GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION

Retirement does not free a therapist from several legal, ethical and psychological obligations, even if the retirement is unplanned. Several years after their retirement, for example, therapists (or their estates) can find themselves still liable for damages that may have occurred to a former client. Retiring therapists are ethically and legally obligated to have a plan in place for notifying and transitioning clients, managing clients' records, notifying colleagues and third party payers with whom they're contractually obligated, and helping clients process their feelings about losing their therapist. As if that isn't enough, therapists have their own psychological issues to manage--even if the retirement is planned and eagerly anticipated. In the event of unplanned retirement--for example, a sudden debilitating illness or death--legal and ethical standard of care requirements still call for a therapist to have been prepared for this eventuality. Thus the responsible therapist must have certain protocols and procedures firmly in place at all times.

This intermediate level course will give therapists the information they need to effectively prepare for and manage their retirement. It includes the relevant codes of ethics from professional mental health organizations, valuable information from leading psychotherapy malpractice insurers, sample forms, and first person experiences of the personal issues psychodynamic therapists tried to manage, both with clients and intra-psychically. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.

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