ECVET compliant Play Therapy training towards early child intervention

<< Background >>Play therapy is a method of therapy that uses play to uncover and deal with psychological issues. It can be used on its own, particularly with children, or along with other therapies and medications. Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children. In 2021 Play Therapy was basically non-existent in Bulgaria and Türkiye, while the need for it is high, and there is need for practical training towards fast deployment of such therapies. Our project aimed therefore to develop an ECVET compliant Play Therapy training towards early child intervention. It therefore relied on best practices collected from Belgium and Portugal. To succeed, the trainees had to complete 150 hours of Play Therapy instruction. Target groups Play therapists therefore had to be well-trained in child development, attachment, and the use of play as a way to communicate with children. The play therapist also had to be trained in a recognized therapeutic approach, such as children-centred, cognitive-behavioural, Adlerian, or Gestalt therapy. In addition to having the appropriate educational background and relevant experience, the therapist had to be adequate in working on personal and family issues and make the connection with the parent(s).<< Objectives >>Our Bulgarian and Turkish partners operate at this moments various child development/rehabilitation centres where they are now deploying Play Therapy. VET education in Play Therapy did not exist at all in these countries at the time of writing the project concept. Our project therefore aimed to develop an ECVET compliant Play Therapy training towards early child intervention. It therefore relied on best practices collected from Belgium and Portugal. By conducting the project, we filled this gap in the labour market, while enabling our partners to deploy Play therapy in their own countries on a VET level, whereby a 150 hour instruction course allows for a swift training of the target groups.<< Implementation >>The partners undertook a wide range of activities to realise the project expected outcomes:- an ECVET compliant Play Therapy curriculum was created that brought on board expertise from all partners and set the framework for the actual course content.- the training course content was created on the basis of the detailed curriculum.- subsequently, we developed a wide range of Play Therapy Techniques, captured in 50 (!) videos, demonstrating how each technique is carried out.- all these created resources were then published on a customised online LMS with associated securely synchronised mobile applications for Android and iOS, ensuring seamless access to all outcomes, while ensuring learning can take place anytime, anywhere, anyhow.- to make it even more relevant for the VET educational sector, the online/mobile LMS delivered also digital certification/badging upon successful completion of the course material, thus making it micro-credential compliant.- finally, a handbook with guidelines for effective Play Therapy training was deployed so that every VET trainer knows how to effectively conduct the Play Therapy training, using all the developed tools.- all the realised outcomes were presented at our final multiplier event in << Results >>Below results are available at https://www.playther.eu/project-results/ in EN, BG, TR:- PR1: ECVET compliant Play Therapy curriculum and training course content- PR2: Play Therapy Techniques- PR3: Handbook guidelines for effective Play TherapyIn addition:Online LMS at https://www.playther.eu/elearning/?lang=enMobile app (iOS) at https://apps.apple.com/app/playther/id1637071101Mobile app (Android) at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playther.mobileProject website at https://www.playther.eu/Final multiplier event in Ruse, Bulgaria reported on at https://www.playther.eu/category/final-events/Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PlaytherapyProject