California Law and Ethics for Social Workers, MFTS, & Counselors
This course fulfills BBS requirements for all California MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, & LEPs
CEs are NOT available for psychologists for this course.
This course is designed to provide a broad understanding of the laws and ethics associated with clinical practice in California for MFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. Tips and interactive engagement enable optimal learning, application and retention of the information.
This foundational course offers six articles that cover fundamental areas of legal and ethical issues associated with professional practice. Included is information on confidentiality, consent, record keeping, and engaging in telemental health. Additionally, legal standards for professional practice are covered, including sexual conduct and unprofessional conduct. Several articles contain self-test questions in order to clarify and further articulate principles reviewed and discussed. An additional resource for the clinician is provided at the end of the course.
Educational Objectives
This course will teach the participant to
- Summarize the elements of informed consent
- Discuss ethical and legal considerations when engaging in telehealth
- Review the ethical and legal mandates related to sexual conduct
- Summarize the actions that constitute unprofessional conduct
Syllabus
- Confidentiality and Consent
- Confidentiality
- Protecting client’s right to privacy
- Maintaining confidentiality when disseminating information
- Consent
- Providing service in person or via telemental health
- Maintaining clinical records
- Documentation
- Storage of records
- Disposal of records
- Maintaining confidentiality of records
- Managing requests for records
- Confidentiality
- Engaging in telemental health
- Informed consent
- Practicing across state lines
- Ethical considerations
- Legal standards for professional practice
- Compliance with laws and regulations associated with professional conduct
- Regulations associated with sexual contact/conduct between therapist and client