POINT
Informing Parents Can Safeguard Trust and Rapport OHANA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM
As providers, at times, we come into contact with parents whom we suspect inflict abuse on their children. We can be torn as to whether or not we should disclose that we made a report. Ultimately, as therapists, we are mandated reporters, and inform Child Protective Services that we have reason to believe a child is being harmed and leave it to this agency to investigate. But what happens afterward with these clients after we make a mandated report? How might this affect the client-therapist relationship?
As clinicians, choosing tog s disclose or r not disclose mandated
reporting to clients can be anxiety- inducing atg best…t
First, an investigation may occur, at which point the client will likely know that we were the one who made the report. Nondisclosure and this element of surprise could certainly damage the rapport built so far in therapy and have some extreme consequences. The client may drop out of therapy altogether, further isolating the victim(s) and reneging therapeutic support, which could result in a further regression. We would argue that for this reason, nondisclosure of having made a report is unethical practice due to the profound negative effects this could have on therapeutic rapport, especially when our clients come to therapy as their genuine and vulnerable selves, trusting us with sensitive information and details of their lives.
By opting to disclose that we made a mandated report to the client, we have the opportunity to share with them why we did so and to
THE MIDDLE GROUND
offer the chance to engage in dialogue about the situation. The client will have an opportunity to ask us why, what to expect, to share their thoughts about our disclosure, and to recognize why an exception to Additionally, it allows for the chance to work through a parenting plan and adjust/set therapeutic goals that are inclusive of all parties.
Although it is certainly possible the client will wish to terminate
treatment after learning that the play therapist reported, the opportunity to move forward, increase trust, and continue working to address the underlying issues that cause the behavior that resulted in the mandatory report make disclosure worthwhile. In other words, choosing to disclose can serve to enhance rather than damage rapport, even when an investigation into the client may take place based on the report.
As clinicians, choosing to disclose or not disclose mandated reporting to clients can be anxiety-inducing at best, but we do not have to go through this alone. Supervisors are here to support us and consult on ways to broach the subject and approach this situation. We have various networks of other therapists as a resource when we feel stuck and torn between disclosing that we reported and not disclosing. By considering disclosure ahead of time, we are preparing ourselves to have a conversation with our client in a way that does not betray their trust, and instead increases the chance of having a positive outcome.
In conclusion, informing parents that you reported after the fact may cause some trepidation, but doing so aligns with ethical practice, maintains valuable rapport, and provides you and the client a way to move forward honestly, and even include both parties.
Grey Vision: Because White and Black Sometimes Blend AMARIS MOLINA, MS, NCC, LPC ASSOCIATE
Clinicians use an ethics palette to paint and visualize work with children. There are individual situations that require the clinician to examine their palette to create an ethical masterpiece. Some masterpieces are like the numbered paintings, with numbers (ethical guidelines) indicating which color to use, which does not leave room for the clinician to make a judgement call. However, more often than not, clinicians are left with the option of how to paint or visualize the situation at hand, in a sense, a blank sheet of paper. This is where there is beauty in grey vision. Although an ethics palette only provides white or black, clinicians can choose to see grey.
16 | PLAYTHERAPY | September 2021 |
www.a4pt.org
White According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway (n.d.), many social workers, medical and mental health professionals, teachers, and childcare providers. Play therapists are also mandated to report their suspicions that a child has been abused or neglected. Perhaps there is no black or white answer about whether clinicians should tell caregivers that they have made a report, and the focus needs to be on then clinicians should inform parents so a safety plan and protection
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