About this course

Learning Objectives

• 1. Differentiate Play Therapy Supervision from other forms of clinical supervision.
• 2. Describe the ethical responsibilities and duties of Play Therapy Supervisors.
• 3. Create documentation policies that adhere to best practices for supervision.
• 4. Describe theoretical models informing the process of Play Therapy Supervision.
• 5. Practice use of Play Therapy Supervision skills and technique.
• 6. Apply Play Therapy Supervision skills to case examples.

Learning Levels

• All Levels

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Steven L. Parks, LCSW-S, MBA, RPT-S

  Executive Director, A Time for Play | Play Therapy Training Series

  Steven L. Parks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Supervisor and serves in the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work as a full-time clinical Senior Lecturing Faculty professor. Steven is a Registered Play Therapist & Supervisor (RPT-S) and the Executive Director of the A Time for Play nonprofit organization based in Houston, TX. He also maintains a private practice in Sugar Land, Texas and specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma symptoms, depression, anxiety, and externalizing behaviors. Steven has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree of Psychology from Texas Tech University, a Master’s of Business Administration degree from University of Houston Bauer College of Business, and a Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Steven volunteers regularly with the National Association of Social Workers Texas (NASWTx), and serves as the Board Chair of Tony's Place, a local LGBTQ+ Community Organization.

Disclosure

References

• Association for Play Therapy. Play Therapy Best Practices (2025). https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.a4pt.org/resource/resmgr/publications/best_practices.pdf
• Born, S. L., & Baker, C. E. (2023). Play therapy supervision: A practical guide to models and best practices. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Gardner, K. & Yasenik, L. (2008) When Approaches Collide A decision-Making Model for Play Therapists. In Drewes, A. A., & Mullen, J. A. (Eds.). (2008). Supervision can be playful: Techniques for child and play therapist supervisors. Jason Aronson.
• Mullen, J., Luke, M., & Drewes, A. (2007). Supervision can be playful, too: Play therapy techniques that enhance supervision. International Journal of Play Therapy, 16(1), 69–85. https://doi.org/10.1037/1555-6824.16.1.69
• Polychronis, P. D., & Brown, S. G. (2016). The strict liability standard and clinical supervision. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 47(2), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000073