Daily Challenges of Ethical Practice
When mental health professionals discuss ethics, many times the discussion evokes fear and paranoia. Practitioners frequently confuse law with ethics. Our professional organizations have written ethics and standards for the purpose of establishing guidelines for practice. These are not intended to be laws. "Ethics" is not about avoiding legal action; rather, it is about knowing and practicing within the expectations of our profession. Even though our disciplines are referred to as the "helping professions," we must remain mindful of the scope and limitations of practice.

This course sorts out fact from fiction about the nature of ethics and their application in practice. Clinicians gain an appreciation for the purpose and application of ethical standards as well as learn what practical steps to take in order to decrease risk in their practice.

Course Content

CODES, STANDARDS, AND CHALLENGES

u          How morality affects ethics

u          The intent and purpose of ethics

u          Steps to ethical decision making

u          Rationalizations that lead to judgment errors

u          Objectivity in the clinical setting

u          Opinions that can harm you

TREATMENT PLANS AND DOCUMENTATION

u          Assessments

u          Ethical use of the DSM and related challenges

u          Ethical progress note recording

u          Audit-proofing your records

CONFIDENTIALITY

u          Ethical disclosures of limits to confidentiality

u          Informed consent and disclosure

u          Discussing cases with other clinicians

u          Electronic data confidentiality

u          Release of information

u          Avoidance of misleading your clients

THE LAW AND COUNSELING

u          Explanation of Tarasoff

u          Duty to warn

u          Risks involved in counseling

u          When harm to self or others is evident

u          Suicidal clients and their rights

u          How to deal with subpoenas and court orders

u          How to ethically respond to complaints and investigations

u          When to seek legal counsel

ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY

u          Risks of e-mail, texting, tweeting

u          Social networking ethical risks: Facebook and beyond

u          Internet counseling and your ethical obligations

u          Skype

u          Electronic data systems

THE COUNSELING RELATIONSHIP

u          Clinician presence and influence

u          Respecting the client

u          Dealing with abandonment

u          Facilitating and receiving referrals

u          How to handle interruption

MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS

u          The ethics and standards regarding present and future interaction

u          Social contacts with clients

u          Dual relationships

u          What constitutes a boundary infringement/violation?

u          Sexual relationships with clients (past and present)

u          How to confront boundary issues

TERMINATING TREATMENT

u          Notification by the client and/or you

u          Expectation of the clinician

u          Completion of treatment goals

u          "Stuck"—the client or you?

u          Compliance with treatment

u          When money affects treatment

u          Over the "edge" with the client

u          Fired by the client—"is it really over?"

CLINICAL COMPETENCE—HOW TO INCREASE IT

u          Education (formal and informal)

u          Clinical supervision

u          Clinical experience

u          Advanced training for expertise

u          CEUs and their purpose

u          Licensure (value vs. purpose)

SOCIO-CULTURAL ISSUES

u          Western psychology as a basis of practice

u          Older adults

u          Children/families

u          Medically-compromised/end-of-life issues

u          Diversity/cultures

CLINICIAN IMPAIRMENT

u          Professional burnout

u          Ethical mandates regarding impaired clinician

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT STANDARDS

u          An overview of ethical and professional behavior expectations