Legal and Ethical Standards of Care for Behavioral Health Professionals
Behavioral health providers often encounter challenging situations where they must balance client care with ethics codes, laws, and standards of care. Understanding these and the potential risk of violation is crucial for protecting the client and the provider. The rate of licensing board complaints against behavioral health professionals varies by specialty and location but is generally significant enough to warrant practitioners' attention. These complaints often stem from boundary violations, ethical dilemmas, or negligence in documentation or confidentiality practices. This course is designed to help providers distinguish between standards of care and legal and ethical issues. You will also learn about the responsibilities associated with informed consent and confidentiality. Finally, this course will address violations of standards of care and concerns regarding malpractice.
Behavioral health providers often encounter challenging situations where they must balance client care with ethics codes, laws, and standards of care. Understanding these and the potential risk of violation is crucial for protecting the client and the provider. The rate of licensing board complaints against behavioral health professionals varies by specialty and location but is generally significant enough to warrant practitioners' attention. These complaints often stem from boundary violations, ethical dilemmas, or negligence in documentation or confidentiality practices. This course is designed to help providers distinguish between standards of care and legal and ethical issues. You will also learn about the responsibilities associated with informed consent and confidentiality. Finally, this course will address violations of standards of care and concerns regarding malpractice.
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In support of improving patient care, Relias LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Nurses will receive 1.50 Nursing Contact Hours after successfully completing this course.
American Psychological Association
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As a Jointly Accredited organization, Relias LLC is approved to offer co-sponsored psychology continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA is an associate member of Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education.
Association of Social Work Boards
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Relias LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Relias LLC maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 1283424 continuing education credits.
Course Delivery Format: Asynchronous Distance Learning-interaction includes quizzes with questions and answers, post-tests. This module is 290.
Breining Institute for Registered Addiction Specialists
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators
Relias Learning is an approved provider of Continuing Education. Provider number: CP40 910 H 0318 for 1.50 CEHs.
California Association of DUI Treatment Programs
California Board of Registered Nursing
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP# 13791
Nurses will receive 1.50 contact hours for participating in this course.
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Florida Board of Psychology
Florida Board Of Psychology (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Psychologists will receive 1.50 hours.
Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Marriage and Family Therapist Continuing Education Sponsor
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Illinois Alcohol and Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association
Categories COUN II, PREV II, CARS II, CODP II, PCGC II, CCJP II, CAAP II, CRSS I or II, CPRS I or II, MAATP II, CFPP II, CVSS II
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Illinois Professional Counselor/Clinical Counselor
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board - Addiction Counselors
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board - Marriage and Family Therapists
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board - Masters Level Psychologists
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board - Professional Counselors
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board - Psychologists
Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
Kentucky Board of Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Louisiana State Board Of Medical Examiners - Medical Psychologists
Louisiana State Board Of Medical Examiners - Medical Psychologists (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Medical Psychologists will receive 1.50 contact hours for participating in this course.
Michigan Board of Psychology
Michigan Board of Psychology (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Michigan Board of Social Work
Michigan Board of Social Work (CEBroker Provider # 50-290)
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals
Education hours MCBAP-R
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Clinical supervision courses may only be used to satisfy CE requirements for individuals who are already Board-Approved Supervisors. They may not be used to meet the 30 hour requirement found in minn. Rule 5300.0160.
Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors
Missouri Credentialing Board
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals
This course has been approved by Relias LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 1.50 CE. NAADAC Provider #86124, Relias, LLC is responsible for all
aspects of their programming.
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
National Board for Certified Counselors
Relias, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No.6110. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Relias , LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
New Hampshire Board of Licensing For Alcohol And Other Drug Use Professionals
New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice
New Hampshire Board of Psychologists
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, Division of Professional Licensing Services, Social Work Unit
Relias, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0009.
Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of licensed master social work and licensed clinical social work in New York. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice for an LMSW and LCSW. A licensee who practices beyond the authorized scope of practice could be charged with unprofessional conduct under the Education Law and Regents Rules.
As a provider of online, asynchronous education, some courses offered by Relias Learning are considered “self-study” under section 74.10(c)(2)(ii)(b)(4) of the Commissioner’s Regulations. The regulations limit self-study activities taken from a provider approved by the Education Department to no more than 12 hours in the 36-month registration period or one-third of the hours in a registration period other than 36 months.
