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British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT)

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ByWEBPAINTUK

Overview

The British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) is the first and foremost UK professional body dedicated to the practice and advancement of Play Therapy. Established in 1992 as a member-led charity and professional organisation, BAPT promotes high standards of training, ethical practice, clinical supervision and professional development for play therapists working with children, young people and families. It maintains a register of qualified play therapists accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), offering reassurance of practitioner competence and ethical practice.

Purpose & Mission

BAPT’s mission is to support and regulate play therapy in the UK by:

  • Establishing and maintaining professional and ethical standards for training and practice

  • Accrediting high-quality postgraduate Play Therapy courses

  • Supporting ongoing continuing professional development (CPD)

  • Raising public and professional awareness of the value of Play Therapy for emotional well-being and mental health

  • Publishing research and professional materials that advance the field of Play Therapy

Key Functions

Professional Standards & Registration
BAPT maintains a Register of Play Therapists, recognised by the Professional Standards Authority, that lists practitioners, supervisors and trainers who meet its core competences and ethical standards. This register helps the public and professionals identify qualified clinicians.

Accreditation of Training
BAPT accredits university-level Play Therapy training, principally postgraduate MSc programmes, ensuring they meet rigorous academic, clinical and ethical criteria. Student membership is required for those on accredited courses, and graduates are eligible to register as qualified practitioners.

Professional Practice & Policies
A dedicated Professional Practice Team develops and updates BAPT’s ethical basis for good practice and core competences, alongside safeguarding, data protection, diversity and supervision policies that guide members’ conduct.

Publications & Events
BAPT produces the British Journal of Play Therapy, member newsletters and professional texts that disseminate research, theory and practice guidance. It also runs annual conferences and short courses for members and trainees.

Membership & Roles

BAPT members include:

  • Student Members (on accredited Play Therapy courses)

  • Full Members / Registered Play Therapists® (qualified professionals meeting BAPT competencies)

  • Approved Supervisors & Trainers

  • Associate Members (interested professionals or organisations)

Registration requires evidence of clinical training, supervision, fitness to practice, DBS clearance and professional indemnity insurance.

Scope of Practice & Values

BAPT Registered Play Therapists are trained to work therapeutically with children and young people across emotional, behavioural and psychological challenges by using play — the child’s natural communication mode — as the therapeutic medium. They work in a range of settings, including health, education, social care and private practice.

Relationships with Other Bodies

While independent, BAPT’s register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, putting it alongside other voluntary registers that promote professional accountability in unregulated therapeutic fields. BAPT works collaboratively with other play therapy organisations and training providers across the UK to support high quality practice.

 

The British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) is the first professional body set up to represent and regulate Play Therapists in the UK, promoting high standards in the practice of play therapy and improving the emotional wellbeing of children and young people.

Yes, the BAPT Register of Play Therapists is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, which means BAPT’s register, training expectations, and governance meet nationally recognised benchmarks for protecting the public.

A BAPT Registered Play Therapist is a mental health professional who has usually completed a relevant first qualification (such as teaching, social work, psychology or nursing), at least five years’ experience working with children, and then a rigorous 2–3 year MSc/MA in Play Therapy accredited by BAPT, including extensive supervised clinical practice and personal therapy.

BAPT members must follow the BAPT Ethical Basis for Good Practice in Play Therapy, maintain clinical supervision, keep DBS (or PVG) checks and insurance up to date, and demonstrate core competences; they also confirm fitness to practise annually to remain on the register.

Parents and carers can search the BAPT PSA‑accredited Register online to locate qualified BAPT Registered Play Therapists by region, then contact therapists directly to discuss referrals and availability.

Choosing a BAPT Registered Play Therapist means your child is seen by someone with Masters‑level specialist training, robust safeguarding checks, and ongoing supervision, all overseen by an independently accredited professional body.

BAPT notes that play therapy can support children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties linked to issues like anxiety, trauma, loss, family breakdown, and school or peer challenges, using play as their main form of communication.

References (APA)

British Association of Play Therapists. (2024). About BAPT.
https://www.bapt.info/

British Association of Play Therapists. (2024). BAPT play therapy qualifications and membership.
https://www.bapt.info/becoming/

British Association of Play Therapists. (2024). Professional practice: Ethical standards, core competences and policies.
https://www.bapt.info/bapt/professional-practice/

British Association of Play Therapists. (2024). Register of Play Therapists.
https://www.bapt.info/play-therapy/register/

British Association of Play Therapists. (2024). BAPT publications and British Journal of Play Therapy.
https://www.bapt.info/becoming/bapt-publications/

Professional Standards Authority. (2025). British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT): Accredited register overview.
https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/organisations-we-oversee/find-a-register/british-association-play-therapists

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