Capella University's Center for the Study of Play Therapy has earned re-designation as an Approved Center of Play Therapy Education by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) through January 2017.

Capella offers an online graduate Play Therapy certificate program http://bit.ly/1gdRBjq. Capella (http://www.capella.edu) is a regionally accredited online university* that offers online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. As of Sept. 30, 2013, approximately 35,000 students were enrolled at Capella. A snapshot of Capella and what makes it unique is available through the university's infographic. The learning and career outcomes of Capella's students and alumni can be found at www.capellaresults.org.

Play therapy is a form of mental health counseling or psychotherapy used by licensed mental health professionals who therapeutically use play to better communicate with and help clients, especially children, to express and resolve their behavioral and diagnosed problems. The designation as an Approved Center of Play Therapy Education recognizes those university programs that generate substantial play therapy research, publications, graduate instruction, supervised clinical experiences, supervisor training, and other programs.

During the initial three-year approval period, Capella's Center for the Study of Play Therapy offered play therapy graduate and supervisor training courses in addition to generating publications and presentations to benefit students, faculty, and practitioners.

"Capella demonstrated that graduate play therapy education can be earned online with contact components when necessary," said APT President and CEO Bill Burns, CAE. "Its success has great educational implications for all mental health disciplines and we congratulate Capella!"

APT estimates that play therapy is routinely utilized by thousands of licensed psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists within and outside of the United States. Noting membership has doubled during the last decade, Burns reports that nearly 16 percent of accredited universities now offer some combination of play therapy graduate instruction and supervised play therapy experiences.

For expense, completion and outcome information regarding Capella's graduate Play Therapy certificate program, visit http://bit.ly/1gdRBjq.

About Capella University
Capella University is a regionally accredited online university* that offers online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. Over 70 percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's or doctoral degree programs in business, counseling, education, health administration, homeland security, human resource management, human services, information technology, nonprofit management and leadership, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety, and social work. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, nursing, psychology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 145 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 22 certificate programs. Approximately 35,000 learners were enrolled as of Sept. 30, 2013, from all 50 states and 61 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552).

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*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA),www.ncahlc.org.
Capella University, Capella Tower, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552),www.capella.edu.

Capella University
Michael Walsh, 612-977-5661
michael.walsh@capella.edu