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Digital Seminar

California Law and Ethics for Behavioral Health Professionals


Speaker:
Pamela Harmell, PhD
Duration:
6 Hours 13 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
Copyright:
Dec 09, 2024
Product Code:
POS059979
Media Type:
Digital Seminar


Description

It is the psychotherapist’s job to remain updated on the legal and ethical standard of care. This workshop addresses six specific topics that are mandatory to know in order to practice ethically. Most therapists are unaware of the three types of countertransference nor do they know the three types of therapist self-disclosure; therefore they are unable to utilize these useful techniques which have been proven to aid in the therapy process. Additionally, laws have changed with regard to working with dangerous patients in California. It is critical for therapists to know the current standard of care for Tarasoff/Ewing and all mandated abuse reporting in California. This webinar will address these issues in detail so participants will learn new skills and interventions and learn legal and ethical changes in the profession.

Participants will learn to use self-disclosure appropriately to encourage more self-disclosure from the client. Research shows lack of awareness of countertransference can be damaging to the therapy relationship causing the therapist to act out or experience burnout. Recent studies highlight a range of factors that place psychotherapists at risk of burnout. This webinar will present effective ways of reducing vulnerability and preventing collateral damage to the client. Burnout has been linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes for psychotherapists. Burnout has also been shown to interfere with clinical effectiveness and even contribute to misconduct. Hence, awareness of our countertransference and potential burnout becomes an ethical practice issue. Note that in all areas of discussion, there are limitations to the research and potential risks.

Credit

Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.



* Credit Note - **

NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after passing the online post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). Instructional methods will include PowerPoint, didactic lecture, and others.

Continuing Education Information:  Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Program content is reviewed periodically per accrediting board rules for currency and appropriateness for credit. Credit approvals are subject to change. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education, as well as which credit types are acceptable for continuing education hours. Please refer to your state rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval. 
For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact info@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before purchase.

Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession.  As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.  

For Planning Committee disclosures, please see the statement above.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.


* Credit Note - ---

Earn up to 6.0 CE hours. Please see below, for more details, as credit amounts vary by state and profession. 


* Credit Note - Ethics

This self-study activity includes 6.0 hours of state specific ethics instruction. Not all boards allow ethics credit for self-study products. If ethics is not specified within your licensing board’s approval statement below, please contact your board to determine the applicability and amount of ethics allowed.


Physicians - Physicians

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of PESI, Inc. and BetterHelp. PESI, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. PESI, Inc. designates this self-study activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. This activity was originally recorded on 12/09/2024. It was last reviewed on 09/17/2024 and is valid until 09/17/2027.

 

Psychiatrists/Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. You are required to successfully complete and submit a post-test prior to receiving a certificate of completion.


Other Professions

This self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 continuing education clock hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.



Handouts/Brochure

Speaker

Pamela Harmell, PhD's Profile

Pamela Harmell, PhD Related seminars and products


Dr. Pamela Harmell is a national lecturer specializing in legal and ethical issues in clinical practice. She is a Clinical Professor at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. Dr. Harmell has written extensively on legal and ethical treatment of patients and has formally studied law. Additionally Dr. Harmell conducted her dissertation research on countertransference titled “The Effects of Therapist Self-Awareness on Countertransference.” Dr. Harmell is a psychologist licensed in the state of California and has a private practice specializing in clients abused by former therapists and also treats adults and couples. She is the Past President of the Board of Psychology, the former Chair of the California State Ethics Committee and former long term member of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Ethics Committee. She served on the Board of Directors of the California Psychological Association and is Past President of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association. Dr Harmell was honored by Pepperdine University to be a 2024 recipient of the Howard A. White award for teaching excellence which is only given to professors considered to be outstanding educators. Dr. Harmell is well known for her expertise in legal and ethical considerations in clinical practice and is sought after by clinicians, educators and attorneys for consultation related to legal and ethical dilemmas. Dr Harmell has been doing research and professional presentations on the topic of legal and ethical issues for over three decades.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Pamela Harmell maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education & Psychology. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Pamela Harmell serves as the chair for LACPA Ethics Committee and the CPA Ethics Committee. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Los Angeles County Psychological Association.


Additional Info

Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product.


Objectives

  1. Utilize the Four Bins Method to handle ethical dilemmas in clinical practice.
  2. Examine countertransference as a tool to avoid therapist burnout.
  3. Determine when self-disclosure will build trust or when it will deter a client from sharing important clinical material.
  4. Differentiate when it may be ethical to work across state lines and when it is deemed practicing without a license to work across state lines.
  5. Utilize the revised reporting requirements for “duty to protect” in Tarasoff/Ewing cases in California.
  6. Determine when to report sexting and sexual behavior among minors as child abuse to DCFS.

Outline

Ethics and the Legal System

  • The four mechanisms holding therapists accountable
    • Duty of care
    • Standard of care
    • Demonstrable harm
    • Proximate cause
  • Civil and criminal situations
  • Case law and statute
  • Four Bins method of Ethical decision making
  • Limitations of the research and potential risks

Seven Step Cultural Decision Making Model

  • Use a wide diversity lens
  • Consult ethical standards
  • Self reflection
  • Consultation with diverse therapists
  • Develop options
  • Implement action plan
  • Reflect on decision making process

Recognize and Minimize Counter Transference and Burnout in Practice

  • Three types of counter transference 
    • Reaction to patients transference
    • That pertaining to therapists own issues
    • A normal reaction to the patients behavior or comments
  • Positive and negative counter transference
  • Clinical impact of unresolved counter-transference
  • How unresolved countertransference breaches the standard of care
  • The dangers of inappropriate contact with clients
  • Countertransference and breaches of confidentiality
  • Strategies to gain awareness of countertransference
  • Importance of self care

Ethical Standards Around Therapist Self-Disclosure

  • Three types of self disclosure
    • Inescapable
    • Immediate and unplanned
    • Deliberate
  • Iconic research findings
  • Two elements to consider prior to self-disclosure
  • Positive and negative effects of self-disclosure

Reach Out and Shrink Someone – The Age of Technology  

  • Working across state lines
  • Applying evidence-based therapy online
  • Requirements for a specific informed consent for telehealth
  • Awareness of encryption
  • Payment methods and programs that are hipaa compliant
  • Knowledge of the cures act
  • Appropriate and safe hipaa compliant record keeping
  • The “third party rule”

Duty to Protect for California Psychotherapists

  • Original Tarasoff
  • Case Law Additions to Tarasoff 
    • 2004 Ewing ruling
  • California no longer a Duty to Warn state
  • Assessment and detection

Abuse Reporting California Laws: Child Abuse 

  • How to report child abuse to DCFS
  • Assessment and detection of abuse
  • Department of Consumer Affairs decision about reporting
  • Sexting and sexual behavior and reporting to DCFS
  • NSSI and minors
  • Working with minors without parental consent
  • Guidelines for letter writing at patient request

Target Audience

  • California Mental Health Professionals

Reviews

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