PLAY THERAPY AS COURT TESTIMONY: A CASE STUDY

Though there is little literature supporting the use of videotaped play therapy sessions as court testimonials, this article opens the door for further discussion of the use of these sessions in courtroom situations. Specifically, this article presents a case study, which includes original court transcripts of the therapist's testimony and a transcript of the videotaped play therapy session. This videotape was not used as proof of child abuse, but instead was used to allow the jury to see the child's expression of his experience. The impact of the child's experience is revealed to the jury without subjecting him to the trauma of facing his perpetrator(s) and a courtroom of adults. The intent of this article is to present one way in which play therapists can use their work with children in legal settings, which allows the testimony of the child's experience of trauma through play therapy themes.