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  • ACCPH ACFC Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Play Coaching (Certified and Accredited)

ACCPH ACFC Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Play Coaching (Certified and Accredited)

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Personalise Your Coaching Training Programme
When you join the ACFC, you will be able to develop your own Personal Learning Plan based around your own life and current commitments. The course is designed to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to launch your coaching business. Whether you're specialising in working with children, young people, or families, this comprehensive course will guide you every step of the way.

What’s Included?
  • One-to-One Coaching with Your Trainer:
    You’ll benefit from unlimited personalised training sessions—. These sessions will help you refine your niche, address specific challenges, and prepare you for launching your coaching business.
  • Interactive Online Materials:
    Gain access to a suite of online resources designed to deepen your understanding and provide practical tools to enhance your learning experience.
  • Assessment Portfolio:
    Throughout the course, you’ll complete an assessment portfolio comprising both knowledge-based and practical tasks. These will allow you to apply what you’ve learned and build a foundation for real-world coaching practice.

What You’ll Achieve:
  • Comprehensive knowledge of coaching practices for children, young people, and families.
  • A defined niche that aligns with your passion and expertise.
  • A clear business launch plan, including marketing and client acquisition strategies.
  • Practical skills and a completed portfolio to demonstrate your readiness for practice.

Start Your Coaching Journey Today!
This flexible programme is ideal for learners who want a structured yet accessible way to build their coaching career. With expert guidance and a supportive learning environment, you’ll be fully prepared to step into the world of professional coaching.

Join now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career!

Upon completing the programme, you’ll gain certification through Skills and Education Group's Quality Licence Scheme, an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation, ensuring your qualification meets the highest industry standards. Your training is also accredited by the ACCPH (Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists, and Hypnotherapists), further enhancing your professional credibility. Additionally, you will become a fully accredited member of the Association for Child and Family Coaches, with a digital badge showcasing your specialist area of practice. You will be able to work with us on our Register so that we can match you with enquiring families.

You’ll also be eligible to obtain professional insurance through Westminster Indemnity or a provider of your choice, giving you the confidence and protection needed to start practising as a coach.

For UK-based learners, we also offer DBS checks to help you meet safeguarding requirements, making it easier for you to work with children, young people, and families when you join us on our Register. You’ll also be eligible to obtain professional insurance through Westminster Indemnity or your chosen provider, giving you the confidence and protection needed to start practising as a coach.

Our training is delivered in pertnership with the National College for Care and Education (NCCE), a training provider accredited by Ofqual regulated awarding organisations, including NCFE, CACHE, Open Awards, Training Qualifications UK, and the Skills and Education Group. You will reveive access to high-quality training resources - both self-paced and live training, and an awarding winning tutor. NCCE maintains an outstanding quality audit process with all their awarding organisations.

Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Play Practice

This programme focuses on therapeutic play techniques to support emotional, social, and cognitive development in children.

Units Include:
  • Foundations of Therapeutic Play: Historical development, principles, and theories.
  • The Role of Play in Child Development: Contribution of play to cognitive, social, and emotional growth.
  • Therapeutic Play Techniques: Practical application of sand play, storytelling, art, and sensory play.
  • Working with Diverse and Complex Needs: Supporting trauma, additional needs, and cultural diversity through play.
  • Relationships and Communication in Therapeutic Play: Building trust and engaging with children and families.
KEY FACTS
Key Facts

The Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Play Coaching Practice is designed with specific aims and objectives to provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of therapeutic play. The qualification aims to provide you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that can be used to either work in your own current setting (such as a school or residential childcare setting) or to provide therapeutic play services in your own therapy or coaching practice
 
You will gain an understanding of:


  • The principles, theories, and practices of therapeutic play
  • The practical skills necessary for effective therapeutic play practice in diverse settings
  • How to effectively with children of various backgrounds, including those with complex needs and trauma histories
  • How to adhere to the ethical and professional standards in therapeutic play practice
  • Advanced topics, contemporary research, and emerging trends in the field of therapeutic play
  • Personal and professional growth, including the importance of self-care and reflective practice

Upon completion of the qualification, you will receive a qualification certificate from the Skills and Education Group's Quality Licence Scheme, one of the UK's largest Ofqual regulated awarding organisations, and the opportunity to become a member of the professional coaching and psychotherapy body, the ACCPH. Additionally, you will receive automatic entry to the Association of Child and Family Coaches (ACFC), fully meeting their ethical framework. With the qualification and membership, you will be entitled to apply for professional insurance with Westminster Indemnity, allowing you to work as a Therapeutic Coach or Practitioner with your own Therapy or Coaching Practice Setting.

