An Online Course:
California Law and Ethics 12CE
Table Of Contents
Resources for MFTs and MFT Applicants
- Marriage and Family Therapist California Law and Ethics Examination, Candidate Handbook
- Board of Behavioral Sciences. (2017). Statutes and Regulations Relating to the Practices of Professional Clinical Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Educational Psychology and Clinical Social Work. Sacramento, CA: Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Confidentiality, Privilege and Limits to Confidentiality
- Benitez, B.R. (2004). Confidentiality and its Exceptions (Including the US Patriot Act). The Therapist, July/August. Updated in June, 2012 by Kashing, S.
- Benitez, B.R. (2002). MFTs as School Counselors Confidentiality and Privilege. The Therapist November/December. Updated 2012.
- Butler, M.H. & Zamora, J.P. (2013). Ethical and Legal Concerns for MFTs in the Context of Clergy-Collaborative Care: Is What I Share Really Confidential? The American Journal of Family Therapy Vol. 41, 2.
- Fisher, M.A. (2008). Protecting Confidentiality Rights: The Need for an Ethical Practice Model. American Psychologist 63, 1: 1–13.
- Leslie, R. (2012). Joint Holders of the Privilege – Meaning and Implications
- Nagy, T. F. (2011). Exceptions to Confidentiality for Mental Health Providers. Essential Ethics for Psychologists. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
- Pelchat, Z. (2001). Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege-Your Special Relationship in the Law. The Therapist, March/April. Updated August 2012.
- Shouse California Law Group. (2017). The Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege in California Criminal Law: Evidence Code 1014 EC.
- Additional Resources on Confidentiality
- Brooks, B.; Fiedler, K.; Waddington, J. and and Zink, K. (2013). Minors’ Rights to Confidentiality, When Parents Want to Know: An Ethical Scenario
- Behnke, S.H, and Warner, E. (2002). Confidentiality in the treatment of adolescents. APA Monitor on Psychology, Vol 33, No. 3.
- Benitez, B.R. (2000). Guidelines for the Treatment of Minors. The Therapist, September/October. Updated 2012.
- Benitez, B.R. (2002). Treatment of Minor Without Parent Consent (Including Alcohol/Drug and Pregnancy). The Therapist, May/June. Updated 2012.
- Benitez, B.R. (2001). Consent for the Treatment of Minors with Divorced Parents. The Therapist, November/December.
- National Center for Youth Law (2010). California Minor Consent Laws – Mental Health Services: Minor Consent Services and Parents Access Rules
- Caldwell, B. (2008). MFT scope of practice across the country
- MFT-License.com (2013). Marriage and Family Therapists vs. Clinical Psychologists
- MFT-License.com (2013). Marriage and Family Therapists vs. Clinical Social Workers
- MFT-License.com (2013). Marriage and Family Therapists vs. Mental Health Counselors
- MFT-License.com (2013). Marriage and Family Therapists vs. Psychiatrists
- Coy, J. S., Lambert, J. E. and Miller, M. M. 2016). Stories of the accused: A phenomenological inquiry of MFTs and accusations of unprofessional conduct. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 42, 139–152. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12109.
- Jensen, D. (2007). Could Your Personal Life Pollute Your Professional Life? The Therapist, March/April
- State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences (2015). Uniform Standards Related Guidelines to Substance Abuse and Disciplinary Guidelines
- Additional References on Risk Management
Sexual Conduct between Therapist and Client
- Aravind, V. K., Krishnaram, V. D., & Thasneem, Z. (2012). Boundary Crossings and Violations in Clinical Settings. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(1), 21–24. http://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.96151
- Behnke, S.H (2004). Sexual involvements with former clients: A delicate balance of core values. APA Monitor on Psychology, Vol 35, No. 11.
- Kaplan, D. (2006). Romantic/sexual relationships
- Los Angeles County Bar Association. (2017). #413- Sexual Exploitation by Therapists
- Prince, R. (2016). Sexual Attraction in the Therapy Room: An Exploration of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists’ Experiences and Training
- State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs (2011). Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex
- YourMFTEthics.com. (unavailable). Law and Ethics for California Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs): Sexual Misconduct
- Additional References on Boundaries
- Chamberlin, J. (2009). How to Offer a financial break: Six ways psychologists can help patients who can no longer afford therapy. APA Monitor on Psychology, Vol 40, No. 1.
- Simon Yisrael Feuerman (2013). The Therapist and the Fee: Why Everything Works out and Also Doesn’t
- Tran-Lien, A. (2017). 10 Reminders for Therapists about Fees
- Zur, O. (2016). Fees in Therapy: Summary and Guidelines
- Additional References on Fees in Counseling
Laws Related to Inpatient Care & Patient Rights
- Brzovic, D. (2013). Patients’ Rights and Patients’ Rights Advocacy Laws and Regulations
- CA Dept of Health Service (2014). Rights for Individuals In Mental Health Facilities Admitted Under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act
- Mental Health America (MHA). (2015). Position Statement 22: Involuntary Mental Health Treatment
- Richardson, L. (2017). Mental Health Law Manual. Sacramento, CA: CHA Publications.
