CCGPT Overview

Child-Centered Group Play Therapy (CCGPT; Cheng & Ray, 2018; Ray & Cheng, 2018) is designed to be a developmentally responsive, play-based mental health intervention for young children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, and relational disorders. The program aims to utilize play (the natural language of children) and the therapeutic relationship to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment. In this environment, a child can ideally experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding from the counselor and, at the same time, process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. Additionally, CCGPT allows for children to experience social interactions with 2-3 group members which enable children to learn and practice new social and coping skills. CCGPT is appropriate for children who struggle with peer or sibling relationships, as well as emotional and behavioral problems. In CCGPT, a child’s experience within the counseling relationship is designed to be the factor that is most healing and meaningful in creating lasting, positive change. Based on person-centered principles, the overarching goal of CCGPT is to unleash the child’s potential to move toward functional relationships and self-enhancing ways of being. Child outcome goals include decreased symptomatic behaviors.

Child-Centered Group Play Therapy (CCGPT; Cheng & Ray, 2018;  Ray & Cheng, 2018) grew out of Child-Centered Play Therapy. In 2018, Ray and Cheng formalized the CCGPT protocol in a published treatment manual, Child-Centered Group Play Therapy Implementation Guide and Cheng and Ray (2018) published the CCGPT checklist. All CCGPT research can be found here. 

For more detailed information about CCGPT outcome research studies, please visit Evidence Based Child Therapy, an online searchable database for play therapy research.

Levels and Requirements

Attainment of all levels of CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT-Level 2 and Level 3 Certification require mental health licenses. Individuals who do not have mental health licenses or are not currently pursuing mental health licensure are eligible to complete CCPT 101 and CPRT 101. Individuals who do not have mental health licenses are eligible to attain certification as a Level 1- Certified CPRT Associate/Parent Educator. Play therapy CE credit is only eligible for mental health professionals or full-time graduate students in the mental health field.

CCGPT certification is an added credential to CCPT certification. Mental health professionals must already be certified in CCPT to qualify for CCGPT certification. 

International CCGPT Certifications

The Center for Play Therapy offers international CCPT, CCPT-S, CCGPT, CCGPT-S, CPRT, and CPRT-S certifications for mental health professionals working in other countries. The Center for Play therapy ensures that internationally certified CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT therapists and supervisors are knowledgeable and experienced in CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT, respectively; however, we do not ensure that international therapists are licensed in their field of study. The designation for international certification is Certified I-CCPT, Certified I-CCPT-S, Certified, I-CCGPT, Certified I-CCGPT-S, Certified I-CPRT, and Certified I-CPRT-S.

Steps to Certification

Welcome to CCGPT Certification!

We are so happy that you have chosen to promote the quality facilitation of mental health interventions for children by becoming recognized as a provider of evidence-based CCGPT. On this site, we will take you through the steps to become certified in CCGPT. Please follow the steps and requirements for the certification you are seeking below:

Level 1 - Certified CCGPT Practitioner
Certified CCGPT

Step 1: Hold Level 1 CCPT Certification (required)

Hold a Level 1 CCPT certification. 

Step 2: Educational Requirements - minimum 12 hours (required)

The UNT Center for Play Therapy offers CCGPT training according to the evidence-based model recognized by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. Training in the evidence-based model of CCGPT requires following approved treatment protocols. For more information on the recognized protocols and training, search Child-Centered Play Therapy at Title IV and CEBC. 

The educational requirements for CCGPT consists of the following:

• One or more formal university 3 credit hour course in Child-Centered Group Play Therapy completed in the last 10 years taught by an approved trainer that addresses all areas covered in CCGPT OR Workshop: CCGPT: Child-Centered Group Play Therapy (12 hours; 9 Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, 3 Skills & Methods) – 2-day training toward CCGPT certification by an approved trainer.

If you believe you have already completed the educational requirement, please send your transcript and course syllabus or certificate of completion and training materials to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu. Your documents will be reviewed to see if they match equivalency to CCGPT. 

Step 3: Supervised Experience (required)

Completion of 10 CCGPT sessions total with a minimum of 2 children per group 3-10 years old under supervision with an approved CCPT supervisor; must be in continuous weekly supervision with a minimum of 10 hours of supervision. Although face to face supervision is preferred, distance supervision will be approved to accommodate those in locations where approved supervisors are not available. CCGPT sessions may begin following completion of educational requirements equivalent to CCGPT. Supervisor agreement of adherence to protocol and process required for the case. Supervision requirements include observation of a minimum of 5 CCGPT sessions.

• A list of supervisors is available here.

Step 4: Licensed mental health professional at time of certification (required)

A mental health professional is required to hold a current, active, and unconditional individual state license to independently provide clinical mental health services in one of the following general practice disciplines: counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychiatry, psychology, or social work.

Step 5: Complete Application and Application Fee of $95 (required)

Upon completion of all educational and supervision requirements, complete the CCGPT application and pay $95 application fee.

Step 6: Submit Application (required)

Submit completed CCGPT application to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu.

Step 7: CPT Processes Submitted Materials

The Center for Play Therapy will review all materials and submit a decision regarding certification within 4 weeks.

Step 8: CCGPT Certification Complete

Receive confirmation of CCGPT Certification and become a CCGPT-Certified Practitioner!

In order to maintain certification status, CCPT/CCGPT certification must be renewed every 5 years. All renewals will take place November 1 on the year of your given renewal. Requirements for renewal include 12 continuing education hours specific to CCPT and/or CCGPT, the renewal application, and $95 renewal fee.

Level 2 - Certified Advanced CCGPT Practitioner/Supervisor
Certified CCGPT-S

Step 1: Hold Level 1 CCGPT Certification (required)

Hold a Level 1 CCGPT Certification.

Step 2: Hold a Level 2 CCPT-S Certification (required)

Hold a Level 2 CCPT-S Certification.

Step 3: Supervisor License (required)

Hold a mental health professional license as a supervisor.

Step 4: Complete CCGPT-S Supervisory Agreement (required)

Complete the CCPT-S Supervisory Agreement and submit it with the completed application.

Step 5: Complete CCGPT-S Application and Application Fee (required)

Upon completion of all requirements in steps 1-3, complete the CCGPT-S Application and pay the $95 Application Fee.

Step 6: Submit Application (required)

Submit completed CCGPT Supervisor application  and CCGPT-S Supervisory Agreement to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu.

Step 7: CPT Processes Submitted Materials

The Center for Play Therapy will review all materials and submit a decision regarding certification within 4 weeks.

Step 8: CCGPT-S Certification Complete

Receive confirmation of CCGPT-S Certification and become a Certified CCGPT Supervisor!

In order to maintain supervision certification status, CCGPT-Supervisor certification must be renewed every 5 years. All renewals will take place November 1 on the year of your given renewal. Requirements for renewal include 12 continuing education hours specific to CCPT and/or CCGPT, the renewal application, and $95 renewal fee.