The Portable Ethicist for Mental Health Professionals

BARTON E. BERNSTEIN, JD, LMSW, is an attorney in private practice in Dallas, Texas, and a Licensed Master Social Worker. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, and the University of Texas, Arlington, Graduate School of Social Work. He conducts workshops and seminars throughout the United States. THOMAS L. HARTSELL Jr., JD, maintains a private law practice in Dallas, Texas. He is a requent workshop presenter on topics related to ethics, managed care, confidentiality, informed consent, abuse allegations, and other legal aspects of mental health practice, and is an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, and Northlake College.

CLIENT ISSUES.Alternative Treatment Methods.Boundary Violations.Confidentiality.Discrimination.False and Misleading Statements.Informed Consent.Interviewing.Prohibited Clients.Repressed and Recovered Memory.Sexual Misconduct.Terminating Therapy.ETHICS CODES AND LICENSING.Areas of Ethical Complaints.Ethics Codes as Evidence.Licensing Board Procedures.Reporting Statutes.PRACTICE CONSIDERATIONS.Billing.Closing a Practice.Kickbacks, Bartering, and Fees.Malpractice Insurance.Record Keeping and Maintenance.PROFESSIONAL ISSUES.Drug and Alcohol Use.Duty to Warn.Interprofessional Issues.Professional Vulnerability.Supervision.SPECIAL THERAPY CONSIDERATIONS.Forensic Evaluation.Group Therapy.Epilogue: Ethics in the 21st Century.Appendices.