Ethical Considerations in Play Therapy Clinical Treatment

Teri V. Krull, LCSW, RPT-S, DCSW (NASW)

Program Goals

Professional board complaints are on the rise. The evolution of mental health treatment includes changes in how we engage in our professional mission; how we relate to clients/colleagues and society; the intervention methods we use and the resolution of ethical dilemmas in practice. (Reamer) Additionally we have an “ongoing obligation to demonstrate competence in the provision of service that are sensitive to clients cultures and to difference among people and cultural groups” (NASW Code of Ethics 2017)

Play therapy professional competence includes the regular review of ethics (most state licensing boards require ethics training with each renewal period) in mental health treatment with providers practicing the 8- point process of mitigating complaints. The rationale for ongoing play therapy training in ethics include the: contemporary challenges (digital age); the history of ethics; ongoing ethical dilemmas for review; the need to understand the core elements of why we place importance on ethical standards and more.

At the end of this course participants, through a play therapy lens, will be able to:

  • Describe the differences between ethics, values, morals and law as it relates to play therapy treatment
  • Describe specific play therapy ethical issues that could arise in the treatment with minors and parents
  • Analyze professional forms useful in play therapy treatment to reduce the potential of the above ethical complaints
  • Utilize the provided play therapy ethical vignettes, demonstrate how to proceed using the 8 steps of mitigating an ethical complication
  • Describe five potential play therapy ethical dilemmas that could arise related to the internet, social media and telepractice
  • Identify methods of self- care, if as a play therapist, the professional is faced with a board complaint

Program Schedule

The daily schedule will consist of didactic presentations, experiential work, clinical case presentations, and group work to process specific clinical presentations of play therapy.

This course is presented in one full-day (six hours).

Schedule of Day 1

9:00- 09:30 Introductions/ participant’s goals for today/ What do you hope to take away from today’s instruction?
09:30 -10:45 Definitions related to ethics and play therapy; ethical core elements and contemporary influences; ethical principles/history and play therapy best practice; ethical decision making and beginning discussion on documentation.
10:45 -11:00 Break
11:00 -12:00 Play therapy ethical dilemmas; boundaries; protocols to reduce risk; sample form review; ethical considerations when working with resistant parents and participant questions.
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH
01:00 - 2:30 Basics as it relates to treatment bias; play therapy multicultural issues; professional self -evaluation; common complaints/ professional vignettes and participant dialogue.
02:30 - 2:45 Break
02:45 - 4:30 Play therapy vignettes continued; documentation risk; how to mitigate a complaint; concerns in online practice; professional self -care as it relates to an ethical complaint: participant questions and content summary. Evaluations to follow.

References

  • Laura Waterman, Ph.D, (2018). Staying Out of Trouble: Documentation and Legal Processes in Psychotherapy. AZNASW. Workshop in Arizona.
  • Frederic C. Reamer (2018). Social Work Values and Ethics. Columbia University Press, NY
  • NASW (2019). Code of Ethics; Multicultural Information; Telepractice Regulations *
  • Maryland Board of Behavioral Health * (2019)
  • Arizona Board of Behavioral Health * (2019)
  • com, Mandatory Abuse Reporting * (2019)
  • Bright Horizons, Parenting Styles * (2019)
  • Eliana Gil, PhD, (2019) Play Therapy Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 3, September
  • Boddy and Dominelli (2017) Australian Social Work, Volume 70, P. 172-184
  • Teri Krull, LCSW-C and Linda Homeyer, PhD (2019) Supervision in Light of Changing Contexts, Play Therapy Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 4, December
  • Gilbertson, Joni, MA. (2020) Legal and Ethical Issues with Technology in Mental Health. Scottsdale, Arizona. 1/30/20.

General Course Information

This course is limited to 15 participants and is designed to facilitate experiential work, group discussion, and processing of clinical material.  Participants will have ample opportunity to discuss their specific needs and clinical questions.  Participant feedback will be sought out throughout the day.

Clinical case discussions will adhere to HIPPA regulations regarding client confidentiality.

Target audience is Mental Health Professionals: Social Workers, Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.

The program is Beginning Level

This event is sponsored by Starbright Training Institute.  Starbright Training Institute is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Provider No. 96-029).

Continuing Education Credit is pending through Commonwealth Educational Seminars for the following professions:

It is the participant's responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

Psychologists:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Commonwealth Educational Seminars maintains responsibility for these programs and their content.

Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LPCs/LMHCs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Social Workers:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Social Workers. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for Social Workers. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

If applicable: Social Workers – New York State

Commonwealth Educational Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #SW-0444.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LMFTs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

For information about continuing education credit, fees, and deadlines for cancellations/refunds, please see https://starbrighttraininginstitute.com/. It is the participant's responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

Myriam Goldin, LCSW; RPT-S, is Director of Starbright Training Institute.  Phone:  703-980-2886.  Email: starbright.inst@outlook.com   Web Page: starbrighttraininginstitute.com

Grievance Policy

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to: Myriam Goldin, LCSW; RPT-S, Director of Starbright Training Institute.  Phone:  703-980-2886.  Email: starbright.inst@outlook.com   Web Page: starbrighttraininginstitute.com

Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

Starbright Training Institute’s training facilities are handicap accessible. Individuals needing special accommodations please contact the Director of Starbright Training Institute. See contact information above.

Course Instructor Contact Information

Name: Teri V. Krull, LCSW, RPT-S . Teri is the Director of the Center for Positive Regard in Mesa, Arizona. Phone: 480-917-7792. Email: terikrull@playtherapy.tv or www.playtherapy.tv