T
he Association for Play Therapy (APT) developed its professional identity over 35 years ago, in 1982. Since then, APT has grounded its existence on the dedication to the
professional development of its members, its Registered Play Therapists and Registered Play Therapist Supervisors (collectively, RPT/S), School Based-Registered Play Therapists (SB-RPT), the children and families play therapists service, and the greater mental health community. To this effect, APT operates to execute several important ends policies: Because APT exists, the public is aware of play therapy and its positive therapy knowledge and expertise (5.02); licensed mental health professionals can earn and display credentials to publicly promote their play therapy expertise (5.03); reliable and credible research supporting and opportunities for further research will be promoted (5.04); and and vibrant play therapy community (5.05). With over 7,500+ members approved centers, and 360 approved providers of education offering over 15,000+ hours of approved training, APT strives to support its members though this pandemic.
Play therapists are ethically required to provide services within the scope of their practice, gaining the appropriate education, knowledge, and supervision to do so. Although typical laws governing mental health practice may be rescinded in times of crises, it is each professional’s ethical obligation to obtain appropriate education, training, and supervision. APT encourages all members, RPT/Ss, and SB-RPTs to subscribe to APT’s (2019) Best Practices, and also to consider the future implications of servicing clients past the 2020 pandemic. It is imperative that members, RPT/Ss, and SB-RPTs servicing the greater community via telemental health, practice both professionally and and effectiveness of play therapy services. The information below summarizes APT’s (2019) Best Practices and, furthermore, offers play therapists reflective considerations to think through in order to ensure appropriate service delivery. We recommend that play therapists read through considerations and actively engage in evaluating their current practices. To this end, a downloadable workbook is available on the APT website that includes space for play therapists to record their personal reflections and thoughts.
SECTION A: The Therapeutic Relationship A.1 Commitments and Responsibilities to the Client Play therapists will collaborate with the client and/or her/his legal guardian developmentally responsive treatment plan in an understandable manner to this plan regularly, which should contain measurable outcome goals, to ensure viability, effectiveness, and the continued support of the client and
CLINICAL EDITOR’S COMMENTS: The authors offer reflective questions to guide ethical service delivery.
• Have you set up an initial parent consultation prior to initiating telemental health services with the child to review their treatment plan in order to assess objectives and goals and to include the
• Is telemental health the most effective medium for delivery of play
• Have you considered the child’s background (i.e., trauma, adverse experiences, attachment) in creating the treatment plan and making the decision to deliver play therapy through a telemental
• How are you assessing the child’s level of regulation during and
• What is your plan for helping the child regulate during and after the
• Have you prepared the parent for the child’s emotional reactions
• What are the boundaries that need to be considered regarding your
• What are the boundaries that need to be considered regarding the
A.3 Rights of Clients Play therapists inform clients and/or their legal guardian, when applicable, of the purposes, goals, techniques, procedural limitations, potential and
• Have you informed parents of the procedural and therapeutic limitations and risks involved in telemental health delivery of play
• Have you informed parents that there is currently no research that examines the effectiveness of play therapy through a telemental
SECTION B: Parents and Family B.1 Parents Play therapists make a reasonable effort to ensure privacy for the client and maintain professional boundaries with the client/family during home- based therapy sessions and educate parents/family members regarding
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