SELF-PACED COURSE

Child-Centered Documentation

This self-paced course introduces Child-Centered Documentation (CCD), a practical framework that bridges child-centered play therapy with the documentation requirements of managed care systems.


CCD provides a clear approach to case conceptualization, treatment planning that honors the child’s internal experience while meeting system expectations.

🌟 RECEIVE 15% off!  Join the CCD Self-Paced Course Pilot Program! 
Register by July 31 with code PILOTFIRST20 to receive 15% off in exchange for completing the course and joining a live feedback session on August 12, 12-1:15pm PST. 
(Participation is limited to the first 20 registrants.)
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Non-contact

APT Approved Provider 18-545

Course Overview

In many practice settings, clinicians face a fundamental tension: how to stay true to the principles of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) while also producing measurable, medically necessary documentation. This course addresses that challenge through the Child-Centered Documentation (CCD) framework.

CCD provides a clear framework for case conceptualization and treatment planning through a two-lane approach that tracks both observable behavioral concerns and the child's underlying growth process.

Through clinical examples, templates, and step-by-step demonstrations, participants will learn how to move from intake and diagnosis to symptom and growth objectives, treatment planning, and caregiver communication.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

  • Play therapists and mental health clinicians using Child-Centered Play Therapy
  • Associates and early-career therapists seeking confidence in documentation
  • Experienced clinicians looking to align their documentation with their theoretical approach
  • Professionals navigating insurance, agency, or medical-model requirements

What You'll Learn

Across nine comprehensive lessons, you will:

  • Understand the theoretical foundations of CCD, including person-centered theory and how change occurs in CCPT
  • Resolve the conflict between child-centered philosophy and medical model requirements
  • Develop meaningful, measurable treatment plans that align with your clinical orientation
  • Identify and track subtle indicators of progress in play therapy
  • Write clear, objective progress notes that translate play into clinically relevant language
  • Communicate effectively with caregivers and systems while preserving the integrity of the therapeutic relationship

 Course Features

  • Fully self-paced format with short lessons (most under 20 minutes) that you can listen anytime, anywhere
  • Earn 2.5 non-contact continuing education (CE) hours specific to play therapy
  • Practical templates for case conceptualization and treatment planning
  • Resource library with treatment planning tools, objective-writing supports, and caregiver communication resources
  • Step-by-step demonstrations to support confidence in documentation and communicating progress
  • Community space to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with other clinicians learning the CCD framework

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Create documentation that is both clinically meaningful and system-compliant
  • Clearly articulate how therapeutic change occurs in Child-Centered Play Therapy
  • Reduce stress and uncertainty related to treatment planning in play therapy
  • Strengthen communication with caregivers and other stakeholders

Why CCD?

Child-Centered Documentation is built on a simple but powerful idea: internal growth leads to external change. By capturing both, clinicians can produce documentation that is accurate, authentic, and aligned with their therapeutic values—without sacrificing compliance.

Theoretically Informed

Connect play therapy theory directly to your clinical work

Clear Treatment Planning

Follow a step-by step process to reduce overwhelm

Increased Clinical Confidence

Feel grounded in your case conceptualization and noticing progress

Meaningful Documentation

Create meaningful treatment plans 

Measurable Objectives

Create clear, trackable goals that show real progress

Stronger Caregiver Communication

Use clear language to align and engage caregivers

Course Contents

Frequently Asked Questions

I already have the Play Therapy Documentation Essentials book. Will this course still be helpful?

Yes. The book provides the theory, framework, templates, and examples behind the Child-Centered Documentation (CCD) approach. The course expands on those concepts through video instruction, demonstrations, clinical examples, and step-by-step guidance designed to help you apply the framework in practice.

The course follows a composite case of Rowan, while the book follows the case of Ophelia. Seeing the framework applied across different cases can help deepen understanding and support implementation.

This course corresponds primarily to the first six chapters of Play Therapy Documentation Essentials, providing additional explanation, demonstrations, and examples to support learning and application.

Many clinicians find that the book and course complement one another. The book serves as an ongoing reference, while the course walks you through the process in a more structured and visual format.

I attended the live 4-part CCD training in the past. Is this the same content?

There is significant overlap in the foundational concepts, but the self-paced course is not simply a recording of the live training.

The current self-paced course corresponds primarily to Part 1 of the live 4-part CCD training series, covering case conceptualization, treatment planning, and caregiver communication within the CCD framework.

The self-paced course uses a different case example and reorganizes the material into shorter, bite-sized lessons, most under 20 minutes in length. It also includes demonstrations, downloadable resources, and opportunities to review concepts at your own pace.

Clinicians who have completed the live 4-part training will likely find much of the content familiar. The self-paced course may be most valuable as a refresher, implementation resource, or way to revisit the foundations of the CCD framework in a more structured format.

