ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND THE ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDE RISKS FOR PENNSYLVANIA MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS – ALLAN M. TEPPER
- Explore ethics in a meaningful, practical & helpful manner
- Apply ethics to everyday practice
- Review the assessment, treatment, and management of suicide risks
Many continuing education ethics programs are generic in nature. Often, such programs stress risk management strategies to the detriment of the attendees, especially when the program is presented by an attorney.
This program is different. Rather than avoiding clinical issues, this program explores the manner by which clinical and ethical issues affect the everyday practice of the mental health professional in Pennsylvania. This unique blend of clinical and ethical concerns allows for a more meaningful understanding and interpretation of the rules that govern mental health practice.
These goals are reached through the experience and the interactive style of the presenter, Allan M. Tepper, J.D., Psy.D. Different from other individuals who possess joint degrees in psychology and law, Dr. Tepper actually maintains an active psychology practice and an active law practice. He functions as a clinician, and he represents mental health professionals who experience legal difficulties. In this regard, Dr. Tepper brings an extremely unique perspective to the practical understanding of ethics.
These goals also are reached through an updated manual utilized in the seminar. The manual materials are not generic in nature. All of the written materials are state specific to Pennsylvania.
This seminar fulfills the Act 74 of 2016 one hour of continuing education mandated for all Pennsylvania licensed psychologists; licensed social workers; licensed professional counselors; and licensed marriage and family therapists. When interacting with an attorney, it sometimes is difficult to hear the words, “Trust me.”
For this seminar, however, we do say, “Trust us!!” We guarantee, you won’t walk away disappointed.
- Determine specific state and administrative laws that are pertinent to establishing and maintaining an ethical clinical practice.
- Develop policies on ethical issues such as restraints, seclusion and informed consent.
- Determine which notes, documents, reports, forms, and clinical data constitute an official medical record in the state of Pennsylvania.
- Evaluate your current record-keeping practices in order to ensure compliance with ethical and legal requirements in the state of Pennsylvania.
- Designate the treatment provider’s responsibilities relating to mental health issues and duty to warn law in Pennsylvania.
- Explore the legal and ethical considerations for the treatment of minor populations in Pennsylvania with regard to age of consent, confidentiality and custody concerns.
- Articulate issues related to the assessment, treatment and management of clients at risk to die from suicide.
GET ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND THE ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDE RISKS FOR PENNSYLVANIA MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OF AUTHOR ALLAN M. TEPPER
Understanding the Legal System
- Statutes
- Rules and regulations
- Case law
- Finding the law
Legal Exposure
- Civil liability
- Licensing board complaints
- Criminal liability
Establish the Treatment Relationship
- The professional relationship: beginning and end
- The legal and ethical principle of informed consent
- Informed consent as part of the treatment modality
- Use of and reliance upon written consent forms
Assessment, Treatment and Management of Suicide Risks
- Statistics and populations at risk
- Assessment of risk
- Screening tools and interview techniques
- Securing of outside records
- Cognitive interventions
- Use of concrete and outside management resources
- Documentation
Record-Keeping Practices
- Record-keeping regulations
- Items which constitute the record
- Access to records via written requests, subpoenas and court orders
The Ethics of Duty to Protect and Warn
- Duty to protect by warning potential third party victims
- Review of specific Pennsylvania case law governing danger to others
- A clinical approach to the duty to protect by warning
Treatment of Minors
- Age of majority
- Consent to treatment and access to records
- Treatment of minors in situations of family separation and divorce
Non-Sexual Boundary Violations
- Email correspondence, cell phone and texting
- Treatment vs. advocacy for patients
- Professional contacts with attorneys and the legal profession
- In-court expert testimony
