About US
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) is a national professional society established in 1982 and located in Clovis, California. It is a California mutual benefit corporation exempt from federal taxation per Section 501(c)(6) of the IRS Code. Steady membership growth since its inception has allowed APT to develop into a vibrant organization comprised of professionals in all mental health fields across the world.
Alaska Branch
The Alaska Association for Play Therapy (AKAPT) is an established as a state-level affiliate of the Association for Play Therapy (APT). AKAPT initiative aims to enrich mental health care providers access to and skills in therapeutic use of play. AKAPT works to provide an invaluable network for sharing knowledge, resources, and advancing the utilization of play as therapy in the State of Alaska.
AKAPT strives toward building relationships within the State, advocating for the therapeutic power of play, and reaching out to a broader audience. Through its efforts, the association not only strengthens the professional network among therapists but also raises awareness about play therapy's benefits. As a beacon for practitioners in Alaska, AKAPT embodies the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose, striving to make a positive impact on the lives of children, families, and individuals through the transformative power of play therapy.
“Enter into a children’s play and you will find the place where their minds hearts and souls meet.”
— Virginia Axline
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Alaska Association for Play Therapy (AKAPT) is to ensure training, advocacy, and peer contact opportunities for mental health professionals and students in Alaska.
The objective(s) of Alaska Association for Play Therapy shall be to:
1. Seek to advance the discipline of Play Therapy through education grounded in seminal and historically significant play therapy theories.
2. Conduct and foster programs of education to help professionals in the field of Play Therapy meet and maintain the requirements of Registered Play Therapist designation.
3. Promote sound Play Therapy practices in the interest of society and individual.
4. Promote the Ethical practice of play therapy informed by research, education, and training.
5. Inform and educate the public and the mental health community about the Play Therapy profession.
6. Establish contacts with various organizations for support and educational pursuits of Play Therapy.
AKAPT follows the Association for Play Therapy mission and scope at a regional level.
AKAPT Diversity Statement
AKAPT is committed to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within our regional organization. We are at our best when the principles of DE&I are fully integrated into our governance, decision making, processes, and policies. As part of this commitment, we will follow and support the APT Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Awareness Team (IDEA Team) recommendations on DE&I informed programming and processes that will result in meaningful and sustainable organizational change at the regional, state and national levels.
