When working with couples in therapy, certain policies and practices can predictably create ethical dilemmas &/or lead to legal complications. Couple therapy is difficult enough without adding unnecessary complications. This workshop is designed to help you anticipate, prevent, and/or minimize risks to clients – and thus to yourself.
John T. Schroll, Ph.D. |
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D. |
I. Ethical Standards Governing Therapy with Couples (Fisher)
II. Legal Standards Affecting Couples Therapy (Fisher)
A. Licensing Board Standards of Practice
B. General Virginia Statutes
C. Court Case: Va. Supreme Court: Fairfax Hospital v. Patricia Curtis
D. HIPAA-Required “Notice of Privacy Practices”
III. Practical Issues and Ethical/Legal Pitfalls in Couples Therapy (Schroll)
A. Initial Contact: “The Phone Call”
Obtaining information
Providing information
B. First Session Issue #1: Informing Patients
Describing “Rules”
Describing Therapist’s Policies About Confidentiality and Its Limits
Underlying confidentiality rule
Exceptions that apply to all clients (e.g., HIPAA “Notice”)
Rules & exceptions as applied in couple therapy
Describing Therapist’s General Policies
Individual sessions vs seeing only as a couple
Expectations if couple relationship ends
Potential Legal Issues: Records, testimony, divorce, custody
Use of insurance; managed care; “identified patient”
Describing Risks – Possible Positive and Negative Outcomes
Discussing Therapist’s Therapeutic Approach
Answering Questions
C. First Session Issue #2: Making Decisions & Obtaining Consent
IV. Anticipating Pitfalls (Schroll & Fisher)
A. Dual Relationship Issues
B. Boundary Issues/Out-of-session contact: (email, phone, public encounters, etc.)
C. Complications if Couple Relationship Ends (ethical issues; legal issues; clinical issues)
D. Record Keeping, Consent Forms, Audits, etc.
V. Ethical Problem-Solving with Clinical Vignettes (Fisher & Schroll)
Learning Goals:
1. Describe the ethical and professional standards that might especially apply in couples therapy.
2. List the state and federal laws and regulations that affect couples therapy.
3. Apply these standards when considering practical issues that arise in work with couples.
4. Name some of the avoidable ethical and legal pitfalls when providing couples therapy.
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 as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/21/2021-3/21/2024.