This is an incredible opportunity for existing coaches or therapists to add play to their toolkit, or for those interested in starting their own coaching or therapeutic practice in play-based therapies.
SYLLABUS
Unit 1: Foundations of Therapeutic Play in Family and Child Coaching

Within this unit, you will explore the the origins and development of therapeutic play, exploring its historical milestones and the evolution of its perception in child development. It emphasises the significant contributions of pioneers like Melanie Klein and Virginia Axline, comparing various historical approaches to the practice. The unit further examines the role of therapeutic play in family and child coaching, highlighting its impact on emotional and social development, family relationships, communication, and conflict resolution. It critically evaluates the principles, theories, benefits, and challenges associated with integrating therapeutic play into practice. This includes analysing core principles, the role of attachment theory, the application of various theoretical frameworks, and understanding the importance of safety and boundaries. The unit also addresses the implications of cultural differences and strategies to overcome barriers in diverse settings, providing a comprehensive overview of therapeutic play's application in family and child coaching contexts.

Unit 2: The Role of Play in Children’s Development and Psychological Wellbeing


This unit provides an in-depth exploration of the critical role of play in children's development and psychological wellbeing. It begins by examining how play activities evolve across different developmental stages of childhood, including early years, middle childhood, and adolescence. The unit evaluates play's contribution to cognitive, social, and emotional development at each of these stages, offering a comprehensive understanding of its benefits. The psychological aspects of play are also analysed, focusing on how play meets various psychological needs, fosters resilience, and can be used to identify and address psychological issues in children. The concept of play as a safe space for emotional expression and processing is a key focus.

In addition, the unit explores into different types of play, such as structured and unstructured play, imaginative play, physical play, and technology-based play. It compares their developmental benefits and highlights their role in fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall physical and psychological health. Finally, the unit addresses the role of adults in facilitating play. This includes creating conducive environments for therapeutic play, engaging reluctant children, and understanding the importance of observation and intervention. It also explores how adults can balance safety with the benefits of risk-taking in play settings, ensuring a holistic approach to fostering children’s development and wellbeing through play.

Unit 3: Therapeutic Play Techniques in Practice


Unit 3 focuses on the practical application and understanding of various therapeutic play techniques within a coaching context. The unit starts by outlining the principles and applications of different therapeutic play techniques, including Sand Play, Storytelling, Art and Drawing, Sensory Play, Music, and Drama. It delves into how these techniques facilitate emotional expression in children and evaluates their purpose and appropriate use. A significant part of the unit is dedicated to teaching how to apply play therapy techniques in practice. This involves planning and implementing therapeutic coaching sessions using a chosen play technique, identifying and responding to the needs of the children involved, and adjusting the sessions to meet their changing needs.

The unit also emphasises the importance of adapting play therapy techniques to individual needs. It covers assessing which technique is most suitable for a specific child, considering cultural sensitivity, modifying techniques for children with special educational needs, and adjusting approaches when a technique is not engaging the child. The unit addresses how to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic play interventions. It guides on analysing success indicators, gathering feedback, evaluating challenges, and suggesting improvements. Methods for documenting and measuring progress in therapeutic play coaching sessions are also analysed, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the effective application of therapeutic play techniques in practice.


Unit 4: Working with Diverse and Complex Needs in Therapeutic Play Practice

Unit 4 focuses on addressing and adapting therapeutic play practices to meet the diverse and complex needs of children. It begins by exploring how therapists and coaches can ensure cultural sensitivity and understand the impact of socio-economic factors on a child's engagement in therapeutic play. The unit also discusses considerations for working with children from non-English speaking backgrounds and the importance of understanding family dynamics in diverse populations. A significant portion of the unit is dedicated to therapeutic play for working with traumatised children. This includes analysing the principles of trauma-informed practice, adapting play to support children who have experienced trauma, recognising signs of trauma during therapy, and establishing safety and trust in these sensitive situations.

