mandated reporting are handled and communicated. Have each party sign this form and it can be used as a reference point if there are boundary concerns in the future.
• Managing Parental Expectations: Play therapists must manage parental expectations carefully, ensuring that the focus remains on the child. This may mean that family therapy or parenting work is outsourced to another therapist.
What To Do When You’re Stuck • Consultation: Seek regular consultation with colleagues to establish best practice that aligns with your state’s laws and your profession’s ethical standards. For example, should there licensing will want to know if you consulted with at least three other fully licensed colleagues who treat a similar population. We recommend the same process to ensure you receive a variety of unbiased feedback from other professionals who are also adhering to best practice. If you are under supervision, make sure therapy supervisor to mitigate board complaints, align with your
• Ethical Decision-Making: Review your code of ethics often. We recommend utilizing ethical decision-making models to address complex situations. You may also seek ethical consultation with your professional organization such as AAMFT, NASW, NCC, APA, etc. Part of ethical decision making is also recognizing your scope of practice and when you are outside of your scope. Being aware of the limits of one's competence keeps us ethically grounded and therefore reduces our risk (Shumaker & Medoff, 2013).
• Risk Management: The best step to take in reducing your ethical and legal risk as a play therapist is to be proactive in managing actions. By taking a proactive versus a reactive response with some of the suggestions above, everyone can be on the same page before the intake happens. If something goes awry, do not hesitate to seek legal consultation. Most professional liability insurances offer legal consultation as part of your policy. In the event that a client overtly or covertly threatens legal action, you should immediately seek legal counsel to negotiate next steps.
Conclusion Play therapy can be a powerful tool for supporting children through and professional integrity from play therapists. By adhering to professional codes of ethics, maintaining clear boundaries, and focusing on the child's best interests, therapists can navigate the complexities of these cases effectively. Continuous education and consultation are essential to stay informed and competent in this challenging but crucial area of practice.
References
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). (2015). AAMFT Code of Ethics. Retrieved from [AAMFT Code of Ethics](
https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx).
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American Counseling Association (ACA). (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved from [ACA Code of Ethics](
https://www.counseling.org/ resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf). American Psychological Association. (2017). APA.
https://www.apa.org/ ethics/code
Davidson, R. D., O'Hara, K. L., & Beck, C. J. (2014). Psychological and divorce. (1), 29–44. https://doi.
Garber, B. D. (2014). The chameleon child: Children as actors in the (1), 25–40.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15379418.2014.892805 National Association of Social Workers. (2021). NASW Press. https://www.
socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics- English
Noa, C., Hanita, K., & Carmit, K. (2021). "It is a matter of life or death": Spotlighting children in the context of HIPD as perceived by frontline practitioners. (3), 307–324.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42448- 021-00082-w divorce on children. (1), 22–37.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2020.1717985 Shumaker, D., & Medoff, D. (2013). Ethical and legal considerations divorced or separated parents. (3), 318–327.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Sarah Stroup, LMFT, RPT-S™, is co-founder of Monarch Training Center, based in Utah. She has a large group practice where she specializes in volunteering in her community and spending time with her family, including her twins.
sarah@monarchfamilycounseling.com
Maggi Leavitt, LMFT, RPT-S™, is co-founder of Monarch Training Center. She has a private practice in central Utah where she primarily works outdoors and traveling. She loves being a wife and
maggi@yellowleafcounseling.com
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