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THE GUERNEY AWARD
For Excellence in the Promotion of Play Therapy in Pennsylvania
The Guerney Award was established in 2007 to honor Drs. Bernard and Louise Guerney, pioneers in the field of play therapy who were professors at the Pennsylvania State University where they worked to develop child centered play therapy and filial therapy, where parents learned to do therapeutic play sessions with their own children.
To be eligible for consideration for the Guerney Award, candidates must
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Hold a SB-RPT, RPT, or RPT-S credential
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Be a member in good standing of the Association for Play Therapy
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Have considerable (at least five years) experience in each of the following categories:
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The Practice of Play Therapy: Provide play therapy to children, adolescents, and families in a private practice setting; an agency setting; or a school setting.
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The Supervision of Play Therapy: Provide supervision to persons who are practicing play therapy and who are working toward the level of experience that qualifies them to be an RPT or RPT-S
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The Teaching of Play Therapy: Teach play therapy through conference presentations, a training center, or a university setting.
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The Promotion of Play Therapy: Speaking about play therapy to groups and organizations in order to promote understanding of how play therapy helps children; writing articles for professional publications or association newsletters
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The Leadership of Play Therapy: Serving on the national or a state APT Board; graduating from the APT Leadership Academy
Nominations of qualified individuals can be made by contacting the current PA APT Vice President (vice-president@paapt.org). Please be sure to include a short statement about why you are nominating the person as well as their current place of employment or full CV.
The PA APT board will review nominations and choose a candidate who meets all of the above criteria. The Award is presented each year at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Association for Play Therapy.
JENNFIER JOHNSON, LCSW, RPT
2024 Guerney Award Recipient

LAURIE SCHEIN, LCSW, RPT
2023Â Guerney Award Recipient

JESSICA COSBY, LPC, RPT-S
2022Â Guerney Award Recipient

NIKKI BRICKER, LCSW, RPT-S
2020 Guerney Award Recipient

DANIELLE BUDASH, PSY.D, RPT-S
2019Â Guerney Award Recipient

PAST RECIPIENTS
2023            Laurie Schein2022            Jessica Cosby2020             Nikki Bricker2019             Danielle Budash2018            Elizabeth Craft2017            Kristy Brumfield2016            Debra Doubrava2015            Erin O’Donnell (student – Guerney Scholarship Award)2014            Barry Ginsberg2013            Tina Paone2012            Teresa Glatthorn2011            Dottie Ward-Wimmer2010            Cynthia Sniscak2009            Jacqueline George2008            Jean Camberg2007            Rise VanFleet

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