Red Flags starting at the point of intake. Play therapists in larger agencies or group practice settings with administrative support staff may need to provide training and education on how the staff can assist in reducing
• Inconsistencies in stories (e.g. the parent on the phone says the child’s other parent isn’t in their life but lets it slip that the child saw that parent last weekend)
• Threats to leave and take their business elsewhere (e.g. “No other counselor has asked the other parent for consent. I’m going to see someone else.”)
• Mentions of court involvement, especially active court involvement (e.g. custody, abuse charges, domestic violence cases, protective orders, etc.)
• Inability to provide documentation (e.g. They don’t have a copy of their divorce decree that outline the sole custody)
Best Practices for Therapists Therapists should adopt best practices such as: it's crucial to get permission from both parents. In many states, it’s the law. If you cannot obtain permission from both parents, you should not proceed with treatment. Also, be aware of the healthcare providers, we need consent from the person(s) who has legal custody and can make healthcare decisions.
• Always get a copy of the divorce decree or custody agreement, as these often undergo multiple iterations. If you are called into court, you need to ensure that you are following the expectations outlined in the custody agreement or divorce decree as it is a legally binding document. If the parents were never married, know what your state’s laws are regarding custody.
all times, while adhering to HIPAA regulations. Depending on HIPAA procedures in your workplace setting, this may look like phone calls. Identical communication reduces triangulation and, hopefully, prevents the parents from using your name and/or clinical discussions as ammunition against each other. If your minor client is under the age of consent, we also recommend sending a vague session summary after each session to both parents on the same email so they both are involved.
• Boundaries: We recommend having a consent document for parents who are divorced that outlines your practice or agency’s policies regarding how communication, family therapy, documentation, scheduling, payment, safety concerns, and
6 | PLAYTHERAPY September 2024 |
www.a4pt.org
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