What are our ethical and legal responsibilities as we begin a clinical relationship?
What are our ethical and legal obligations when ending a relationship?
How can the beginning help to create a better ending?
How might a “professional will” protect clients in the event of unexpected endings?
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION: Placing Intakes & Terminations Into Ethical Context
I. BEGINNINGS
A. Ethical Requirements About Beginning Relationships
B. Legal Requirements About Clinical Beginnings
C. Clinical Implications Of These Ethical & Legal Requirements
D. Creating Safe Beginnings
Providing Information & Obtaining Client Consent
Avoiding Pitfalls
E. Marking the Transition from Intake to Intervention:
II. ENDINGS
A. Ethical Requirements About Ending Relationships
B. Legal Considerations When Ending Clinical Relationships
C. Clinical Issues With Ethical Implications
Planned “Timely” Endings
Therapist-Guided “Early” Endings
Patient-Initiated “Abrupt & Untimely” Endings
Financially-Driven Premature Terminations
D. Closing a Practice – Retirement, Relocation, Illness, Death
E. Planning Ahead: Preparing a “Professional Will”
III. IMPLEMENTATION: Using Beginnings to Create Safer Endings
The Center for Ethical Practice is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Center maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
The Center for Ethical Practice has been approved by National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 6768). The Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
The Center for Ethical Practice (provider #1287), is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Center for Ethical Practice maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/21/2021-3/21/2024.