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Play Therapist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ellie Mental Health - 054

Play Therapist

Bixby, OK · On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

... play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy * Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with ...

Ellie Mental Health

Play Therapist

Tulsa, OK · On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

... play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy * Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with ...

Ellie Mental Health

Play Therapist

Tulsa, OK · On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

... play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy * Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with ...

Ellie Mental Health - 054

Play Therapist

Tulsa, OK · On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

... play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy * Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with ...

Ellie Mental Health - 054

Play Therapist

Tulsa, OK · On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

... play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy * Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with ...

Ellie Mental Health

Play Therapist

Bixby, OK · On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

... play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy * Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with ...

Wellness Pointe

Play Therapists

Longview, TX · On-site

The Therapist will provide individual, non-directive, play-based mental health services to children experiencing behavioral issues, anxiety, or trauma. The Therapist will create a safe, therapeutic ...

Wellness Pointe

Play Therapists

Longview, TX · On-site

The Therapist will provide individual, non-directive, play-based mental health services to children experiencing behavioral issues, anxiety, or trauma. The Therapist will create a safe, therapeutic ...

CREOKS Health Services

Bilingual Play Therapist

Tulsa, OK · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Participate in required Play Therapy training and consultation * All other duties as assigned Qualifications: * Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology or related degree * Possess a ...

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Play Therapist information

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$49K

$79.2K

$164K

How much do play therapist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for play therapist in the United States is $79,232.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,000.00 and $82,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is Play Therapist a good career?

A play therapist is a mental health professional who uses play-based techniques to help children express emotions and address psychological issues. The career typically requires a relevant degree, certification, and strong communication skills, with job growth driven by increasing awareness of mental health needs in children. It can be a rewarding field for those interested in child development and therapy.

What can a Play Therapist do?

A Play Therapist uses play-based techniques to help children express emotions, develop coping skills, and address behavioral or emotional issues. They often work in clinical or school settings, utilizing tools like toys and art to facilitate communication and support mental health. Play Therapists typically hold specialized training and certifications in child therapy methods.

How does a play therapist typically collaborate with parents and other professionals to support a child's progress?

Play therapists often work closely with parents, teachers, and other specialists to ensure a holistic approach to a child's emotional and behavioral development. Regular communication with caregivers is essential, including sharing observations, discussing strategies for support at home, and providing updates on progress. Additionally, play therapists may participate in multidisciplinary team meetings with psychologists, social workers, or educators to coordinate care and set shared goals. This collaborative approach helps create a consistent support system for the child both in and out of therapy sessions.

How many years does it take to become a Play Therapist?

Becoming a Play Therapist typically requires completing a relevant undergraduate degree (such as psychology, social work, or counseling), which takes about three to four years, followed by specialized postgraduate training in play therapy that can take one to two years. Additionally, candidates often need supervised clinical experience and certification, which can extend the total preparation time to approximately four to six years.

What are play therapists?

Play therapists are mental health professionals who use play as a therapeutic tool to help children express their feelings, process experiences, and develop coping skills. They are trained to observe children's play behaviors and use various techniques, such as games, art, and storytelling, to address emotional, behavioral, or social challenges. Play therapy can be beneficial for children dealing with trauma, anxiety, family changes, or developmental issues. Play therapists often work in schools, clinics, or private practice settings and collaborate with families to support a child's well-being.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Play Therapist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Play Therapist, you need a solid background in psychology or counseling, often with a relevant master's degree and registration with a professional therapy body. Familiarity with therapeutic play techniques, assessment tools, and child development theories is essential, along with certifications like Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Outstanding communication, empathy, patience, and creative problem-solving skills help build trust and rapport with children and their families. These skills ensure effective therapeutic interventions, enabling children to express themselves and achieve emotional and behavioral growth.

How much do play therapists make?

Play therapists in the United States typically earn between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, certification, and location. Salaries can vary based on work setting, such as schools, clinics, or private practice, and often require specialized training in child development and therapeutic techniques.

What Does a Play Therapist Do?

As a play therapist, your job is to provide therapy for children through the strategic use of toys and games. In each therapy session, you evaluate behavioral changes, discuss your client's needs and problems, and collaborate with other staff to address the unique issues and challenges each client faces. Play therapy is often used to help promote certain behaviors and habits, such as cooperating or setting and pursuing goals. Play therapists focus exclusively on these techniques, but you may occasionally delve into other strategies when helping families. Play therapists frequently work for schools and private healthcare facilities.

What is the difference between Play Therapist vs Child Psychologist?

