Play therapists often find themselves in unfamiliar territory when their work intersects with the legal system. Navigating legal processes can be daunting without proper guidance, leaving therapists feeling uncertain and ill-prepared to advocate for their clients effectively. You will gain the confidence and competence needed to navigate the legal system with ease. This course isn’t just about what you’ll learn—it’s about what you’ll be able to do differently in your practice. You’ll complete the course empowered to effectively advocate for your clients within the legal system, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.

Playing by the Rules: Navigating Legal Processes for Play Therapists Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the various professionals within the legal system who interact with the client, such as Guardian ad Litems (GALs), judges, attorneys, and other court personnel. Explore their respective roles and how they impact the client’s experience within the legal system
  • Develop the ability to identify and understand who holds privilege for minor clients within the legal context. Explore the nuances of confidentiality and privilege in play therapy sessions and learn how to navigate these considerations ethically and effectively
  • Develop skills to articulate therapeutic insights and advocate for clients effectively in legal settings, ensuring confidentiality and legal compliance. Gain proficiency in translating therapy notes into clear, concise testimony that accurately represents the client’s needs and progress

Course Handouts:

Playing by the Rules: Navigating Legal Processes for Play Therapists Presentation Slides


Each lesson of this course must be completed in order to receive a CE Certificate. Please click on the blue letters below, “Synergetic Play Therapy Institute – Course Agreements”, to begin. Once you have completed this first lesson, you will gain access to the next lesson to view the course video.

In order to complete the course and print a certificate, you must complete all lessons below. Please remember that your access to this course and its content will expire 365 days from the date of purchase.


CE Credit Hours: 1.5 CE Credit Hours, NBCC Content Areas: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship; Counselor Professional Identity and Practice Issues

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7450. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Synergetic Play Therapy Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute is also an Approved Provider for the following associations:
*Australian Play Therapists Association (APTA) Approved Provider
*British Columbia Play Therapy Association (BCPTA) Approved Provider 23-01

Continuing education credit hours may be awarded to graduate-level counselors or students enrolled in a graduate-level mental health program. If you do not qualify for continuing education credit hours and would like to receive a certificate of completion for this course please contact the Institute directly.


Your participation in this course has directly contributed to the Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation‘s mission of making play therapy trainings accessible and affordable to clinicians worldwide, as well as to fund research initiatives in Synergetic Play Therapy®! All proceeds from this course have been donated to the Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation to support this mission!


Please click on the blue letters below, “Synergetic Play Therapy Institute – Course Agreements”, to begin. Once you have completed this first lesson, you will gain access to the next lesson to view the course video.