Be part of the movement. We educate and support professionals in the field of play therapy.

About us

The BC Play Therapy Association consists of counsellors, school counsellors, psychologists, social workers, anyone who works therapeutically with children. Our members are mostly from British Columbia but some join us from Washington and Oregon. We also have members and workshop participants from other parts of Canada.

BCPTA was founded in 1993. The association has grown from 6 members to over 200 today. We are a non-profit organization all run by volunteers with the exception of our administrative assistant. The board consists of 11-13 members and the primary activities all take place in the Greater Vancouver area.

The main reason people join our association, aside from its perks, is to gain continuing education credits (CEUs) which are required to become registered as a play therapist. We are the only association in B.C. dedicated specifically to Play Therapy and servicing this province.

Our Mission

As a non-regulatory organization, our service mandate is to ensure that those interested in, or who practice play therapy, are instructed on sound play therapy practices and high standards of ethical conduct. Our goal is to maintain the integrity of play therapy by providing continuing education from top quality practitioners and experts.

Therefore, our mission is:

1. To advance the discipline and professional practice of play therapy by:

  • Conducting educational and professional meetings and conferences
  • Liaising and collaborating with other professional organizations
  • Providing a medium for support to professionals and students in the field of play therapy

2. To advocate for the emotional well-being of children