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Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents

CE Hours 3

About this course

This course will examine legal and ethical issues when using play therapy in clinical practice with children and adolescents. The importance of having a proactive approach to understanding and addressing the complex interplay of legal and ethical issues in play therapy will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on providing play therapy that prevents harm to clients and reduces liability for play therapists. Issues including informed consent, confidentiality, dual relationships, and child abuse reporting will be examined. Through case examples, participants will grapple with many legal and ethical considerations when using play therapy in clinical practice with children and adolescents. The ambiguity and complexity of this work will be explored.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe 2-3 specific areas of professional competence when providing play therapy in clinical practice with children and adolescents
  • Articulate 2-3 legal and ethical issues that impact informed consent when using play therapy with children and adolescents
  • Identify 2-3 legal and ethical factors that may influence a play therapist’s decision-making process when reporting suspected child maltreatment
  • Delineate 2-3 legal and ethical issues that may arise when providing play therapy from a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary lens

Learning Levels

  • Beginner through Intermediate

Course Instructor(s)

  • Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S

    With over 20 years of clinical experience, Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S, specializes in clinical practice with abused & traumatized children. She owns a private practice and is part of her community’s multidisciplinary team. Sueann is internationally recognized and has presented throughout North America, Japan, China, Jamaica, Estonia, and England. She is a contributing author to several peer-reviewed publications and has testified as an expert witness at the state and federal levels. Sueann established the mental health component of the Children's Advocacy Center in her community and served as its initial Clinical Director. Best known for her work with sexually abused children, she frequently presents at major child abuse conferences and has trained thousands of professionals.

Disclosure

Financial: Sueann received monetary compensation honorarium for a speaker fee from Our Village. Non-Financial Disclosure: None available.

References

  • Forsner, M., Elvhage, G., Ewalds-Kvist, B. M., & Lützén, K. (2021). Moral challenges when suspecting abuse and neglect in school children: A mixed method study. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 38(6), 599–610. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-020-00680-6
  • Letson, M.M, & Crichton, K.G. (2023). How should clinicians minimize bias when responding to suspicions about child abuse? AMA Journal of Ethics, 25(2). 93-9.
  • Murphy, K., Maribeth F., Jorgensen, Olson, S. (2020) View from the witness stand: Licensed counselors’ experiences providing court testimony, Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy, 7, 118-131, DOI: 10.1080/2326716X.2020.1758598
  • Owen, J., Drinane, J., Tao, K. W., Adelson Turner, R., Schoeneberg, C., Ray, D., & Lin, Y. (2020). Establishing play therapy competencies: A Delphi study. International Journal of Play Therapy. 29(4), 177–190.
  • Long, M. N., Remley, T. P., Jr., & White, R. (2025). Ethical and legal self-efficacy in play therapists: A correlational study. International Journal of Play Therapy, 34(2), 86–96. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000234

CE Process Info

Content

  • Materials
    5 parts
    • Slide Hand-Out's for Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents
    • Advocacy Oriented Decision-Making Process
    • Gingerbread Cut-Out's
    • Chain of Paper People
    • References
  • Video of: Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents
    1 parts
    • Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents
Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents
You Have Completed This course
$60
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    3
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    May 22nd, 2025

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