D
CLINICAL EDITOR’S COMMENTS:
ivorce is a challenging process for families, kids, and therapists, particularly when it is characterized by high
who is trying to help a child process the changes in their family, appropriately advocate for them, and not get caught in the middle.
The Spectrum of Divorce may include: ongoing legal disputes, mutual mistrust, high levels of anger and hostility, verbal violence, physical threats, and frequent contact with the legal system (Noa et al., 2021).
These conditions create a tumultuous environment for children, increasing their risk of psychopathology and polyvictimization between parents is the greatest predictor of how well a child will cope with divorce (Shumaker & Kelsey, 2020).
describes the spectrum of divorce as a range that can vary from be irritated with their ex-partner, but they can still be dedicated to and keep the focus on the well-being of their children. Other divorced parents can no longer set aside their feelings about the other parent, regardless of how they feel about their children. It is important for play therapists to understand that the presence or lack of parental shame often drives the co-parenting relationship (Treloar, 2019). Where a family falls on this spectrum is crucial for case conceptualization.
Role of the Play Therapist Our primary role as a play therapist in these cases is to hold a safe space for the child. We cannot be another grown-up in their system that has an agenda. Children already live in a world where adults retain control and place expectations on them, and play therapy can provide an empowering space in which to experience the therapeutic powers of play. Regardless of your theoretical approach, we need to be respectful of entering their world and having a space where family. It is the play therapist’s role to create a unique holding space for each child as they assess for safety, and engage other systems for collateral information and collaboration including schools, Child Protective Services, and doctors. Play therapists hold the privileged responsibility to provide quality therapy, regardless of parental agendas, and ensure that our actions are always in the child’s best
Effective communication and maintenance of ethical and legal boundaries can help play therapists support families going through divorce while maintaining their focus on the needs of the child.
The child is the client, and while it is necessary to engage the system, interest.
Ethical and Legal Considerations Therapists must navigate a complex web of ethical and legal guidelines when working with children whose parents are divorced. These cases can frequently push our boundaries, our values, and our own countertransference. It is vital for us to be knowledgeable about our professional code of ethics as each therapy branch’s code of ethics references best practices for the treatment of minors.
Play therapy can be a powerful tool for supporting children
It may feel uncomfortable to play therapists to hold boundaries but by doing so we can continue to provide quality mental health services that facilitate hope and healing. Parents are partners in treatment and there needs to be an established foundation of rules, boundaries, and expectations before treatment begins so our ethical and legal boundaries can be maintained. If parents choose not to respect those boundaries, you can rest assured that you have followed your professional code of conduct and met your legal obligations. Should a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor can ensure that this is done ethically. • Therapists must ensure that they do not get triangulated into the Code of Ethics, 2015).
• Depending on your state, both parents must provide consent for practice.
role of the therapist is essential (AAMFT Code of Ethics, 2015).
• Be thoughtful about what you say to the parents. Children can exhibit different behaviors depending on which parent they are with. Any party's truth may not be "the truth," and therapists must another’s will likely increase your ethical and legal risk.
www.a4pt.org | September 2024 | PLAYTHERAPY | 5
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