The unit then moves on to engaging children with additional and special educational needs. It covers adapting play sessions for various needs, using play to enhance communication skills in children with speech and language difficulties, strategies for managing challenging behaviours, and the role of sensory play for children with sensory processing disorders. Finally, the unit addresses how to adapt therapeutic play techniques to individual needs. This includes assessing the suitability of different play therapy techniques for each child, adapting sessions for children with physical needs or disabilities, considerations for children with emotional needs, and evaluating and adjusting the therapeutic approach based on the child's response to the play session. This comprehensive approach ensures that therapeutic play practices are inclusive and effective for a wide range of children's needs.


Unit 5: Relationships and Communication in Therapeutic Play Practice

This unit looks into the intricacies of relationships and communication within the context of therapeutic play practice. The unit commences with an exploration of the dynamics of therapeutic relationships, highlighting the elements crucial for building a strong bond with a child. It addresses how therapists or coaches can maintain appropriate boundaries while fostering a therapeutic relationship, tackle challenges in building rapport, and underscores the importance of consistency and predictability in these relationships. The unit then shifts focus to the role of effective communication in therapeutic play. It analyses various communication techniques effective for engaging children, discusses adjustments in communication styles for different age groups, and emphasizes the significance of active listening. Challenges and barriers in communication during therapeutic play are also evaluated, along with strategies to overcome them.

Engagement with children and families forms another critical aspect of this unit. It examines how therapists and coaches can involve parents or carers in the therapeutic play process, communicate effectively about a child's progress, and integrate family therapy sessions with individual child play sessions. Strategies for handling parental resistance or scepticism are also discussed.


Unit 6: Ethics and Professional Practice in Therapeutic Play

Unit 6 addresses the critical aspects of ethics and professional practice in the context of therapeutic play. It begins by examining the ethical principles central to therapeutic play practice, such as confidentiality, informed consent, and working with vulnerable populations. The unit also guides on handling sensitive situations, like when a child discloses abuse. A significant focus is placed on understanding and navigating ethical dilemmas and decision-making processes in therapeutic play. The unit discusses resolving potential ethical dilemmas, maintaining professional boundaries, handling conflicts of interest, and managing situations where personal values conflict with professional duties.

Professional development and self-care are also emphasised. The importance of ongoing professional development, strategies to prevent burnout, the role of reflective practice, and the benefits of supervision and peer support are explored to maintain ethical practice and promote personal and professional growth. Additionally, the unit covers resources and organisations that contribute to professional development in therapeutic play coaching. This includes evaluating professional associations, the benefits of attending conferences, seminars, workshops, and utilising various resources like journals, online forums, and research databases. It also guides on creating a professional development plan with short-term and long-term goals.


Unit 7: Business Skills for Therapeutic Play Coaches

This unit equips Therapeutic Play coaches with essential business skills, focusing on setting up and effectively running a coaching practice. It begins with the foundational steps of establishing a Therapeutic Play coaching business, covering legal requirements in the UK or the coach's home country. The unit evaluates the pros and cons of operating as a sole trader versus a limited company and guides through the process of starting a business, including the importance of defining a unique selling proposition (USP) for differentiation in the market.


A significant emphasis is placed on developing strategies for marketing and client engagement. This includes analysing both online and offline marketing techniques, creating and implementing a marketing plan, and exploring effective methods for building and maintaining client relationships.

Unit 8: Advanced Topics in Therapeutic Play Practice

This unit begins by analyzing mindfulness-based play therapy, contrasting it with traditional approaches, and evaluating the effectiveness of neurobiological methods in play therapy. It also discusses emerging trends and the application of eco-therapy techniques in therapeutic play and coaching settings, showcasing the evolving landscape of this field. addresses societal and global issues, explaining how therapeutic play coaching can support children affected by trauma or displacement, its role in promoting social and emotional learning in educational settings, and its potential in addressing social inequality and diversity. Additionally, it covers adapting therapeutic play techniques for children in crisis situations like pandemics or natural disasters, reflecting the adaptability of these practices in various contexts.

PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT
Practical Assessment
As a part of the final practical assessment for your course, you will be required to complete a case study which allows you to demonstrate your ability to plan, deliver, and reflect on therapeutic coaching in practice. This is a key part of your assessment and an opportunity to showcase your understanding of therapeutic principles, coaching techniques, and your ability to adapt to individual needs of children/families in your chosen pathway. Throughout the course, you will complete practice case studies to ensure that you are prepared for this element.

You have two options to approach this task:
  1. Use a child you know of (with appropriate permissions and safeguarding considerations in place) – this might be a child you work with, or one you have permission to use as a case study subject.
  2. Request a personalised case study from us – we will provide you with information about a fictional child for you to work with.

Whichever option you choose, your assessment will include the following components:
  • Design a 6-week Therapeutic Play Coaching Plan: Your plan should be tailored to the child’s needs, interests, and developmental stage. It should clearly outline your aims, session structure, and chosen play-based techniques.
  • Justify Your Plan: You will need to explain how your plan meets the child’s emotional, social, or behavioural needs and is guided by therapeutic play and coaching principles. This justification should reflect your understanding of theory, child development, and coaching methods.
  • Present One Week as a Case Study Presentation: Choose one of the six weeks from your plan to present to us at college. This presentation should give an insight into the session aims, activities, therapeutic intentions, outcomes, and any adaptations made for the child’s individual needs.
  • Professional Discussion: After your presentation, you will take part in a professional discussion with a tutor. This is your chance to expand on your thinking, justify your approach, and reflect on the effectiveness of your coaching. We will also assess your communication style, professional conduct, and how you engage with therapeutic coaching approaches during this discussion.
  • Final Reflective Piece: You will write a reflective piece considering what you’ve learned from the process, the impact of your approach on the child, and how you have developed as a practitioner through this task.
F.A.QS
Can I run a coaching practice with this course?

Upon completion of this course, which is certified by the Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation, Skills and Education Group via their Quality Licence certification scheme, you will be able to apply for professional membership with the ACCPH. The ACCPH is a professional body for coaches, counsellors, and psychotherapists. With their membership, you will be able to apply for insurance to practice. You are also able to list your services on their site. Please bear in mind, that to practice, you will need to take additional considerations for working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults, including undertaking an enhanced DBS certificate. You are also automatically invited to register with the Association of Child and Family Coaches, an international ethical body that is designed purposefully for Therapeutic Coaches working with parents, families, and children.

Is the course online?

The course is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous in its learning but is entirely online. You will complete a mixture of live online sessions over the Zoom platform, engaging in the practical skills to prepare you for your therapeutic role. In addition, you will study the knowledge-based elements via our online, interactive platform. You will be able to access as many 121 Zoom sessions with your tutor as you need.

What happens if I don't complete on time?

Firstly, we understand that life happens. At the start of your course, you set your own target dates. If you get into any issues with timings, please reach out. The course is not an easy course, it is a level 5 qualification. However, we are here to help. You can also book 121 sessions with your tutor if you need additional support. If you need longer, let us know. Something to consider: you must submit a unit inside a 12 month period to remain active, or you will need to re-enrol. You must complete your course in full in a 3-year period or you will be de-registered from the awarding organisation.

Do I receive a certificate?

You will receive your ensorsed level 5 QLS certificate from the Skills and Education Group, the Ofqual Regulated awarding body, and an accredited certificate from the ACCPH. SEG QLS certificates take around 4 weeks after completion to arrive. Please note, we send certificates once all payments are settled if you have chosen to pay by installments.

What if I have not studied at level 5 before?

Level 5 is equivalent in its level of study to the second year of an undergraduate degree or a foundation degree. We know this can be daunting if you have not studied at this level before or if you have not studied for a while. Don't worry, our tutors are here to support you. In addition, you may consider taking one of ourlevel 3 programmes in the first instance: CACHE Accredited Level 3 in Therapeutic Play Techniques or the Level 3 in Coaching and Therapeutic Practice with Children and Families.

What if I have more questions?

Please reach out to us if you have any further questions and we will be happy to help!
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The Association of Child and Family Coaches, Independent Education Group Ltd. 2025
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