The Canadian Association for Play Therapy believes in the value of play therapy and its contribution to an individual’s mental, emotional, social and psychological well being. The Association believes in advancing and promoting the understanding and value of play therapy, high standards of professional and ethical practice and advocating for our membership. The Association maintains a strong, professional organization and promotes professional training and current research in play therapy. The Association collaborates with organizations and agencies to encourage the development of play therapy skills and competency for professionals working with children. In the past several years, Play Therapy has been accepted and acknowledged as an important and valued approach for working with children with emotional or behavioural difficulties. Play Therapy is beneficial to a child who is experiencing difficulties in the home, school or community. It is a therapeutic approach for human service professionals and as stated by Virginia Axline, “provides an opportunity for the child to ‘play out’ his or her feelings and problems just as, in certain adult therapy, an individual ‘talks out’ his or her difficulties”. A child’s self-understanding is one of the goals in this approach. Play Therapy can be used either as a primary or adjunct therapy in settings such as , Children’s Services, Community Agencies, Psychiatric Centers, Children’s Hospitals, Schools, and Women’s Shelters. Play Therapists work with children individually, with their families and in group settings.