The Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy is committed to supporting high standards of professional and ethical practice among its members.

This page provides information for anyone who wishes to raise a complaint about an IAPTP member. Before submitting a complaint, please read the IAPTP Complaints Policy and Procedure and the IAPTP Code of Ethics and Practice, both of which are available to download on this page.

IAPTP can only consider complaints that fall within the scope of its Complaints Policy and Procedure. A complaint must relate to an alleged breach of the IAPTP Code of Ethics and Practice by a current student, pre-accredited or accredited member of IAPTP.

Important safeguarding note

If your concern relates to child protection or the immediate safety or welfare of a child, you should contact the appropriate statutory child protection services and/or An Garda Síochána or the PSNI directly. Where the concern also involves an IAPTP member, a copy of the complaint may also be forwarded to IAPTP.

Before submitting a complaint

To help us assess whether your complaint can be considered under the IAPTP Complaints Policy and Procedure, please ensure that the following criteria apply:

1. The person you are making a complaint about is a current student, pre-accredited or accredited member of IAPTP.
2. You have used the Play Therapy services of the member, or you are complaining on behalf of a child or young person with whom the member has worked.
3. The complaint is being made within the required timeframe, normally within three years of the alleged breach, or within three years of the breach coming to light.
4. The complaint relates to an alleged breach of a clause or clauses of the IAPTP Code of Ethics and Practice.
5. The complaint falls within the jurisdiction of IAPTP.
6. The complaint is not currently being investigated by another agency, professional body, statutory service, court, tribunal or police authority, unless IAPTP determines that it is appropriate to await the outcome of that process before deciding whether it can proceed.

Please note that IAPTP cannot proceed with anonymous complaints.

What your complaint should include

To initiate the complaints process, you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Your name and contact details.
• The name and contact details of the client, if you are making the complaint on behalf of someone else.
• The name and work address of the IAPTP member the complaint relates to.
• Details of the service used, including dates of contact and any other relevant information.
• A clear summary of the complaint.
• The section or sections of the IAPTP Code of Ethics and Practice that you believe may have been breached, where possible.
• Any other relevant information or supporting documentation.

Once your complaint has been received, IAPTP will review the information provided to determine whether the criteria for accepting a complaint appear to have been met. If further information is required, IAPTP may contact you before a decision can be made about whether the complaint can proceed.

Please read before submitting

By submitting the form below, you confirm that you have read the IAPTP Complaints Policy and Procedure and the IAPTP Code of Ethics and Practice, and that the information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge.