PART I. CALIFORNIA LAW AND ETHICS
Learning Objectives
Scope of Practice for the Professions
- Content of Statutes and Regulations Relating to the Practices of Professional Clinical Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Educational Psychology, Clinical Social Work
- Ethics vs. Law
- Licensure of Mental Health Professionals
- Confidentiality
- Confidentiality and Minors
Mandated Reporting
- Defining Child Abuse
- Dimensions of the Problem of Child and Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse
- Signs of Elder Abuse
- Good Faith Reporting
- Laura’s Law
Advertising Professional Services
Duty to Protect (Tarasoff and Ewing)
Achieving and Maintaining Competence
- Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
- Properly Identifying Level of Competence to the Public
- Seeking Consultation
- Competence with Cultural/Linguistic Minorities and Non-Discrimination in Providing Services
Multiple or Nonsexual Dual Relationships
- Online Relationships
- Consequences to the Therapist of Boundary Violations
- Physical Contact with Clients
Sexual Relationships with Clients
- Warning Signs of Sexual Inappropriateness
- Consequences of Sexual Boundary Violations
Treatment Termination and Client Abandonment
PART II. ISSUES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES
Learning Objectives
Scope of the Problem
- Intimate Partner Homicide
- Assessing Safety
- Other Losses
Reporting Intimate Partner Violence
- Mandatory and Dual Arrest Policies
- Advocacy
- Navigating the Systems
- Ethical Considerations: Confidentiality
Domestic Violence Safety Plan
PART III. THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)
Learning Objectives
Components of HIPAA
- Healthcare Portability
- Protected Health Information
- HIPAA Privacy Standards
Who is a “Covered Entity”?
Incidental Uses and Disclosures of Health Information
Notice of Privacy Practices
Patient Access to Records
- Therapy Notes vs. the Clinical Record
- Forensic Services
HIPAA Security Standards
PART IV. CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF TELEHEALTH
Learning Objectives
Computer Basics
- Computer Terminology Basics
- Computer Security
Telehealth Technology Basics
Types of TechnologySecured vs. Unsecured TechnologyPlatformsCommon Telehealth Ethical Encounters
- Creating an Informed Consent Form for Telehealth
Best Practices in Telehealth
- Offer Orientation to the Technology Before Beginning Treatment
- Video Etiquette
- Video Space
- Video Presentation Skills
- Risks of Teletherapy
- Graduate Education and Telehealth
- Multicultural Considerations
Risk Management in Documenting Encounters
Ethical Issues in Telehealth with Children, Couples, and Groups
- Working with Children Virtually
- Working with Couples and Families
- Working with Groups via Telehealth
Supervision Via Videoconferencing
Standards Pertinent to Telehealth
- Practicing Across State Lines
- Telehealth Training
PART V. PREVENTING MEDICAL ERRORS: BEST PRACTICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Learning Objectives
Definition of Medical Error
Root Cause Analysis
Competence
- Cultural Competence
- Informed Consent
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Confidentiality
- Mandatory Abuse Reporting
- Duty to Protect
- Responding to Suicidal Risk
- Failure to Detect Medical Conditions
- Termination of Treatment/Financial Aspects
Summary
References