Description:

This workshop in law, ethics and regulation focuses on three of the four most frequent causes for actions against mental health professionals, nationwide. Since the 2010-2011 law/ethics/regulation workshop focused primarily on boundary violations (including sexual contact between professional and patient/client), this 2012-2013 workshop focuses on incompetence, criminal convictions and cases involving high conflict custody problems. The workshop emphasizes awareness and management of risk factors in the major areas of high risk practice via music videos illustrating the principles taught in the program. These include coping with negative publicity on the internet, the risks of “creative” techniques, riskier vs. safer models of intervention, coping with the need to “rescue” patients/clients, management of angry/dissatisfied patients/clients, and more.

Educational Objectives:

1. List the top four high-risk areas of practice.
2. Define and give two examples of “substantial relationship” laws.
3. List two characteristics of an “apology.”
4. List at least three issues that should be included in clinical records (private practice version) or two types of threats that occur between professional and patient/ client (agency version).
5. Describe at least two problem areas for high conflict custody cases.
6. List at least two requirements for practice continuity (private practice version) or one statute bearing on minors who can authorize their own treatment (agency version.)

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*