserves the right to verify a participant's involvement and understanding of the course content.
Course Completion & Certification
Once:
• All Evaluation Forms have been submitted and confirmed, and
• The final assignment has been assessed and passed based on meeting the requirements outlined in the assignment description.
• To qualify for the certificate, your submission must demonstrate that the required learning outcomes have been achieved.
• A PDF e-Certificate will be issued and made available for online download on the Profile Dashboard once COMPLETE COURSE has been clicked.
The certificate confirms:
• The total number of course hours completed.
• That all course completion requirements have been met successfully.
• The Professional board information if provided.
Extensions, Pausing & Non-Completion
Failure to complete all course requirements within the allocated 8-week period and failing to make arrangements for an extention, will result in disqualification from the course.
Yes. Extensions may be granted provided that arrangements are made before the course end date.
Please note:
• Extensions are not automatic.
• An additional fee applies.
Under exceptional circumstances, a course may be temporarily paused.
Requests to pause a course must be made and approved before the course end date.
Learner Support
If you wait longer than a few days to receive a reply notifying you of your application review, please check your spam folder and mark our email address as not spam if you find our email in your spam folder.
Please send a short WhatsApp to Shalene [ +27623478966 ] who will investigate if there has been a technical issue.
The presenter is available to provide assistance during the course and will respond, where possible, between 09h00 and 16h00, Monday to Friday.
Contact Details: Dr Hannie Schoeman
• Email: admin@gestaltplaytherapy.co.za
• Cellphone: +27 72 730 2597
WhatsApp (Technical questions): +27 62 347 8966
For all course-related enquiries, please contact:
Dr Hannie Schoeman
• Email: admin@gestaltplaytherapy.co.za
• Cellphone: +27 72 730 2597
• WhatsApp: +27 72 730 2597
Contact Shalene on WhatsApp [ +27623478966 ] with a screen shot of the problem you are experiencing.
