Certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Play, Creative Media and Expressive Arts

Blended Learning Programme

Use creative and play-based approaches in therapeutic work.

This programme introduces practitioners to the therapeutic use of play, creative media, and expressive arts when working with clients. Participants explore how symbolic expression and creative engagement can support emotional processing and communication. The course encourages practitioners to integrate creative modalities into therapy in ways that promote safety, exploration, and psychological growth.

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Programme Type: QQI L9 Certificate
Next Intakes: TBA

NFQ: Level 9
ECTS: 10

Academic Validation: QQI

Professional Accreditation: N/A

Overview

Introduction

The QQI Level 9 Certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Play, Creative Media & Expressive Arts is an advanced programme that develops practical skills in creative, experiential approaches to therapy. It equips practitioners to support emotional expression, engagement, and therapeutic change, particularly when working with children, adolescents, and clients who benefit from non-verbal modalities.

Who Should Apply

This course will be of interest to those who are working in a supportive capacity with children and adolescents i.e. counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, social care workers, key workers, mental health nurses, guidance counsellors, SNAs, teachers etc.

  • Applicants are required to evidence attainment of a minimum of Level 8 in counselling and/or psychotherapy or a minimum of a Level 8 Degree in cognate discipline, or equivalent.
  • Applicants are required to be able to demonstrate relevant experience in working with people in a responsible and caring role.
  • Applicants must be in a work setting or role which will provide them with opportunities to implement their learning from this module, such as paid or voluntary work with children within the helping professions, counselling support services, psychological settings, social care settings and /or project / youth /community work.
  • This is a 10 credit programme, and allows graduates to integrate therapeutic play and the use of creative media and expressive into their professional context. This is an academically validated certificate, it is not large enough in credit volume to meet the threshold for professional body recognition. It is ideal for those who are working in the helping professions, and who want to bring fresh knowledge and skills about how to use play and creatively in a therapeutic and supportive manner with children and adolescents to their current work. If you are seeking a professional training in counselling and psychotherapy, please contact us directly.
Entry Requirements

Applicants must be in a work setting or role which will provide them with opportunities to implement their learning from this module, such as paid or voluntary work with children within the helping professions, counselling support services, psychological settings, social care settings and /or project / youth /community work.

Minimum Technological Requirements

For the blended learning programme, you will need to have:

  • Appropriate broadband to be able to upload and download;
  • A desktop computer or laptop that is capable of using zoom;
  • A webcam and microphone;
  • A web browser;
  • Word processing package.

Why choose this Programme?

This programme develops practical skills in creative and expressive therapeutic approaches that enhance client engagement and deepen clinical effectiveness. It supports practitioners in expanding their professional toolkit, strengthening therapeutic relationships, and promoting meaningful outcomes across diverse client groups and practice settings.

Course Structure

Overview

In this module, learners will engage in formal didactic lectures, skills practice, group discussion, reflective exercises and experiential exercises related to the following:
(a) The theoretical underpinnings to play/creative media/expressive arts in therapy
(b) Creative counselling and therapeutic play skills
(c) Therapeutic use of Sensory and Embodiment activities and tools
(d) Projection, use of metaphor, bibliotherapy
(e) Use of Role-Play
(f) Sand in therapy
(g) Art in therapy
(h) Development Considerations:

  • Creative mediums and Development
  • Developmental art stages and play development
  • Stages in therapeutic play, and stages of creative process
  • Developmental considerations in sand tray

(i) Therapeutic Process

  • Lusebrink’s Expressive Arts Continuum
  • Norton’s Stages of Developmental Play
  • Jennings EPR Developmental Play Paradigm
  • Play and Creative Themes
Student Benefits & Support

We hold that it is not enough to simply teach about play/creative/expressive arts in theory. Learners are given the space to learn, practice and be supported as they integrate their skills into their professional practice, in their particular context.  

Work Based Learning

Prior to commencing on the programme, learners must be working or volunteering in a setting where they are actively supporting children and/or adolescents. The programme requires that you evidence a minimum of 20 hours of practice where play, creative media and expressive arts are integrated into your professional practice, in your specific context. This must be supervised at a ratio of 1:5, so one supervision session should occur for every 5 hours of practice.

Assessment

Learners must produce a comprehensive case study that showcases integration of play/creative/expressive arts interventions with a clinical case. The case study should commence with a literature review of the evidence supporting this approach to work with children and adolescents, and should include research demonstrating its efficacy (if available, learners may also want to include evidence of its efficacy specific to the presenting issue in the case). The case presentation should demonstrate how creative therapeutic methods were used to join with and assess the client. Learners must evidence how they selected and used interventions that were developmentally appropriate. Learners must bring the case to supervision and demonstrate how the learning and insights obtained in supervision were addressed in the clinical room. Word Count: 4,000.

Validation and Accreditation of Award

This Certificate is awarded as a Minor Award at Level 9 on the NFQ and is validated by QQI.

Credits

10 ECTS

Start Dates
  • TBA
Programme Lecturers

TBA

Protection for Enrolled Learners

This programme is covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of IICP College ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded. Current PEL arrangements consist of a 2% levy on course fees. IICP do not pass the cost of this on to learners.

Module Descriptors

Therapeutic Use of Play, Creative Media & Expressive Arts

Malchiodi (2005, p. 8) argues that expressive and creative methods add a unique dimension to therapy, as they offer characteristics that are not usually found in verbal approaches. When working have the emotional vocabulary that adults seeking therapy have. Engaging through play, creativity and expressive arts allows therapeutic work to occur through a medium that is comfortable to younger clients. In this module, learners will engage in teaching and learning related to theoretical underpinnings to play, creative media and expressive arts in therapy. Projection and the use of metaphor and creative methods including art, sandtray work and sensory and embodiment activities will be utilised.

Course Fees

IICP understand that while partaking in further education is an incredibly rewarding experience it can also be a financial challenge for some students. In order to minimise the financial impact caused to students, IICP strive to keep our course fees as competitive as possible. We also provide payment plan options to facilitate learners paying the balance of their fees throughout the duration of their course.

Overall Programme Fees

  • Certificate Fee: €975.00 [Inclusive of €50 QQI Fee]
  • A deposit of €292.50 secures your place
Payment Options

(1) The balance is due on or before the first day of the course

DepositBalance of Fees Total
292.50 € (On acceptance of course)682.50 €975 €

(2) Learners can also opt to sign up to our direct debit scheme if they wish to pay in instalments. Please note, the Direct Debit Scheme incurs an administration fee of €100.00

  • Please contact the IICP office to find out more

Extra Costs

  • Except where stated, course fees cover tuition only. Learners on this programme must also complete clinical work and engage an individual supervisor for this work. Supervision fees are negotiable between learners and individual supervisors.
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