- Benitez, B.R. (2001). Advertising Guidelines for Therapists. The Therapist, September/October. Updated August 2012 by Sara Kashing.
- Blow, R. (2015). Using Ethical Practices in Mental Health Marketing and Advertising
- State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences (2013). Changes to Advertising Requirements Fact Sheet
- State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences (unavailable). Changes to Advertising Requirements Fact Sheet. Sample Formats of Advertising For BBS Interns and Associates.
- Tran-Lien, A. (2012). Ten Advertising Mistakes Made by Therapists. The Therapist, March/April. Updated April 2013
- Caldwell, B. (2013). Why cultural competence matters in MFT – and how to build yours
- Leslie, R. (2011). Scope of Competence / Scope of License
- Miller, J.K.; Todahl, J.L. and Platt, J.J. (2010). The Core Competency Movement In Marriage And Family Therapy: Key Considerations From Other Disciplines. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Vol. 36, No. 1, 59–70. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00183.x
- Additional References on Risk Management
- Anderson, S.K. (2011). My Boundaries Are… Too loose of boundaries or just right?
- Aravind, V. K., Krishnaram, V. D., & Thasneem, Z. (2012). Boundary Crossings and Violations in Clinical Settings. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(1), 21–24. doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.96151
- Barrett, M.J. (2013). The Importance of Professional Boundaries in Therapy
- Dewane, C. J. (2010). Respecting Boundaries — The Don’ts of Dual Relationships. Social Work Today, Vol. 10 No. 1 P. 18
- Herlihy, B. and Corey, G. (2015). Boundary Issues in Counseling: Multiple Roles and Responsibilities. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
- Hill, T. (2017). 5 Major Ethical Violations in Therapy
- Pope, K. (unavailable). Dual Relationships, Multiple Relationships, & Boundary Decisions
- Smith, D. (2003). 10 ways practitioners can avoid frequent ethical pitfalls. APA Monitor on Psychology, Vol 34, No. 1.
- Tartakovsky, M. (2016). Therapists Spill: How I Set & Sustain Boundaries
- Zur, O. (2015). Dual Relationships, Multiple Relationships & Boundaries In Psychotherapy, Counseling & Mental Health
- Zur, O. (2007). Boundaries in Psychotherapy: Ethical and Clinical Explorations. Washington, DC: APA Books.
- Additional Articles on Boundaries
Self-Care and Self-Awareness for Clinicians
- Fife, S.T. and Whiting, J.B. (2007). Values in Family Therapy Practice and Research: An Invitation for Reflection. Contemporary Family Therapy, 29, 71-86.
- Sullivan, E. (2013). Self-care for therapists
- Additional References on Therapists’ Burnout & Additional Articles on Therapists’ Burnout
- Griffin, M. (2006). Revisiting Informed Consent. The Therapist, September/October.
- Hall, D. E., Prochazka, A. V., & Fink, A. S. (2012). Informed consent for clinical treatment. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(5), 533–540. doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.112120
- Kumar, N. K. (2013). Informed consent: Past and present. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 4(1), 21–25. http://doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.106372
- Pope, K. (unavailable). Informed Consent in Psychotherapy & Counseling: Forms, Standards & Guidelines, & References
- More Resources on Informed Consent
- Aducci, C.J. (2012) Ask the Person that Lived It. That Would Be Me. A Discursive Therapy Approach to Countering Social Inequalities In a Couple’s Therapy Session. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 24:4, pps 340-356.
- Palmer, M. (2010). Client-centered Advocacy
- Newsome, J. (2015). An Ethical Dilemma: When Therapy Clients Give Gifts
- Shelton, K. (2016). Is it ever appropriate to give or accept a gift in therapy?
- Zur, O. (2015). Gifts in Psychotherapy & Counseling
- Zur, O. (2012). Gifts in Therapy: Some are Appropriate
- Additional Resources on Gifts in Therapy & Additional Articles on Gifts in Therapy
Unethical Conduct of Colleagues
- Clay, R. A. (2011). When a colleague is impaired: How can you help a fellow psychologist in distress? APA Monitor on Psychology, Vol 42, No. 6.
- DesRoches CM, Rao SR, Fromson JA, Birnbaum RJ, Iezzoni L, Vogeli C, Campbell EG. Physicians’ Perceptions, Preparedness for Reporting, and Experiences Related to Impaired and Incompetent Colleagues. JAMA.2010;304(2):187–193. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.921
- Huprich, S. K. and Rudd, M. D. (2004), A national survey of trainee impairment in clinical, counseling, and school psychology doctoral programs and internships. J. Clin. Psychol., 60: 43–52. doi:10.1002/jclp.10233
- O’Connor, M.F. (2017). Intervening With an Impaired Colleague
- Griffin, M. (2013). The Supervisor’s Role Legal and Ethical Considerations. The Therapist, September/October.
- Additional Resources on Supervision & Additional Articles on Supervision