Florida Ethics Course for Psychologists

This course will teach the participant to

• Identify the Standard of Care from the various perspectives from which it is derived.
• Analyze possible sources of ethical conflicts among professional, federal, and state regulations.
• Discuss issues related to confidentiality in special circumstances (i.e., minors, couples, families, groups, subpoenas, and court orders).

Section 1

What Are Ethics and Why Do They Matter?

Standard of Care

• Definitions of standard of care
• Eight elements from which standard of care is derived
• What the standard of care is and is not
• Compliance with standard of care
• Applications of the standard of care

Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

• General principles
• Ethical standards

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

• Privacy rule
• Security rule
• Breach notification rule
• Safe Harbor Law
• Important HIPAA 2024 updates
  • Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records
  • Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care

State of Florida Regulations for Psychologists

• Training, licensure, and licensure renewal

• Privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and access to records
• Telemental health and PSYPACT
• Protections of Medical Conscience
• Sex between therapists and clients
• Human trafficking

Managing Ethical Conflicts

• Practical recommendations
• Preemption Analysis

Section 2:

Confidentiality in Psychotherapy and Counseling

• Limits of confidentiality
• Consent agreements
• Subpoenas and court orders
• Unintentional release of information