About the workshop

This course presents legal and ethical considerations for psychologists and counselors as they face clinical dilemmas. Complex ethical dilemmas will be explored through film clips depicting client-therapist situations such as: dealing with the Patriot Act, patient abandonment, accepting referrals and self-disclosures, working with suicidal clients, and updates to Tarasoff.  Literature updates, along with relevant standard of care and current expert opinion will be included in all areas of discussion.

This training provides participants information on the legal and ethical considerations in their work with clients. Participants will gain a deeper knowledge and updated information in the following areas

• Malpractice and establishment of legal liability
• Elements of suicide assessments and the legal/ethical perspectives on working with suicidal patients
• Family law issues
• Child maltreatment and reporting issues with updates to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• Review of and updates to Tarasoff and relevant case law on the duty to inform and duties to third parties
• Recovery model and evidence-based therapy
• Multicultural issues
• Dealing properly with the Patriot Act
• Multi-client situations

About the presenter 

Pamela Harmell, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized lecturer specializing in legal and ethical issues in clinical practice. She is a professor at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and has written extensively on ethical practice. Dr. Harmell is a past chair of the California Psychological Association Ethics Committee, serves as Co-Chair of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Ethics Committee, and is the former president of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association. Dr. Harmell maintains a private practice in Los Angeles where she specializes in loss and grief, depressive and anxiety disorders, and quality of life issues. For more information visit www.drpamelaharmell.com.

This is a 6 hour course with lunch on your own.  Sign-in will begin at 8:30am.

Continuing Education

Meets requirements for 6 hours of law and ethics training for psychologists, MFTs, and LCSWs

This course has been approved by the California Psychological Association MCEP Accrediting Agency as 6 hours of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists (course number YOU030-0039-000)

This course meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Provider Number 2522

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 15108, for 6 Contact hours.