Ethical Excellence in Play Therapy: Principles, Challenges, and Best Practices

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Description

Ethics form the foundation of effective and compassionate play therapy practice. This interactive six-hour workshop equips play therapists with the knowledge and skills to navigate ethical challenges with confidence and integrity. Participants will explore foundational ethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—and apply them to the unique dynamics of the playroom. Through discussions, case studies, and role-playing, attendees will learn to address common dilemmas such as confidentiality, dual relationships, and boundary-setting while developing strategies for inclusive and culturally responsive care. Special emphasis will be placed on cultural and diversity considerations, highlighting strategies for providing inclusive and equitable care to clients from diverse backgrounds.

Using an ethical decision-making framework, participants will practice resolving complex scenarios and strengthening their ability to balance client needs with professional responsibilities. Additionally, the workshop will emphasize the importance of ethical self-reflection and professional growth, empowering participants to sustain ethical excellence in their practice. This training is ideal for mental health professionals, registered play therapists, and graduate students seeking to enhance their ethical competence in play therapy.

Learning Objectives

Participants will explore key ethics as they apply to the practice of play therapy.
Participants will learn to recognize common ethical challenges in play therapy and how to address them effectively.
Participants will develop skills to navigate cultural, racial, and socioeconomic factors ethically, ensuring inclusive and equitable play therapy practices.
Participants will gain strategies for maintaining client confidentiality in play therapy while managing communication with parents, caregivers, and other stakeholders.
Participants will practice applying an ethical decision-making framework to real-world scenarios encountered in play therapy.
Participants will learn techniques for ongoing ethical self-reflection, supervision, and consultation to enhance their professional practice and ensure adherence to ethical standards in play therapy.

Presenter

Amy Davis, PhD, LPC, NCC, is a School Based Registered Play Therapist specializing in school counseling and counseling children and adolescents. She has a PhD in counselor education from the University of Alabama and an MA in school counseling from the University of North Alabama. Amy Davis is an Assistant Professor and Department Chair in Counselor Education at the University of North Alabama. In addition to teaching, Dr. Davis has been seeing children and adolescents part time in private practice as a play therapist since 2021 at her private practice, Sweetwater Counseling and Consulting. Dr. Davis is a past president of the Alabama Association for Play Therapy and an active member of many counseling organizations. Her research interests include school counseling, play therapy in the school settings, aggressive toys in play therapy, and bibliotherapy. Dr. Davis has presented on these topics at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.

Schedule

Registration	8:00-8:30
Workshop Session I	8:30-10:00
Morning Break	10:00-10:15
Workshop Session II	10:15-12:00
Lunch On Your Own	12:00-1:00
Workshop Session III	1:00-2:30
Afternoon Break	2:30-2:45
Workshop Session IV	2:45-4:00

All times are CST

Continuing Education Credit

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance.

Counselors: Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified. Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves NBCC-approved courses for CE credit.

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284.

Registration Fees

REGISTRATION FEES	Registration March 10, 2025- April 23, 2025
AAPT/APT Member	$125
Non-Member	$150
Full-Time Student _{(with proof of enrollment)}	$100

Space is not Guaranteed Until Your Registration is Processed.

Group Discount

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. Email the Treasurer (treasurer@alabamaplaytherapy.org) to complete a Group Registration. Credit Cards are accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Scholarships

Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, April 24th, and all day Friday, April 25th, to assist with the conference. Volunteer duties may involve working registration, assisting with setup before the event, cleaning up after the event, selling books for the presenter, and preparing materials for the workshop. Students interested in volunteering for the event should contact Shay Dobbins at pres-elect@alabamaplaytherapy.org and submit proof of enrollment in a counseling or related program (SW, MFT, etc).

Location

True Divine Baptist Church | 4601 Troy Highway, Montgomery, AL 36116

Special Needs

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee (per day). All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds will be issued for any reason after April 23, 2025. In the unlikely event the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.