Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Practice: Protecting Yourself and Your Clients

Complete Seminar Details

Identify the scope of regulatory and ethical standards, including privacy and confidentiality. Discover what to do/what not to do if your records or testimony are subpoenaed or if a malpractice or disciplinary claim is filed against you.

The clinical office is more likely than ever to be invaded these days by various aspects of litigation: subpoenas for records, for depositions or testifying at trial, or due to a disciplinary complaint or malpractice lawsuit. Sometimes our clients want us to comply with demands for their records, but other times they will not authorize release of their confidential information. Worse yet, sometimes clients bring professional malpractice suits against therapists or file ethics complaints with licensing boards. Most graduate programs do not include curricula that cover how to respond ethically and professionally to lawyers' demands for confidential information or to a disgruntled client's lawsuit or complaint.

The presenter, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Lawyer, will address the myriad aspects of litigation involvement that may arise for the clinician and will prepare you to respond appropriately and ethically. Participants will examine federal and state law and ethical guidelines governing mental health practice, including regulations regarding confidentiality. Additionally, you will analyze the different perspectives and goals of the lawyer versus the mental health practitioner to create a better understanding and help reduce anxiety -- yours and your client's -- when participating in litigation.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Social Workers
• Professional Counselors
• Psychologists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Psychiatric Nurses
• Case Managers
• School Counselors and Social Workers
• Substance Abuse Counselors
• Pastoral Counselors
• Psychiatrists
• Clinical Supervisors
• Administrators

"Deb is a great presenter. I love that she is an LMSW and JD! She provides a unique perspective. The resource manual is extremely valuable."

"Great presentation of the legal issues in mental health practice."

WHAT YOU WILL COVER

• Identify the scope and limitations of federal and state statutes and case law related to confidentiality
• Discuss other ethical and professional standards governing clinical practice and how to prevent disciplinary complaints
• Learn how to respond appropriately and ethically if your records or testimony are subpoenaed
• Learn strategies for reducing anxiety before a deposition or trial
• Discover what to do and what not to do if faced with a professional malpractice claim or disciplinary complaint
• Discuss the scope and limitations of the privilege of confidentiality for mental health communications and records
• Recognize ethically appropriate responses to subpoenas, depending upon whether the client has authorized release of confidential material
• Identify state and federal statutes and case law, as well as ethical requirements governing mental health practice
• Differentiate between the goals of clinicians and lawyers in the litigation context
• Develop strategies for reducing anxiety before and during a litigation "event," such as a deposition or trial
• Determine the appropriate way to respond if you receive a malpractice lawsuit or disciplinary complaint

Sponsor Background:

Leading the Way in Professional Development.

Cross Country Education is a national leader in high-quality educational products and services for the entire health care industry. Our seminars and training programs are designed to help health care providers achieve improved performance and results in all areas of clinical, financial and operational management. Our faculty of more than 150 instructors are the "best of the best" in their field of expertise and know how to provide programs that really make a difference to participants.

Since 1995, we have trained over 1,000,000 providers, managers, nurses, behavioral health professionals and other key personnel throughout the entire healthcare industry. We produce over 5,000 seminars and conferences annually for the health care industry. Plus, we coordinate in-house training for health care facilities. Let us provide your training and professional education needs!

Our Mission Statement

“CCE exists to identify and provide opportunities for relevant continuing education in a timely and geographically friendly manner that will meet and exceed the needs and expectations of targeted professionals.”