Course Code: REL-BHC-0-LESBHP
Hours: 1
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2025
Learning Objectives:
Indicate the difference between how laws, ethics, and standards of care impact the work of behavioral health professionals and how to resolve conflicts that may arise between these elements.
Recall at least three specific duties that behavioral health professionals have with regard to legal and ethical care, particularly in relation to confidentiality and consent to treatment.
Describe actions that can be taken to make sound ethical decisions and effectively mitigate the risk of ethics violations or malpractice complaints.
Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
About This Course
Learning Objectives
Section 2: Standards of Care, Laws, and Ethics
What Do You Think?
What Are Standards of Care, Laws, and Ethics?
Standards of Care
Laws
Ethics
How Does This Impact You?
Telehealth and Distance Services
Review
Summary
Section 3: Consent
Informed Consent
Obtaining Informed Consent
Limits to Consent
Mental Capacity and Legal Competency
Involuntary Treatment
Review
Summary
Section 4: Confidentiality and Privacy
Confidentiality and Client Privacy
Privacy Regulations
HIPAA Overview
Psychotherapy Notes Under HIPAA
HIPAA Enforcement
42 CFR Part 2 Overview
Exceptions to Confidentiality
Mandated Reporting Laws
Mandated Reporting Laws: Do Not Ignore Them!
Duty to Warn or Protect
Privilege
Review
Summary
Section 5: Violating Standards of Care
Common Misunderstandings
Disciplinary Actions
Malpractice
Bases for Disciplinary and Malpractice Actions
Compliance and Risk Management
Documentation
Seeking Guidance
Review
Summary
Section 6: Conclusion
Summary
Course Contributors
Resources
ReferencesInstructor: Amanda Gayle, Ph.D.
Amanda Gayle received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Georgia in the Counseling and Testing Center. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical Center in the Occupational Health Department working in both the internal and external employee assistance programs. She is licensed in North Carolina where she was in private practice for 15 years serving primarily adults in individual and couples counseling with many presenting issues. Her focus was on cognitive behavioral therapy to treat anxiety, mood disorders, grief, relationship difficulties, stress management, self-esteem, and parenting. She joined Relias as a subject matter expert writer for behavioral health in 2021.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Alcohol and Drug Counselors; Beginner level Social Workers; Marriage and Family Therapists; Nurses; Professional Counselors; Psychologists; in the following settings: Health and Human Services.
Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.
Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.
All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.