ALABAMA
AL.com
By Greg Garrison | ggarrison@al.com
The defense in the trial of former EWTN TV talk show host David Stone opened today with a witness who cautioned against using ‘play therapy’ as the main method of determining a sexual abuse allegation.
Stone, 55, formerly known as Father Francis Mary Stone when he hosted the TV show “Life on the Rock,” was suspended from his religious order and placed on long-term leave of absence at EWTN after he fathered a child with another EWTN employee, who was fired.
Stone was arrested in 2013 and charged with sexual abuse of a minor under 12. The minor he is charged with sexually abusing is his own son, now eight years old.
Licensed clinical psychologist Alan Blotcky testified for the defense on Thursday that play therapy can be unreliable in determining sexual abuse and should be just one tool among many in determining whether abuse occurred. Play therapy involves the use of toys to help a child recall and explain what happened to him.
“Play therapy is one way of getting information,” Blotcky said. “It’s helpful but not sufficient. There are lots of pieces of the puzzle.”
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