Workshop Description:

Understanding the laws and ethical considerations involved in counseling is challenging and becomes even more so when play therapists are working with children and their families.  The issues are complex and ever-changing.  This workshop will examine and explore key elements of law and ethics, such as confidentiality, working with special populations, going to court, working with an attorney, race–related stressors and more. This workshop will be experiential and interactive so that key concepts can easily be applied to any play therapy practice.

Mary Ruth Cross, MFT, NCC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, owns and operates Treehouse Family Counseling Services, PC. She served as a Faculty Member at the University of Phoenix, College of Social Sciences, Master of Counseling program for eight years.  She is a recognized leader in the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT). Mary Ruth’s recent teaching experience includes developing and presenting play therapy-based workshops locally, nationally, and internationally to mental health groups looking to enhance effective strategies for working with children and adolescents. Mary Ruth is also a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling.  Mary Ruth also facilitates a monthly grief support group for those experiencing a suicide loss.

1. Define the difference between privilege and consent as it relates to the practice of play therapy.
2. Identify at least 3 recommended elements of a “Risk Management Toolbox” for play therapists.
3. List at least three purposes for accurate record keeping in play therapy practice.
4. Identify and list the five basic ethical principles as outlined by the American Psychological Association.
5. Identify four factors to consider when analyzing whether to notify play therapy clients of a breach of the HITECH Act.
6. Identify and list at least 3 common problems found in counselling in school settings while using play therapy.

9:30 am – 10:30 am        Introductions & Foundations of Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy Practice

10:30 am – 11:15 am      Play Therapy Risk Management Toolkit and Decision Making

11:15 am  – 11:30 am     BREAK

11:30 am – 12:30 pm      Confidentiality, Record Keeping in Play Therapy Practice

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm        LUNCH

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm          Technology, Considerations in Play Therapy for Working with Special Populations

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm          Countertransference and Bias

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm          BREAK

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm          Going to Court, Working with an Attorney

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm          Questions & Discussion

9:30 am – 10:30 am        Introductions & Foundations of Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy Practice

10:30 am – 11:15 am      Play Therapy Risk Management Toolkit and Decision Making

11:15 am  – 11:30 am     BREAK

11:30 am – 12:30 pm      Confidentiality, Record Keeping in Play Therapy Practice

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm        LUNCH

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm          Technology, Considerations in Play Therapy for Working with Special Populations

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm          Countertransference and Bias

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm          BREAK

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm          Going to Court, Working with an Attorney

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm          Questions & Discussion

Release and Waiver of Liability Relating to COVID-19 (In-Person Attendees Only)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT HAS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND WILL AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND ABILITY TO BRING FUTURE LEGAL ACTIONS. THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO BRING A CLASS ACTION.

IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to enter and remain at an event provided or hosted by the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) or its Chapters, hereinafter referred to collectively as CALAPT, I, on behalf of myself and my heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, next of kin, and personal representatives (collectively, “Related Persons”), hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

The novel coronavirus SARS- CoV-2 and any resulting disease (together with any mutation, adaptation, or variation thereof, “COVID-19”) is an extremely contagious disease, and there is an inherent danger and risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any place where people are present.  Evidence has shown that COVID-19 can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illness and even death.

The California Branch of the Association for Play Therapy (which includes its directors, leaders, employees, volunteers, sponsors, representatives, and affiliates, collectively, “CALAPT”, or “Released Parties”) cannot prevent you from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID‑19 while attending its events and/or entering onto premises where CALAPT events are held.  It is not possible to prevent against the presence of COVID-19.  Therefore, if you choose to attend an event organized by CALAPT and enter onto premises where its conferences are held, you may be exposing yourself and others to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, which can result in subsequent quarantine, illness, disability, other short-term and long-term physical and/or mental health effects, and/or death, regardless of age or health condition at the time of exposure and/or infection. You acknowledge that CALAPT expects all event participants, exhibitors, vendors and guests to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated, if eligible, prior to traveling to its events and to adhere to mask-wearing mandates by state, local, and event premises authorities to minimize exposure to or spreading of COVID-19.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK: I have read and understood the above warning concerning COVID-19.  The event is of such value to me that I accept the risk of being exposed to, contracting, and/or spreading COVID-19 in order to attend in person. I, on behalf of myself and Related Persons, knowingly, voluntarily, and irrevocably, assume all as risks and dangers of attending an CALAPT event in person and entering the event premises, which may include an increased risk of exposure to communicable diseases (including, without limitation, COVID-19), viruses, bacteria or illnesses or the cause thereof, sickness, personal injury, disability, other short-term or long-term health effects, and/or death, which might result from the actions, inactions, or negligence of CALAPT, any of the Released Parties, or other third parties, whether occurring before, during or after the event, however caused and whether inside or outside of the event premises. I hereby accept personal responsibility for my voluntary participation in/at the event and assume, on behalf of myself and Related Persons, all responsibility of claims and potential claims relating to the risk and dangers described in this Agreement.

WAIVER OF LAWSUIT/LIABILITY:  I, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND RELATED PERSONS, HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, IRREVOCABLY, AND FOREVER RELEASE RELEASE, WAIVE, AND DISCHARGE (AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE), EACH OF THE RELEASED PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT I AND ANY OF THE RELATED PERSONS MAY HAVE (OR HEREINAFTER ACCRUE) AGAINST ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES THAT RELATE TO ANY OF THE RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE IN ANY WAY TO (I) MY EXPOSURE TO COVID-19; (II) RELATED PERSON’S OR RELATED PERSONS’ EXPOSURE TO COVID-19, (III) MY TRAVEL TO AND FROM, ENTRY INTO, OR PRESENCE WITHIN, THE EVENT PREMISES; (IV) ANY INTERACTION BETWEEN ME AND ANY PERSONNEL OF ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES PRESENT AT THE EVENT; OR (V) ANY OF THE RISKS IDENTIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT (ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF COVID-19 AND OTHER RISKS) (COLLECTIVELY, THE “CLAIMS”), IN EACH CASE WHETHER CAUSED BY ANY ACTION, INACTION OR NEGLIGENCE OF ANY RELEASED PARTY OR OTHERWISE.

I understand that this waiver means I give up my right to bring any claim based in negligence, including for personal injuries, death, disease or property losses, or any other loss, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen.

CHOICE OF LAW: I hereby agree that the law of the State of California will apply to this Agreement.

CLASS ACTION WAIVER: I hereby agree that any and all disputes, including any Claims made by me against any of the Released Parties must be brought on an individual basis only. By signing this Agreement, I hereby waive any right to litigate or arbitrate any Claim as a class action, representative action or class arbitration against any of the Released Parties.

SEVERABILITY:  I hereby agree that if any provision or part thereof contained in this Agreement is declared illegal, unenforceable, or ineffective, such provision or part thereof shall be deemed severable, such that all other provisions contained in this Agreement shall remain valid and binding.

WAIVER OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542:  I specifically and expressly waive all rights under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, to assert a claim that may now exist or that may arise in the future based on facts that may be unknown to me now.  Section 1542 of the California Civil Code states “a general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.”  By waiving this provision, I expressly have, fully, finally, and forever settled and released any and all claims arising from my participation in CALAPT events.

BY AGREEING TO THIS WAIVER IN THE CHECK-OUT PROCESS, I ASSERT THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND FREELY, KNOWINGLY, AND VOLUNTARILY E-SIGN THIS AGREEMENT.  I understand its terms and I am aware of its legal consequences, including that I am hereby giving up substantial legal rights and that by signing this Agreement, I understand I am forever prevented from suing or otherwise asserting a Claim against any of the Released Parties. Agreement to the waiver is required for attendance.

By registering for this in-person event I….

• Assert that I have read this waiver in full and understand its content
• Consent to the COVID waiver
• I will follow any safety protocols set forth by CalAPT
• Understand that vaccination is required and I will be asked to present my vaccine card.