USING MINECRAFT AS A THERAPEUTIC TOOL: LEVEL 1

SELF-PACED ONLINE COURSE

Discover how to use a video game your clients already know and love to create more engaging and accessible play therapy and other therapeutic sessions.

This course equips play therapists, mental health, health, and social care professionals with the knowledge and practical skills to begin using Minecraft as a creative digital tool in their work with children, young people, and families.

Learners explore the therapeutic benefits of Minecraft in play therapy and other therapeutic practice, compare the main editions, and develop hands-on technical skills including creating and configuring worlds, managing multiplayer sessions, and troubleshooting common problems.

The course also covers safeguarding, data protection, and a range of session activities to support different therapeutic goals.

£180.00 per person (Group discount available upon request)

2.5 Hours of Video Content

Course Length: Approx. 10 Hours

Access duration: 6 months (after this time you can purchase membership for ongoing access to the course materials and community benefits)

Requirements: You'll need access to a Minecraft license to complete this course (the cost of this is not included in the course but the course does contain guidance on purchasing licenses)

Who it’s for: Helping professionals working with children, young people, adults or families in mental health, health care, social care, or community settings

PlayMode Academy is an APT Approved Provider 26-839.

This program provides 10 APT Non-Contact CE hours.*

We want to thank KEMP Hospice and the young actors for their participation in this film.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Describe the potential benefits of using Minecraft as a creative digital tool in therapeutic and professional practice, with reference to relevant theoretical frameworks including the Therapeutic Powers of Play and their application within play therapy and other play-based approaches.

Apply practical skills to integrate Minecraft into sessions in line with play therapy and other therapeutic approaches, including identifying when use may not be appropriate and adapting approaches to different contexts and presenting needs.

Compare the key features, compatibility, and safety considerations of the three main Minecraft editions (Bedrock, Java, and Education) and select the most appropriate edition for a given practice setting.

Create and configure Minecraft worlds, apply key controls and commands, and manage multiplayer connections to support safe and purposeful sessions.

Identify relevant safeguarding considerations, data protection responsibilities, and privacy settings when using Minecraft in professional practice, in line with ethical practice standards relevant to play therapy and other therapeutic approaches.

Select and apply a range of session activities appropriate to different therapeutic goals, drawing on play therapy and other therapeutic techniques and principles, and the needs of the people they are working with.

Identify and troubleshoot common technical problems that may arise when using Minecraft in sessions.

Recognise how factors including neurodivergence, disability, age, and cultural and social context may shape how people engage with digital tools, and adapt their play therapy and other therapeutic practice accordingly.

Play therapy credit further information

*Play therapy credit is only awarded to mental health professionals and to graduate students enrolled in a graduate mental health program or individuals who hold a graduate mental health degree. Courses that do not qualify for play therapy credit are clearly listed. 

Please note that the Association for Play Therapy (APT) alone holds the right to accept or deny any continuing education training at its discretion.

No partial CE credit is available. Attendees must be present for live events for the entire duration and complete an evaluation and post-test to obtain credit.

Accommodations

PlayMode Academy respect your sensory needs and will accommodate to make this a meaningful and valuable learning experience for you. For questions or accommodations, please contact us.

‍Grievance policy‍ ‍

PlayMode Academy is committed to fair and equitable treatment of all learners, and to resolving any concerns raised about our training in a fair and timely manner. If you have a grievance about a PlayMode Academy course, please submit this via our contact form. We will acknowledge receipt within 10 working days and aim to respond with next steps within 30 days. Wherever possible, we will take corrective action to help prevent similar issues arising in future.

Cancellation and refund/transfer policy: Self-paced trainings

You can cancel your order within 14 days of purchase, for any reason. You will then be deregistered from the course. If you have any concerns about the course, please contact us via our contact form and we will do our best to help. Full terms and conditions apply, see https://playmodeacademy.org/policies.

Cancellation and refund/transfer policy: Live trainings

You can cancel your order within 14 days of purchase, for any reason. You will then be deregistered from the live training. If you have any concerns about the training, please contact us via our contact form and we will do our best to help. Full terms and conditions apply, see https://playmodeacademy.org/policies.

