OVERALL DESCRIPTION

There are many situations and traditions and practices in other forms of therapy in which certain boundaries are murky. There is a wide range of "boundary crossings" that are not violations and may be sensitive, sensible, and humane, and therefore justified and consistent with good care. The speakers in this program address when is these boundary crossings are negligence, justifying licensing suanctions and financial settlements, and when they are good care.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

The quality, ethical practice of putting patients first is important to stop problems before they start. The current climate for mental health providers presents unique issues for careful, protective consideration.

This program provides clinicians with the opportunity to:
* Deepen their sensitivity to boundary issues.

* Learn how to lower risk of censure by understanding issues regarding boundaries.

* Clarify issues of disclosure, confidentiality, and boundaries in custody evaluations.

* Critically reflect on their own performance as ethical clinicians.

* Learn how to identify and resolve key issues regarding boundaries.

* Learn how to establish and maintain ethical and positive working relationships with managed care companies, on behalf of their clients.

* Learn how to manage boundary issues in rural communities.

CURRICULUM SUMMARY

1.  Barbara Herlihy, Ph.D.    -----------   "Boundaries"

Barbara Herlihy, Ph.D., presents an overview and discusses boundaries in Clinical Practice.

2.  Dr. Ted Remley, JD, Ph.D.    -----------   "Boundaries and Confidentiality"

Dr. Ted Remley discusses confidentiality in clinical practice and present an alternative to the extreme positions of documenting everything in the ultimate of self-protection, and revealing nothing, in the interest of patient protection. 

3.  Brandt Caudill, JD.    ----------   "Boundaries and Custody Evaluations"

Dr. Brandt Caudill discusses the problem of Boundaries in custody evaluations. This is a major source of ethical complaints.

4.  Kathleen Desgranges, MSW.    ---  "Cooperative Relations with Managed Care"and "An Update"

Kathleen Desgranges has been very successful in communication with managed care companies. In the first of these two interviews, Ms. Desgranges discusses how to establish positive working relationships with managed care companies. In the second interview, an update, Ms. Desgranges discussses the most current, more relaxed trends of managed care.