Susan Zoline – Navigating Ethical Challenges in Mental Health Practice: Current Guidelines for Clinicians

Outline

Common Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice

• Separation of personal values from professional judgments
• Contextual and cultural factors in ethical decision making
• Overlapping or multiple relationships
• Boundary crossings or violations within counseling relationships
• Billing, fees and gifts
• Emergent issues involving technology in clinical practice

Confidentiality: Its Central Importance in Therapeutic Relationships

• Confidentiality, privacy and privilege: How do they differ?
• Special considerations with children, teens and adults
• Groups, crisis, couples or family therapy
• Exceptions: Therapists’ duties and responsibilities
• Informed consent
• Responding to subpoenas and court orders

Boundaries: The Cornerstone of Ethical Practice

• Clarify and articulate one’s personal and professional boundaries
• Cultural components of boundary definitions
• Boundary crossings vs. boundary violations
• Decision-making regarding boundary shifts

Suicide and Violence Assessment: Current Best Practices

• Recognition of risk factors and warning signs
• Thorough assessment and intervention guidelines
• Current best practices for management of high risk situations
• Ethical and legal responsibilities to warn and/or protect

Mandated Reporting of Abuse or Neglect: Important Considerations

• Children, disabled adults, domestic partner, elderly
• Detection and assessment guidelines
• Cultural factors in assessment of abuse
• Mandated reporting requirements
• Gray area issues in abuse reporting

Risk Management: Preventing Strategies to Minimize Risk and Promote Client Well Being in Your Practice

• High-risk patient or situation
• Current ethical guidelines and legal requirements
• Adherence to practicing within the limits of one’s competence
• Careful attention to beginning and ending professional relationships
• Documentation and consultation
• Recognition of conflicts of interest or situations which are personally activating
• Maintain clear boundaries and appropriate self-care

Navigating Ethical Challenges in Mental Health Practice

• Current guidelines for clinicians
• Best practices in responding to suicide, violence and abuse issues
• Important risk management strategies for clinical practice
• Boundary dilemmas and how they can affect you
• Avoid common hazards in clinical practice related to professional ethics