On Good Authority - Program Details - Ethics 2 - MP3 plus Transcript - Continuing Education for all Mental Health Professionals

Ethics 2 - MP3 plus Transcript

Confidentiality

4 CEs

Includes Transcript

This progam includes the following tests:

ETHICS 2: Confidentiality (MP3)

In the field of mental health and psychotherapy, no topic is the subject of as much concern and confusion as the topic of confidentiality. Does the therapist take the approach of risk management, dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s? Or does the therapist stick to moral convictions and early ingrained values about confidentiality? Do we protect the patient? Or do we protect ourselves? Is there a middle ground?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Become familiar with startlingly different point of view on the topic of "Confidentiality"

2. Know what material to include in patient records.

3. Gain an understanding of what secrets to keep.

CURRICULUM SUMMARY

Interview #1 and 2

1. Barbara Alexander, LCSW, BCD ----------- "Risk Management"

Barbara Alexander reports on interviews with a number of very conservative attorneys. They discuss the Tarasoff case and record keeping, and maintain the position that the therapist must always keep detailed records, including specific information about what the therapist did and said, and how it relates to the treatment plan.

2. Christopher Bollas ---------- "The Betrayal of Confidentiality"

In contrast, Christopher Bollas states that many clients will not come to therapy in out of fear that they will be turned over to the authorities, and unconsciously begin to edit the material they present to the therapist in the current reporting system. Therapists should not break confidentiality under any circumstance.

Interview #3

3. Frederic Reamer, Ph.D. ---------- "Reporting and Responsibility"

Dr. Reamer defines the legal concept of standard of care and suggests that the impact of limiting confidentiality on clients is not so devastating as many suggest. He presents guidelines for handling secrets and recommends ways to protect the client and the therapist.