offer more than one program, the play therapist MUST ensure the • If using AI in telemental health practice, have you obtained training and education in AI professional competence and literacy to use AI • If using AI in research, what measures are in place to ensure that the use of AI enhances, rather than compromises, the integrity and • If using AI in clinical documentation, are you proofreading to ensure that your note does not incorporate details that were not
AI tools are designed to augment play therapists’ decision-making, not to replace it. The risk lies in over-reliance on AI, which could lead to diminished play therapist autonomy and impersonal care. Automation client relationship. Personal interactions foster trust and understanding, and are thus crucial in therapy. Automated interventions or AI-driven
Guidance: Play therapists should balance automation with meaningful engagement, ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces Solution: AI should be positioned as a supportive tool. Play therapists must always be responsible for clinical decisions, ensuring that they integrate AI insights within the broader context of their professional therapist-client relationship, and/or the therapeutic process due to • How does AI align or deviate from your theoretical orientation?
(i.e., adverse experiences, caregiver and relational history, cultural identities, belief systems, etc.) and technological skills when
background and technological skills when considering the use of AI • What role does AI play within your therapy and supervisory role, and how do you see AI within evaluative, therapeutic, supervisory, • If a supervisor or educator, can you articulate your view of AI, the sources and experiences you have encountered in the formulation of your opinion, and your boundaries regarding the use of AI by • What is your work setting and employer’s policies and limitations
26 | PLAYTHERAPY March 2025 |
www.a4pt.org
• How can the use of AI from multidisciplinary approaches enhance and/or facilitate the client’s overall treatment and play therapy work?
• How can the use of AI support the primary goals of play therapy with the client, ensuring alignment with the treatment plan and safeguarding against any interference or harm to the successful
Best Practices for Ethical AI Integration The ethical integration of AI in play therapy is guided by established best practices that prioritize client well-being, cultural competence, and professional integrity.
1. Client-Centered Approach: Play therapists must prioritize each client's unique needs and preferences. AI tools should be used to meet these needs and preferences. AI tools should support personalized
2. Ongoing Education and Training: Play therapists should commit to lifelong learning to stay updated on AI technologies and their ethical implications. This includes understanding algorithms' limitations,
Play therapists providing professional development on implementing AI should disclose the sources used to create their If the information shared is informal and based solely on personal experience, this should be clearly communicated to the audience
a
3. Regular Audits of AI Tools: Play therapists should periodically review the AI systems they use, ensuring they remain accurate, reliable, and aligned with current best practices. Collaborating with developers
4. Transparency with Clients: Open communication about AI's role in the therapeutic process fosters trust. Play therapists should discuss the pros and cons of utilizing AI with clients and their families, address
a. Have you set up an initial caregiver/guardian consultation, obtained informed consent, and assessed the appropriate use of AI prior to initiating the use of AI technology during play therapy sessions with the client in order to enhance the therapeutic process b. How often are you assessing the client’s and caregiver’s understanding and comfort level with the use of technology and AI and identifying reasons for terminating the use of AI in therapy with
5. Collaborative Regulation: Professional organizations, policymakers, and AI developers must collaborate to create comprehensive guidelines that balance innovation with ethical responsibility. Play therapists can contribute by participating in discussions and advocating for policies
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