Social workers will receive 1.50 continuing education hours for participating in this course. This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Mental Health Practitioners, Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT)
Relias, LLC, is recognized by New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. #MFT-0009
As a provider of online, asynchronous education, some courses offered by Relias are considered "self-study". The regulations limit self-study activities taken from a provider approved by the Education Department to no more than 12 hours in the 36-month registration period or one-third of the hours in a registration period other than 36 months.
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Mental Health Practitioners, Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Relias, LLC, is recognized by New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0011
As a provider of online, asynchronous education, some courses offered by Relias, LLC are considered "self-study". The regulations limit self-study activities taken from a provider approved by the Education Department to no more than 12 hours in the 36-month registration period or one-third of the hours in a registration period other than 36 months.
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board of Psychology
North Carolina Psychology Board
North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners
North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners (CEBroker Provider # 50-290)
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
North Dakota State Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners
North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners
North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board
Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Content Area: PE - Ethics for Prevention; C9 - Legal and Ethical Issues Pertaining to Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Ohio Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Continuing education accepted due to a rule change accepting other state licensing boards for counselors, social workers, marriage & family therapists.
Course Category: Ethics
Ohio Professional Counselor Board
Continuing education accepted due to a rule change accepting other state licensing boards for counselors, social workers, marriage & family therapists.
Course Category: Ethics
Ohio Social Worker Board
Continuing education accepted due to a rule change accepting other state licensing boards for counselors, social workers, marriage & family therapists.
Course Category: Ethics
Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
Oklahoma Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
Oklahoma Licensed Professional Counselors
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours.
South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists
South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors and Therapists (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology
South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (CEBroker Provider 50-290)
Tennessee Board for LPCs, LMFTs and CPTs
Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology
Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Tennessee Board of Social Workers
West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling
West Virginia Board of Social Work
West Virginia Board of Social Work (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Wyoming Board of Psychology
Wyoming Board of Psychology (CEBroker Provider #50-290)
Indicate the differences among laws, ethics, and standards of care, and how to handle conflicts between them.
Recall at least three key responsibilities of behavioral health professionals related to confidentiality and consent to treatment.
Describe ways to make ethical decisions and reduce the risk of ethics violations or malpractice complaints.
Outline:
Section 1: Laws, Ethics, and Standards of Care
Application to Treatment
Quick Check
Key Takeaways
Section 2: Confidentiality and Consent to Treatment
Confidentiality and Privacy
Exceptions to Confidentiality
Quick Check
Consent to Treatment
Quick Check
Key Takeaways
Section 3: Ethics Violations and Malpractice Complaints
Violating Standards of Care
Compliance and Risk Management
Quick Check
Key Takeaways
Section 4: Conclusion
Course Summary
Course Contributor
Resources
References
Writer: Amanda Gayle, Ph.D
Amanda Gayle received her PhD. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Georgia in the Counseling and Testing Center. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical Center in the Occupational Health Department working in both the internal and external employee assistance programs. She is licensed in North Carolina, where she was in private practice for 15 years, serving primarily adults in individual and couples counseling with many presenting issues. Her focus was on cognitive behavioral therapy to treat anxiety, mood disorders, grief, relationship difficulties, stress management, self-esteem, and parenting. She joined Relias as a subject matter expert writer for behavioral health in 2021.
The target audience for this course is: Behavioral Health Counselors; Marriage and Family Therapists; Nursing Personnel; Psychologists; Social Workers; Substance Use Counselors; in the following settings: Behavioral Health and Intellectual Developmental Disability, Behavioral Health: Community Services, Behavioral Health: Crisis Services, Behavioral Health: Intensive Services (IRTS), Behavioral Health: Outpatient Services, Behavioral Health: Residential Services, Behavioral Health: Social Rehabilitation Facilities, Behavioral Health: Substance Use Services, Behavioral Health: Substance Use Services: In-Home.
Asynchronous/Online Distance Learning; please see certificate details for specifics on delivery format.
Relias has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias.
If you require special accommodations to complete this module, please contact Relias Support by completing the web form (https://www.relias.com/help) or by using the chat functionality.
All courses offered by Relias, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply any endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of, or affiliation with, Relias, LLC.
All characteristics and organizations referenced in the following training are fictional. Any resemblance to any actual organizations or persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
If you require special accommodations to complete this module, please contact Relias Customer Support here.
