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Legal and Ethical Issues for Mental Health Clinicians: Best Practices for Avoiding Litigation, Complaints and Malpractice

Meets ethics requirement for NY Psychologists

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About the Course

This course is based on the book by the same name. This course provides mental health clinicians with practical guidance, strategies, solutions, as well as up-to-date information, covering vital ethical and legal topics in a practical and easily accessible format. Topics covered in this course include: risk management, contracts, HIPAA, privileged communication, licensing complaints, supervision pitfalls, rights of minors, and use of technology.

This course is based on the book, Legal and Ethical Issues for Mental Health Clinicians: Best Practices for Avoiding Litigation, Complaints and Malpractice created by Susan J. Lewis, Ph.D., J.D. in 2016.

Publication Date:

PESI Publishing, First Edition 2016

Course Material Author

Susan J. Lewis, Ph.D., J.D.
Susan J. Lewis, Ph.D., J.D., is a licensed psychologist, forensic psychologist, and attorney who has more than 25 years of experience in clinical practice. In addition to her clinical practice, she has served in numerous leadership and consultative roles regarding clinical as well as legal/ethical issues. In addition, she is a speaker, author, presenter, and trainer.

Susan J. Lewis, Ph.D., J.D. authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Course Creator

Anna Lynn Hollis, Ph.D., School Psychologist
Anna Hollis, Ph.D., NCSP, is a nationally certified school psychologist currently living near Detroit, Michigan. She is licensed as a psychologist in 2 states (Michigan and South Carolina) and certified as a school psychologist in in 5 states (South Carolina, Michigan, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Maryland). She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); the Michigan Association of School Psychologists (MASP); and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). Dr. Hollis obtained her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of South Carolina. Her professional interests include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Positive Psychology; Trauma-Informed Practice; and Urban School Psychology.

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for all mental health professionals who are seeking additional knowledge about vital legal and ethical issues affecting the provision of mental health services, as well as information about strategies for best practices for avoiding litigation, complaints, and malpractice. This course is appropriate for all levels of participants’ knowledge.

Course Objectives:

After taking this course, you should be able to:

  1. Describe and discuss the legal and ethical issues in the practice of providing mental health services.
  2. Describe and discuss risk management strategies and best practices for avoiding litigation, complaints, and malpractice.
  3. Describe and discuss fiduciary contracts, HIPAA guidelines, working with attorneys, and mental health in the courtroom.
  4. Describe and discuss informed consent and privileged communication.
  5. Describe and discuss other legal and ethical issues impacting the practice of providing mental health services, including licensing complaints, technology, confidentiality, supervision issues, and balancing the rights of minors and their parents.

Disclosure to Learners

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty: Anna Lynn Hollis, Ph.D., School Psychologist

No relevant financial relationships.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Exam Questions

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  • What do I have to do to complete the course?

    To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

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Course Retired

Categorized in:

Course Number 102742
7.5 CE credit hours
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Exam Fee $44.78
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Course Materials $14.00

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