If PlayMode Academy needs to cancel or reschedule a live cohort, you will receive a full refund or the option to transfer to a future date, whichever you prefer. Full terms and conditions apply, see https://playmodeacademy.org/policies ‍ ‍

MEET YOUR TRAINER: Ellie Finch

Ellie Finch, MA (Social Work), PGDip Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, Accredited Registered Member of BACP, is a counsellor and clinical supervisor specialising in therapeutic work with children, young people, and families. She holds a Master's in Social Work and a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, both from the University of East London, and is a Registered Member of Social Work England. Drawing on experience across CAMHS, schools, charities, and private practice, Ellie is a recognised leader in integrating videogames like Minecraft into therapy to improve engagement and accessibility. She has been delivering training on the therapeutic use of Minecraft and creative digital tools since 2021, and founded the non-profit PlayMode Academy in 2025 to offer structured, ethically grounded training for professionals who want to embed these tools into their practice. Ellie has been supported by Cambridge Social Ventures, Hatch, and UnLtd, organisations that provide specialist support to people building social ventures and mission-led organisations. Ellie was also part of a University of Cambridge research team that explored how videogames can help create more inclusive mental health support.

  • Absolutely amazing course

    I had watched my sons playing Minecraft for ages before I took this course, and I always thought I would never grasp it, but this course has enabled me to really get the basics which in turn has made me feel more confident about using it with clients.

    - Dan Higgs

  • The best CPD I have completed this year!

    Fantastic and valuable training. The training is thoughtful, well laid out and easy to access. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone in a supportive and encouraging way, and I cannot wait to use Minecraft in practice.

    - Danielle Harris

  • Really great and comprehensive course

    This was a great course which clearly covered things to be aware of in terms of confidentiality, GDPR and technical aspects of hosting a session through Minecraft which was incredibly helpful. It was also fun thinking about different ways the game could be used in a therapeutic setting and was great for generating ideas.

    - Emily Chalder

  • I have managed to overcome, with Ellie's support, the minefield that is Minecraft!

    - Hannah Y

  • Highly recommended!

    Ellie is a knowledgeable trainer who puts "first timers" at ease and the course content is clear and easy to follow.

    - Helen T

  • Healing together, block by block

    When I first heard about this course, I was intrigued. For someone who has grown up with Minecraft and has spent many hours within the game’s creative mode, I was curious to see how you could use it as a therapeutic tool. I myself, have used the game to create fantasy worlds and even build sculptures/buildings that represented my feelings and emotions.

    Being both a visual and hands-on learner, I was happy with having videos and activities to complete. I enjoyed creating my own skin and safe place within the world Ellie had created. Despite my knowledge of the game, I learned new insights into various mechanics from all versions. The education version taught me how to spawn and edit NPCs so they could interact with me and a potential client. Whether you're new to the game or have played it before, Ellie has created a great course to teach you not only how to play the game, but also how to create a safe and constructive environment where younger clients can freely express themselves visually.

    - Joe Grove

  • An informative and interesting training program using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool

    The training felt fun and light with a great range of activities to keep engaged. The interface was intuitive and flowed smoothly. It was easy to see progress and navigate through the training. I liked the quizzes – pitched at a good level with some surprising answers.

    It was helpful to understand Ellie’s journey to Minecraft and I loved her avatar and Minecraft lab. The levels of novelty and attention to detail made working through it a delight.

    - Jonathan Stott

  • I am so glad I enrolled in this course!

    Ellie’s course clearly outlined step by step everything needed to understand the different ways to use Minecraft therapeutically, how to manage the technology side of things and helped build confidence as the course went along. I would highly recommend this course.

    - Kellie Hansen

  • This really is an amazing course

    This course has helped me SO much and I'm definitely more confident with Minecraft now. It’s packed with helpful tips, practical lessons and ongoing help from Ellie. I still jump back into lessons I've completed already to refresh my memory – it's such a great resource. Highly recommended!

    - Lesley Simpson-Gray

  • Off to a good start

    A gentle, supportive and clear introduction.

    - Louise Holdway

  • Engaging and informative course!

    I found this course full of new and interesting content. For someone that already uses Minecraft therapeutically, it included everything I needed. I will definitely be going back over the course again to re-watch some essential, simple videos. The course was engaging, did not cause me to switch off at all and was full of Minecraft colour and fun. I'd definitely recommend getting this course as a necessary toolkit for using Minecraft with children and young people.

    - Natalie Coyne

  • A great introduction to the video game therapy and therapy with Minecraft

    I think Ellie did a great job with this course! I've found out important things about client safety, technical elements, and especially about the creative part which has already helped me to create my own worlds in Minecraft.

    - Oleksii Sukhorukov

  • Really informative

    I found this module really informative as a non-gamer and therapist in terms of how I may use it as a therapeutic tool. As a dramatherapist, it is based on being client-centred and enables the client to lead. A creative and informative tool into the client’s world.

