Top Online Psychology Schools
Play Therapy
Do you enjoy helping children achieve their goals and work through various obstacles that may stand in their way? How about giving children the opportunity to work through their problems while playing, something kids do naturally? If you answered yes to both of these questions and have been toying with the idea of going back to college for your online Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, then becoming a play therapist may be a solution for you. A play therapist utilizes the new techniques of play therapy to help both children and adults work through various issues which, if left untreated, can lead to problems later in life. In play therapy, the therapist guides the patient in various activities that in a sense, act out things that have happened in the past, to help them in their future.
Education Required
The continued education needed to secure a position as a play therapist is much easier than you may think. For starters, all you need is your Bachelor’s degree in psychology or counseling, take your minor concentration courses in child psychology and there you have it. In addition, most top online universities offer the online Bachelors degree program for psychology which means you can complete the entire degree program online through distance learning. This degree generally takes four years to complete, however; if you can get into an accelerated program, you can earn it in less time. On the other hand, since the distance learning programs are at your own pace, you can also take as much time as you wish to complete your program. This job will make your degree well worth your time since play therapy is not only therapeutic, but also a fun way to get to know a variety of people.
Jobs and Salaries Available
There are various types of jobs available in the play therapy field. You may work in a school setting or your own private practice. Generally speaking, the main place a play therapist works is in schools. While it has also been shown to be beneficial to adults, children are the main target for most forms of play therapy. School counselors often use this type of therapy for children who are acting out in class or have known family or psychological problems that are affecting their education in a negative way. In a private practice setting, you could see a variety of patients including both children and adults. For adults, you may experience the use of play therapy for a couple who are having relationship problems. Sometimes, acting out a previous argument or role playing can be very beneficial to rebuilding a relationship. The salary for a play therapist can vary greatly depending on the venue in which they practice. For instance, the play therapist who works in a school as a school counselor can earn a salary of $30,000-$70,000 per year while the school psychologist will earn a salary comparable to $40,000-$80,000 per year. These two salaries are close in range, yet when you look at the salary of a private practice psychologist who is also a play therapist, they can earn up to $200,000 per year. If this job sounds like something you would love, get your degree today!
