This specialized one-year certificate program is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in treatment of children within a family context. Participants will gain skills in understanding and working with pre-adolescent children using a range of interventions such as play therapy, age-specific therapeutic games, and art activities. At the same time, students will learn to comprehend and work with the family dynamics that frequently underlie or exacerbate a child's distress.
Child and Family Therapy
Program Overview
From the Director
“This certificate provides a comprehensive spectrum of courses for clinicians interested in expanding and deepening their understanding of work with children ages pre-school through latency. In addition to play therapy, the curriculum includes courses in child development, attachment, parenting, diagnosis of disorders of childhood, and child-focused family interventions. This course utilizes a focus on practice with children and families in a range of settings, including treatment strategies for children who have been traumatized, as well as those seen in schools and family service agencies.”
-Judith Siegel, PhD, LCSW, Director
Program Requirements
This certificate requires the completion of two semesters over one year. 27 two-and-one-half (2.5) hour sessions will be held over the course of the year. Assignments include weekly readings and a final learning assessment in the form of a project or test.
There are two sections offered. Students must choose one section: Monday evening (6:00 pm to 8:30 pm) or Friday morning (9:15 am to 11:45 am). See the Program Calendar below for details.
Play Therapy Hours
Association of Play Therapy (APT Provider 09-244) approved hours: 36
Program Brochure
Being updated, coming soon.
Program Highlights
- Focus on child development from infancy to age 12
- Focus on disorders associated with trauma
- Explore influence of family dynamics on child behavior
- Assessing parenting skills
- Play therapy: pre-school through preadolescent children
- Play therapy with traumatized children
Continuing Education Units
NASW-approved CEUs: 67.5
2014-15 Program Calendar
Section 1:
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Section 2:
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Apply Now
Complete an online application for this program. Applicants must choose between either the Friday morning or Monday evening sections. Click on one of the links below, based on your choice of section:
2014-15 Certificate Programs
What I appreciated most about this program was the bounty of real-life experience that the faculty brought to the classroom. Classroom and case discussions helped us translate those perspectives, theories, and concepts into our own work environment. This is a great program to receive a wealth of current information based on sound studies and superb applicability in a short amount of time.
- Dr. Beatrice Kraemer, Clinical Psychologist, President and Founder of Parenting At Its Best
- Dr. Beatrice Kraemer, Clinical Psychologist, President and Founder of Parenting At Its Best