Therapists, Ethics, and the Law: What Attorneys Must Understand

Overview: 

This course delves into the fascinating intersection of psychotherapy and legal practice. We'll explore the training therapists undergo and the common legal misconceptions they might have.  The course will tackle ethical blind spots such as dual relationships, privilege confusion, and online conduct. This will help attorneys recognize and address these issues in spite of, or with the help of, therapists’ training and temperament.

Navigating legal thickets such as licensing board investigations and legal testimony can be intimidating and confusing for therapists. We'll show you how to guide them while delivering education on legal risks in a way that leverages their training and skills. Plus, we'll include tips on adapting to their unique personalities. 

We'll also explore the major causes of ethical breaches, including unmet emotional needs and personality vulnerabilities, with the help of a "Red Flag" checklist. 

This course will equip attorneys with practical strategies to foster cooperation, clarity, and ethical rigor in their interactions with psychotherapist clients, while maintaining their own sanity.

Course Objective: 

• Understand the training and legal knowledge gaps that therapists may have in areas such as mandated reporting and litigation.
• Identify common ethical blind spots in therapy, such as failure to recognize dual relationships, confusion around privilege and confidentiality, and risks in online conduct.
• Learn strategies for coaching therapists through licensing board investigations and other legal processes.
• Develop methods for educating and motivating therapist clients about legal risks and responding to legal stress.
• Address psychological and systemic factors contributing to ethical breaches in therapy.
• Utilize a "Red Flag" checklist to understand and handle therapists’ personal and ongoing vulnerabilities that produce continued peril.

Target Audience: 

Attorneys and Legal Professionals

• Especially those practicing in:
• • Health law
  • Mental health law
  • Family law
  • Civil litigation involving therapists or healthcare providers

• Ethics and compliance officers
• Legal risk management consultants

In-House Counsel

• Particularly those working in:
• • Hospitals and healthcare systems
  • Mental health clinics
  • Universities with psychology or counseling programs

Therapists, Psychologists, and Mental Health Professionals

• Interested in understanding how legal professionals view ethics and legal responsibilities
• Those involved in legal cases (e.g., court-appointed therapists, expert witnesses)
• Compliance & Risk Management Professionals
• Working in behavioral health organizations
• Overseeing therapist conduct, legal risk, and ethical standards
• Graduate Students in Law or Mental Health Fields
• Law students focusing on healthcare or ethics
• Counseling or psychology students preparing for licensing and legal compliance

Basic Knowledge: 

Priorexperience with the mental health field is not necessary, as the course willintegrate basic and advanced topics and provide additional resources forreview, further study, and application.