APT promotes its values by annually presenting Awards of Excellence to those members who demonstrate such values via their outstanding achievements, contributions, and service. Nominations are accepted between February 1 and March 31, and presented during its Annual Conference each October. Applications are accepted Jan. 1 - March 31 annually.

Award Descriptions

• APT Service Award

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding organizational service to APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its chartered branches that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

2017 APT Service Award Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, CAS, RPT-S Owner, Robert Jason Grant Ed.D AutPlay Therapy Clinic Springfield, MO

• Emerging Leader Service Award -NEW!
  

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges an emerging leader, who has been fully licensed for 10 years or less, for their outstanding organizational service to APT, its Foundation for Play Therapy, and/or its chartered branches, that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

2017 Emerging Leader Service Award Renee Turner, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S Counselor, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, TX

• Public Education & Promotion Award

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding public education and promotion that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

2017 Public Education and Promotion Award Dawn Williamson, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S Owner, Private Practice Dundee, OR

• Research Award

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding published research that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

• Student Research Award

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding research by graduate or doctoral students that significantly develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, and credentialed play therapists.

• Lifetime Achievement Award

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) acknowledges outstanding lifetime achievement that develops, promotes, or advances the value of play, play therapy, or credentialed play therapists.

2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Phyllis Booth, MA, LCPC, LMFT, RPT-S Clinical Director Emeritus, Theraplay® Institute Chicago, IL

Past recipients: 2005 Garry Landreth; 2006 Charles Schaefer & Louise Guerney; 2008 Diane Frey & Violet Oaklander; 2009 Eliana Gil; 2011 John Allan; 2013 Linda Homeyer; 2014 Terry Kottman; 2015 Kevin O'Connor; 2016 Sue Bratton; 2017 Phyllis Booth