Legal Issues in Social Work, Counseling, and Mental Health Vol. 36 : Guidelines for Clinical Practice in Psychotherapy

by Robert G. Madden

• ISBN13: 9780761912323
• ISBN10: 0761912320
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-03-09
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc

Summary

This book covers a broad range of topics, including providing testimony, responding to subpoenas, dealing with an attorney, influencing the legal system, and understanding the legal side of the business of psychotherapy. This book will help demystify the North American legal system, thereby empowering psychotherapists to work with it and within it.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
1. Society, the Law, and Mental Health Practice	1	(24)
The Law as an Instrument of Society	5	(3)
The Response of Mental Health Professionals	8	(1)
Lawsuits Against Psychotherapists	9	(2)
The Rationale of Liability	11	(3)
A Reciprocal Relationship	14	(2)
Regulation of Psychotherapy Practice	16	(3)
The Law, Social Control, and Psychotherapy	19	(3)
Conclusion	22	(3)
2. Standardization of Practice Policies and Procedures	25	(28)
Record Keeping	29	(8)
Privacy	37	(4)
Confidentiality	41	(7)
Legal Bases of the Confidentiality Duty	45	(3)
Privilege	48	(5)
3. Disclosure of Confidential Information	53	(54)
Authorized Disclosures	53	(39)
Release of Information	53	(3)
Legally Mandated Reports	56	(1)
Nontreatment Relationships/Evaluations	57	(7)
Dangerous Client Exceptions	64	(17)
Client Waivers	81	(11)
Compelled Disclosures	92	(10)
Testimonial Privilege	92	(1)
Criminal Proceedings	93	(9)
Unauthorized Disclosures	102	(3)
Purposeful Self-Interest	102	(2)
Accidental or Negligent Breach	104	(1)
Summary	105	(2)
4. The Standard of Care and Practice Issues	107	(40)
What Constitutes Reasonable Practice?	107	(14)
Malpractice	112	(2)
Standard of Care	114	(7)
Managing a Treatment Relationship	121	(22)
Informed Consent	123	(9)
Dual Relationships	132	(8)
Ending Treatment/Abandonment	140	(3)
Supervision and Consultation Issues	143	(4)
5. Legal and Clinical Standards: Determining "Reasonable Care"	147	(36)
Misdiagnosis/Incorrect Treatment Cases	147	(3)
Recovered Memory/False Memory Cases	150	(14)
Negligence/Malpractice	151	(1)
Standard of Care	152	(3)
Techniques Commonly Used to Facilitate Memory Retrieval	155	(1)
Legal Issues in Recovered Memory Cases	155	(9)
Third-Party Liability	164	(10)
Legal Issues in Third-Party Liability	165	(2)
Recovered Memory Cases	167	(2)
Alienation of Affection Cases	169	(1)
Child Abuse Evaluation Cases	170	(4)
Danger to Self/Suicide Risk Assessment Cases	174	(4)
Special Relationship	175	(1)
Foreseeability	176	(1)
Breach of Duty	177	(1)
Other Areas of Professional Liability	178	(4)
Defamation	178	(2)
Breach of Contract	180	(1)
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress	181	(1)
Summary	182	(1)
6. Interactions With the Legal System	183	(24)
Style, Form, and Function of the Professions	183	(2)
Involvement in a Legal Proceeding	185	(18)
The Subpoena, Depositions, and Pretrial Preparation	186	(8)
Testifying as a Witness	194	(4)
Testifying as an Expert	198	(5)
Consulting and Retaining an Attorney	203	(4)
7. Knowledge for Practice: Common Legal Problems for Clients	207	(50)
Family Law: Marriage, Divorce, and Custody	208	(25)
Commitment and the Right to Refuse Treatment	233	(14)
Child Welfare Laws	247	(8)
Conclusions	255	(2)
Afterword	257	(4)
References	261	(10)
Legal References	271	(4)
Index	275	(6)
About the Author	281