ABSTRACT
The legal system's impact and influence on the mental health profession has never been greater. Whether as a witness, plaintiff, or defendant, it is likely that a professional will have some kind of interaction with the law at least once in his/her career. More than ever, it is essential that psychologists, social workers, and counselors have a working knowledge of the legal and ethical mandates to which they will be held accountable.
Legal and Ethical Dimensions for Mental Health Professionals is a complete guide to the law and ethics as they relate to clinical practice. These issues can often be very confusing as values and rules change based on clients and context. For example, a school counselor who works with children is bound by different rules of confidentiality than a psychologist who counsels adults. To simplify such issues, the authors divide information into the legal and ethical rules appropriate for various types of clients in a number of settings.
The book opens with an explanation of the history of law related to mental health professionals, including a description of how and why laws related to clinicians are enacted. It then focuses on the therapist-client relationship and examines the many points at which legal and ethical considerations intersect with the practice of therapy.
This comprehensive look at the standards of law and ethics is essential reading for not only graduate and doctoral level students in the mental health fields, but also practicing professionals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |21 pages
Historical and Helping Perspectives
chapter |9 pages
The Mental Health Professional in a Historical Context
chapter |9 pages
In a Helping Context
part |69 pages
Ethical and Legal Dimensions
chapter |38 pages
In an Ethical Context
chapter |29 pages
In a Legal Context
part |17 pages
Multicultural Context
chapter |15 pages
The Mental Health Professional in a Multicultural Context
part |111 pages
Relationships with Special Populations
chapter |41 pages
Clients Who Are Dangerous to Themselves or Others
chapter |31 pages
Sexual Abuse and Homosexuality
chapter |35 pages
Other Special Relationships
part |51 pages
Considerations in Schools, Groups, Marriages, and Families
chapter |12 pages
The Mental Health Professional in the School
chapter |24 pages
In a Group Context
chapter |13 pages
In a Marriage and Family Context
part |14 pages
Considerations in Training