AspectPlay TherapistChild Psychologist
CredentialsDiploma or degree in play therapy, often with certificationDoctorate (PhD or PsyD) in psychology, with specialization in child psychology
Work EnvironmentPrivate practice, clinics, schools, hospitalsHospitals, clinics, private practice, research settings
Industry UsageFocused on using play as a therapeutic tool for childrenBroader psychological assessment and therapy for children and adolescents

Play Therapists primarily use play-based techniques to help children express emotions and resolve issues, often with specialized training in play therapy. Child Psychologists have a broader scope, including psychological testing, diagnosis, and various therapeutic approaches. Both roles work closely with children but differ in their methods and qualifications.

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Play Therapist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Play Therapist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,232 per year, or $38.1 per hour.

Play Therapist

Ellie Mental Health - 054

Bixby, OK • On-site

$74K - $86K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • Competitive salary
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Training & development
  • Vision insurance

Want more flexibility and work/life freedom?
Qualify as Full time with 30 work hours per week! (27 client hours and ~3 hours of administrative time)
Flexibility to work with a schedule that serves you and focuses on helping your passion population!
 
As an Outpatient Therapist at Ellie Mental Health’s new locally owned and operated clinic in Tulsa, you'll share our vision for improving and expanding access to quality mental health care and thrive in an environment driven by our core values of authenticity, humor, compassion, creativity, acceptance, and determination.
We offer:
  • 401K
  • Flexible schedule and a short work week
  • Health, dental, vision and life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Brand new, fully furnished and nicely appointed office
Ellie was proudly founded by clinicians on the principle of destigmatizing mental health.  The mental health industry is full of barriers, and we have made it our goal to fill the gap and find innovative ways to break down these barriers for our local communities.  We are excited to expand across the country by partnering with local leaders in your community.
Our clinics are structured to remove many of the obstacles that get in the way of providing world-class mental health services. Ellie makes the clinician’s experience a priority by offering excellent compensation, benefits, training, flexible scheduling (FT/PT), CEU’s, and an incredibly inclusive environment. Additionally, Ellie provides centralized administrative support, technology, referral support, scheduling, client/therapist matching, and more.
Responsibilities include:
  • Evaluate mental health diagnoses, create, implement and maintain treatment plans and complete ongoing documentation
  • Provide excellent customer service for clients and collaborate with a dynamic team to further the mission of filling gaps in your community
  • Utilize creativity in interventions to help clients achieve and exceed goals
Required Qualifications and Skills:
  • Master’s degree in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields from an accredited college or university
  • Candidates should ideally have clinical licensure (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)
  • Experience with completing DAs, treatment plans and clinical case notes
  • Passion for topics such as, but not limited to: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), BIPOC population, humanistic therapy, gender identity and sexual
     orientation, play therapy, art therapy, musical therapy, social work, Adlerian therapy, PTSD, group therapy, couples therapy, psychotherapy
  • Ability to demonstrate and model stable, appropriate boundaries with clients
  • Proficient in the use of Office 365 and EHR systems (Valant)
  • Fully Licensed Clinicians will ideally be credentialed with insurance panels 
*Our Clinical Licensure Supervision Program has supervisors for folks seeking licensure as LCSW, LPC-MHSP, and LMFT. This is based on staff availability and we cannot guarantee that a supervisor match will be immediately available. We encourage license seeking clinicians to have one supervisor at Ellie and one outside to help enhance their learning experience, have additional perspective, and utilize the full range of cultural and clinical experiences provided by multiple clinical licensure supervisors.
 
Independent franchisees are Equal Opportunity employers committed to diverse and inclusive workforces. Franchisees are independent business people and not employed by Ellie Family Services, PLLP, d/b/a “Ellie Mental Health”, Ellie MSO, LLC, or Ellie FAM LLC. Thus, each franchisee and each franchisee clinic is unique and the franchisee is alone responsible for all employment matters in their clinic, including the terms and conditions of employment for their employees, such as hiring, firing, discipline, supervision, staffing and scheduling. Depending on the clinic location you select, the job for which you apply may be in a clinic owned and operated by an independent franchisee, and not with the corporate-owned clinics, which are based in Minnesota. This means the franchisee, not Ellie Family Services, PLLP, is responsible for all employment matters at the clinic. If you are hired for the job, the franchisee will be your employer, not Ellie Family Services, PLLP or any of its affiliated entities. For franchisee clinic locations, please contact the franchisee organization directly to the extent you need assistance in completing forms or otherwise participating in that franchisee’s application process.
 
Ellie Mental Health is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, or any other legally-recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing an undue hardship on the operation of the business.