    - Sian Jenner

 

MORE COURSES

 

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For organisations:

Using Creative Digital Tools Therapeutically

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FAQ

  • Based on user feedback, the average time it takes to complete this course is 10 hours. However, this depends on how many editions of Minecraft you are using or planning to use. This is because the course provides instructions for each of the three editions of Minecraft (Bedrock, Java and Education). Therefore, if you are only using/planning to use one of these editions you may complete the course more quickly. The course allows you to skip content that focuses on the editions you are not using/planning to use.

  • During the first 6 months after purchasing this course you have access to community benefits for free.

    Community benefits include:

    • Access to regular online Q&A sessions.

    • Access to regularly updated course materials.

    • Access to a student community.

    After 6 months you have the option of continuing to access the community. The price for community membership is currently £60 per year.

  • Community benefits include:

    • Access to regular online Q&A sessions.

    • Access to regularly updated course materials.

    • Access to a student community.

    After 6 months you have the option of continuing to access the community. The price for community membership is currently £60 per year.

  • £60 per year

  • It is mandatory to have completed Level 1 before going on to Level 2. This is because Level 2 is a live, immersive training where you will be in Minecraft with a small group of students. It's important that you have the fundamentals skills in place before embarking on the Level 2 training. In addition the Level 1 course acts as an ongoing resource library that you can refer back to for guidance on specific tasks such as exporting and importing worlds, setting up worlds for your clients and how to use specific activities.

  • No, this training is created to enable you to integrate your own therapeutic approach in using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool.

  • No. Ellie Finch Counselling Consultancy and Training Ltd does not take responsibility for User's practice and does not certify, qualify, or accredit practitioners. Courses are offered to provide additional tools within the remit of User's profession’s competencies, licensure and registration. Please see terms and conditions for further information: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/30255221

  • No. This course is NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT PRODUCT. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT. You will also need to use this phrase on all your informational and promotional materials about your service in accordance with Minecraft's terms.

  • You can take a non-directive or directive approach in Minecraft. Non-directive/client-centered is the core of my own approach and Minecraft lends itself well to this. If you are observing the client play (rather than being in the game yourself) then it feels very much like observing the client make a sandtray or use drawing/painting etc - with you using your usual observation and reflective skills. If you are in the game yourself you can be incredibly client-led - often I'm in the game simply as an observer, sometimes the client asks me to play a game with them like hide and seek, or they might ask me to help to build something with them. I sometimes incorporate a few structured/directive activities (i.e. asking the client to create a safe place near the start of the work) if I think it will support the work. With the course I've aimed to support practitioners to incorporate their own approach to Minecraft so there is no one set way of doing things. That is, it’s not an approach-based training and the courses are offered to provide additional tools within the remit of User's profession’s competencies, licensure and registration. In this Level 1 course I have included a number of activities and ideas for how you can utilise Minecraft therapeutically. Many of the activities have grown organically out of the client-centered work I have done with the children, adults and families I see in my clinical practice.

  • This course guides you step by step through how to use Minecraft as a therapeutic tool, including the key controls and commands needed, how to set up worlds, how to set up a Realm, and how to save and back-up worlds. There is an interactive final assessment where you get to demonstrate your new found skills.

  • Yes, absolutely. Minecraft can be used with children, young people, adults, couples, families and groups. The key is meeting clients in their comfort zone – so if they play Minecraft and are open to using it therapeutically then using Minecraft is possible. Note that it is your responsibility to ensure you are practicing within your competency, licensure and registration.

  • Yes, Minecraft can be used with individuals, dyads and groups including families. Note that it is your responsibility to ensure you are practicing within your competency, licensure and registration.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are practicing within your competency, licensure and registration. So, if you felt that Level 1 was sufficient for you to be practicing within your competency, licensure and registration then that would be fine. However, people find doing the Level 2 - as it is a live, small group, experiential training - supports them to feel confident in using Minecraft therapeutically. My full terms and conditions are available here: https://www.iubenda.com/terms-and-conditions/30255221

  • This training is created to enable you to integrate your own therapeutic approach in using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool. Therefore, it would be down to you to decide how long a session should be. However, I would recommend allowing yourself more time either side of a session for prep/saving worlds and you may also need to factor in some additional time or sessions for technical preparation with your clients.

  • This would depend on the usual requirements for parental consent that apply to your client group. In addition, you will also need to gain consent from the client and/or their parent (depending on their age/capacity) re. the use of the resource taking in to account how you manage their data, the location of servers etc. This is covered in the Level 1 course.

  • Your standard supervision requirements (to meet your licensure/registration body's guidelines) would apply here. But you may also need/chose to seek out specialist supervision with a supervisor/supervision group that works in this field. Ellie Finch provides clinical supervision. You can get in touch with her for further information.