How do the self-paced modules relate to the live CCD training and the book?

The self-paced course, live CCD trainings, and Play Therapy Documentation Essentials teach the same CCD framework through different formats and examples. 

The table below shows how the self-paced modules align with the live trainings and book chapters.

CCD Self-Paced Course  Title Live CCD Course Book Chapters
Modules 1-2 Case Conceptualization and Treatment Plan Session 1 Chapters 1-6
Module 3* Assessing Progress Session 2 Chapters 7-9
Module 4** Progress Notes Session 3 Chapters 10-11
Module 5** Caregivers Session 4 Chapters 12-13
Module 6** ImplementationNone Chapter 14


When will the remaining CCD modules be available?

*Module 3, Assessing Progress in Child-Centered Play Therapy, is currently scheduled as a live training on August 20, 2026.

**Modules 4–6 are currently in development.

Does this course teach progress notes?

A little, but not in depth.

Modules 1 and 2 introduce how progress is assessed within the CCD framework, including how therapists observe growth in the playroom and how caregivers track measurable symptom objectives. This foundation helps prepare clinicians for later training on CCD progress notes.

However, the current self-paced course does not teach the complete CCD progress note process. The progress note modules are still in development. In the meantime, clinicians interested in CCD progress notes can refer to Play Therapy Documentation Essentials, particularly Chapters 10–11, which focus on play therapy progress notes.

I'm new to Child-Centered Play Therapy. Is this course appropriate for me?

This course is designed to teach the Child-Centered Documentation framework, not Child-Centered Play Therapy itself.

The training assumes participants have foundational knowledge of Child-Centered Play Therapy principles and skills. While the course briefly reviews relevant concepts, it does not teach how to conduct CCPT sessions.

If you are already practicing or learning Child-Centered Play Therapy and would like support translating that work into case conceptualizations, treatment plans, caregiver communication, and documentation, this course may be a good fit.

Are templates and handouts included?

Yes. Downloadable handouts and course resources are included throughout the training and can be accessed within the course modules.

Many of the handouts are also available in the appendix of Play Therapy Documentation Essentials, though the course organizes them within the relevant lessons for easier implementation.

Clinicians looking for the complete collection of CCD templates and handouts may also be interested in the CCD Workflow & Desk Reference (WFDR). The WFDR includes handouts from across the CCD framework—including materials related to later modules that are still in development—along with embedded hyperlinks designed to guide you through the documentation process from intake through progress assessment and documentation.

Can I earn continuing education (CE) credit for this course?

Yes. Seattle Play Therapy Training Center is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer play therapy continuing education. (APT Approved Provider 18-545) This program offers 2.5 non-contact continuing education hours.

These CE hours are applicable toward the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential and may also be used for other mental health credentials in Washington State as continuing education approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national, or international organization, consistent with WAC 246-809-610(3)(a).

For professionals licensed outside of Washington State, please consult your state's continuing education requirements to determine eligibility.

To receive continuing education credit, participants must complete all course requirements, including passing any required post-tests.

What if I have questions while taking the course?

Participants are encouraged to use the course community feature to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with others working through the CCD framework.

If you need additional support, you can also contact the SPT Training Center team at training@seattleplaytherapy.com.

Meet the Instructor

Rosie Newman, LMHC, RPT-S™

Creator of the Child-Centered Documentation Framework
Rosie Newman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S™). Rosie is the founder of a group practice called Seattle Play Therapy, PLLC. Rosie is adjunct facility at Seattle University and the University of Washington, providing play therapy course work to graduate students and the author of Play Therapy Documentation Essentials: A Child-Centered Approach to Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning, (2025).

What Students Are Saying

This really helped me to conceptualize a useful way to organize notes for myself and for others so that I can track progress in an effective way.
Jennifer S., LMHC
Child Psychotherapy
[I learned] how to better link CCPT growth objectives with medical model evidenced-based progress indicators/objectives and, importantly, how to describe these.
Melissa D., RPT
School Counseling
[I learned] that documentation is my friend! The handouts and example lists were so helpful.
Melinda H., MSW
Social Work

Legal Disclaimer

Federal and state laws, your licensing body’s code of ethics, your funding sources, and health plan contracts all carry specific requirements that you must follow.

This training is designed to provide a basic overview of how to integrate medical model requirements with child-centered play therapy theory. It is not intended to serve as a comprehensive guide to all obligations that may apply to your practice.

If you are practicing in the United States, you may find Navigating the Insurance Maze by Barbara Griswold helpful for understanding common requirements associated with health plans.

SPT makes no warranties or representations that the Child-Centered Documentation framework and its associated tools (hereafter referred to as “the Product”) will be sufficient, appropriate, or compliant with the laws, rules, or regulations applicable to your situation. The Product should be used only in conjunction with competent legal advice and a thorough review of its applicability to your specific practice setting.
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