What is play therapy?
Learn more about this treatment modality for children and what you will learn over the course of the 13-unit Play Therapy certificate program.
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important information
- Applications for Fall 2026 are open! Apply by August 3, 2026.
- This program is open only to applicants residing within the United States.
Our Program
The Play Therapy certificate offers a theoretically-based approach for working with children and adolescents presenting with a number of behavioral health issues. This approach utilizes toys and other expressive activities as forms of communication and as an intervention method for problem solving and promoting well-being.
The fully online Play Therapy certificate program is designed to meet the educational requirements of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to become a registered play therapist (RPT) and is designed for behavioral health professionals with or in the process of obtaining a licensable graduate degree from an accredited college.
At a Glance
- 1-year (part-time) completion time
- 13 academic units
- Fully online program
- Faculty mentoring and support available
- Christian environment emphasizing integrated learning, respect for all persons, and compassionate whole person care
Program Director
Dr. Danielle Clair
DMFT, LMFT-S, RPT
Director, School of Behavioral Health Resiliency Clinic
Director, Play Therapy Certificate Program
Admissions
Applicants must meet the admission requirements as follows:
- A fully completed LLU application form.
- A graduate with a licensable mental health degree from an accredited university. (Official transcripts are evidence of degrees and courses completed.) Individuals already licensed as a mental health professional must be in good standing with the relevant licensing board.
- Consideration for admission will be given to individuals in the process of completing a licensable mental health graduate degree from an accredited university. Applicant must be in good academic standing and have permission from their current program to enroll.
- Submit three letters of recommendation from an academic source, professional peer, and/or a work supervisor.
Upcoming Application Cycle
| Quarter | Application Opens | Application Closes | Term Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMER 2026 | February 2, 2026 | April 1, 2026 | June 22, 2026 |
| FALL 2026 | March 2, 2026 | August 3, 2026 | September 21, 2026 |
Program Curriculum
Length of Program: 4 academic quarters—based on part-time enrollment
- PLTH 513 Introduction to Play Therapy (3 units)
- PLTH 516 Child-Centered Play Therapy (3 units)
- PLTH 546 Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (3 units)
- PLTH 550 Trauma Focused Play Therapy (3 units)
- RELE 510 Service Learning (1 unit)
Student Story
The Play Therapy Certificate program at Loma Linda University helped me understand how to work with children and families. As an early childhood educator, I wanted to see how theories of play and play therapy intersected, and how play could support children going through difficult times in their lives. LLU's program enhanced my understanding of children, youth, and behavioral health, and how to guide young ones toward wholeness.
Certification Information
Completion of the Play Therapy certificate coursework at Loma Linda University does not include certification as a Registered Play Therapist. Individuals must apply to the Association for Play Therapy and complete all additional requirements. This program is not available to international students.
Meet Your Instructors
Dr. Danielle L. Clair, DMFT, LMFT-S, RPT
Dr. Danielle L. Clair, DMFT, LMFT-S, RPT is a Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, and a Registered Play Therapist. She received both her Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy and Play Therapy Certificate from Loma Linda University (LLU). She is the Clinic Director at the LLU School of Behavioral Health Resiliency Clinic and the Program Director for the LLU Play Therapy Certificate Program. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor for LLU School of Behavioral Health, Division of Interdisciplinary Studies and teaches courses for the Play Therapy Certificate Program, Child Life Specialist MS, Marital and Family Therapy MS, and Counseling MS programs. Doing so has allowed Dr. Clair to continue to enhance upon the University's profound legacy of nourishing students' interest in learning how to therapeutically engage with young children, adolescents, and the whole family system. Dr. Clair is a current member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the Association for Play Therapy (A4PT), where she also served previously as President-Elect for the San Bernardino Chapter of the California Association for Play Therapy (CalAPT). She previously served on the Board of Directors of Saving Innocence, a distinguished organization premised upon the advocacy of child welfare and its overall mission to end child sex trafficking.
Felisha Cullum, LMFT, RPT-S
Felisha Cullum, LMFT, RPT-S is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. She received graduate study in Play Therapy and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Fox University. Her background equipped her to work with children and adolescents through the most developmentally appropriate treatment and their primary language: play. She is a Certificated Child Centered Play Therapy Practitioner with over ten years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Felisha has worked as an instructor and supervisor for the Play Therapy Certificate program for the last seven years, teaching courses such as Trauma Focused Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, and Child Centered Play Therapy. She is an active member of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Felisha has over four years of experience volunteering for the San Bernardino chapter of the California Association for Play Therapy (CalAPT), where she served as Secretary, President-Elect, and President. Felisha is passionate about furthering the field of Play Therapy through education and supervision. She is honored to contribute to the University's high levels of scholarship, professionalism, and spiritual well-being that promotes healthy families and communities.
Graduate Story
I am very thankful to have attended Loma Linda University's Play Therapy program. The various approaches to play therapy provided different skills and techniques that have been very helpful in my work with children and families. The role-playing exercises in the program were a useful way to simulate realistic responses.
Is the Play Therapy Certificate program in person or online?
The fully online Play Therapy Certificate offers a theoretically-based approach for working with children and adolescents presenting with a number of behavioral health issues.
The program is facilitated via synchronous format. Courses are offered once per academic term, and classes are held on Mondays from 6-9 PM.
Do I need a degree in behavioral health to qualify for admissions?
Applicants must be a graduate with a licensable mental health degree from an accredited university. (Official transcripts are evidence of degrees and courses completed.) Individuals already licensed as a mental health professional must be in good standing with the relevant licensing board.
I am an SBH student applying for the Play Therapy Certificate program. Do I need to complete a new LLU application form and do I need to submit new letters of recommendation?
All School of Behavioral Health students applying for the Play Therapy Certificate program must complete a new Loma Linda University application and submit 3 new letters of recommendation. The LLU application and letters of recommendation used for your primary SBH program will not be used for consideration for admission into the Play Therapy Certificate program.
When can I apply to the Play Therapy Certificate program? When do classes start?
We enroll for admissions only twice per academic term (Summer and Fall seasons) and admissions to the preferred academic term of your choice is not guaranteed due to space limitations. Admissions may be deferred to the next subsequent term per open vacancies.
Please review our upcoming application cycle.
How many classes are offered in the Play Therapy Certificate program?
Four courses (13 units total) are offered in the Play Therapy Certificate program. Each course is 3 units and is offered once per academic term.
See a brief overview of our course schedule:
- Fall: PLTH 513 Introduction to Play Therapy
- Winter: PLTH 546 Child Parent Relationship Therapy and RELG 510 Service Learning*
- Spring: PLTH 516 Child Centered Play Therapy
- Summer: PLTH 550 Trauma Focused Play Therapy
*RELG 510 is a 1-unit course and is offered in the Winter term and is a requirement for non-SBH students.
Does the Play Therapy Certificate program offer clinical supervision?
The Play Therapy Program does not currently offer clinical supervision for support with hour accruement. Applicants are advised to seek clinical supervision with a Licensed Supervisor. Applicants seeking clinical supervision from a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) can access the Directory of Credentialed Play Therapists and Supervisors on the Association for Play Therapy website.
Is the Play Therapy Certificate program offered to international students?
This program is open only to applicants residing within the United States.
I currently reside in the United States; is my state applicable for acceptance into the Play Therapy Certificate program?
State laws across the nation require universities to be authorized to legally deliver online education to students residing in states other than the home state of the institution.
As a prospective student, if you reside in a state not currently on our state authorization list, we suggest contacting your state’s department of education for more information.