‘PTUK endorses this statement provided by the PSA and are pleased that the BBC have been notified about this important matter.
However, the need for a Professional Register and proper Accreditation is particularly important in relation to those describing themselves as ‘professionals’ who are dealing with the youngest and most vulnerable children.
This latter comment refers exactly to the particular cohort for whom Play Therapy is so vital. Our youngest and most vulnerable children are simply not able to articulate their feelings or the sources of their profound emotional distress in a conversation with a Counsellor. However, a professional Play Therapist; trained to the highest level who is Accredited as a qualified and safe person is exactly the person to be discharging such responsibilities.
The urgent need for all those dealing with children on a therapeutic basis to be professionally registered and to be required to satisfy a re-register requirement on a regular basis is one of the Six Principals of our Child Mental Health Charter. Please register your support for it by signing either as an individual, an organisation or both. Professional Accreditation should be a pre-requisite. Help PTUK to convince the Government to help children by making this a statutory component of the Government’s proposed new Mental Health Bill; scheduled to begin its Parliamentary progress in 2022.’
Helen Clark: Director, Child Mental Health Charter Campaign
