Center for Ethical Practice

Continuing Education & Ethical Resources For Mental Health Professionals

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for Mental Health Professionals

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Ethical Obligations about Confidentiality

A. Ethical Distinctions Between “Absolute” and “Conditional” Confidentiality

Confidentiality Ethics – Yesterday and Today

B. Ethical Obligations About Confidentiality & Disclosure

Selected Ethical Standards: Counselors (from ACA Code of Ethics)
Selected Ethical Standards: Psychologists (from APA Code of Ethics)
Selected Ethical Standards:: Social Workers (from NASW Code of Ethics)

C. PROTECTING CONFIDENTIALITY – USING AN ETHICAL PRACTICE MODEL

Ethical Practice Model (html)
Ethical Practice Model + State Law +HIPAA (pdf)
Ethical Practice Model Adapted to Various Populations & Settings

D. Confidentiality in Virginia Legal Protections and Legal Limits

Virginia Statutes Protecting or Limiting Patient Confidentiality (with links to Code of Virginia for text of each statute or court case)

E. CONFIDENTIALITY: “NON-SUBPOENA CONTRACTS” WITH CLIENTS

Clients in Multi-Client Therapy – “Non-Subpoena Promise” ( Fisher )
Couple or Marital Therapy – “Non-Subpoena Promise” ( Hembree )
Client in Individual Therapy (+ Non-Participating Spouse) – “Non-Subpoena Promise” ( DeMaio )

F. CONFIDENTIALITY CONTRACTS — EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS

Sample Ethics Contract for Staff, Trainees, & Volunteers

Sample Confidentiality Contract – Clinical Staff,  Employees, Trainees & Volunteers With Authorized Access to Patient Information

Sample Confidentiality Contract – On-Site Agents Who are NOT Authorized to Obtain Access to Patient Information (e.g., janitor; computer guru; “plant lady,”  etc.) 

G. COURT-RELATED FORMS & CHARTS

A. Filing A Motion to Quash a Subpoena for Testimony or Patient Records
B. Chart: Court-Related Roles “Which Hat are you Wearing?”

H. BOOKS and BOOK CHAPTERS by Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.

Fisher, M.A. (2012). Confidentiality and Record Keeping. Chapter 13 in S. Knapp, M. Gottlieb, M. Handelsman, & L. VandeCreek (Eds.) APA Ethics Handbook for Psychologists (pp. 333-375).  Washington DC: American Psychological Association. DOI: 10.1037/13271-013.

Fisher, M.A. (2013).  The Ethics of Conditional Confidentiality: A Practice Model for Mental Health Professionals.   New York, Oxford University Press.  (Order from the Book Order Page on our website, from Oxford University Press, or from Amazon.com ) See REVIEWS.

Fisher, M.A. (2016). Confidentiality Limits in Psychotherapy:  Ethics Checklists for Mental Health Professionals.  Washington DC, American Psychological Association. (See summary on our website; order from American Psychological Association or from Amazon.com.) See REVIEWS.

 

 

(Updated January 5, 2015)

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Upcoming CE Workshops

  • Knowing What We Don't Know: Meeting Our Ethical Obligation to Develop and Maintain Competence
    • Wednesday, March 29, 2023
    • Zoom Interactive Workshop
  • Should I Write it Down?: Ethical and Legal Ramifications of Documentation Decisions
    • Wednesday, April 5, 2023
    • Fairfax Virginia
  • Should I Write it Down?: Ethical and Legal Ramifications of Documentation Decisions
    • Wednesday, April 26, 2023
    • Zoom Interactive Workshop

CE Courses Are Approved By:

continuing education for American Psychological Association 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.


continuing education for National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) 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.


continuing education Association of Social Work BoardsThe 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.

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Tel: 434-971-1841 • E-Mail: Office@CenterForEthicalPractice.org