The development of the Therapeutic Play Continuum started shortly after the formation of Play Therapy UK (PTUK).   The objectives were to address three main problems:

1. A low level of awareness of the benefits of play as a therapeutic tool not only with the general public but also with health, education, child care and social services professionals.

2. The difficulties that trained and experienced play and creative arts therapists had in explaining their role, especially in relation to other professions, in sufficiently clear and unambiguous terms that remain in the mind of the recipient. - ie definitions that stick.

3. The confusion that exists around play and similar therapies.