Author(s): Burt Bertram, EdD | Anne Marie Nancy Wheeler, JD

Description:
The general rule is that counselor-client communications are confidential and should be protected. However, there are important exceptions to this rule. This chapter addresses when confidentiality must be broken to report behavior of clients or others to government agencies, law enforcement, or affected individuals. School and workplace violence are also discussed.

Objectives:

1. Examine important exceptions to confidentiality
2. Explore when confidentiality must be broken to report behavior of clients or others to government agencies, law enforcement, or affected individuals

Source/Book Title: The Counselor and the Law, A Guide to Legal and Ethical Practice, Seventh Edition, by Anne Marie "Nancy" Wheeler, JD and Burt Bertram, EdD. To purchase the book visit www.counseling.org/publications.

Speaker(s): Anne Marie Nancy Wheeler, JD | John P. Duggan, EdD

*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate

This webinar will provide counselors with tips on handling dilemmas they may not have learned or encountered in their graduate school ethics courses or practicum.  It will provide real-life tips on avoiding malpractice and licensure board complaints. Topics will include: use of a decision-making model; HIPAA/HITECH breach notification; custody concerns; ADA requirements; fraud; hiring counselors as independent contractors vs. employees; practice closure; and consultation/documentation.

Learning Objectives:

In this webinar participants will:

1. Review the key concepts of compliance laws, such as HIPAA and HITECH
2. Learn how ethics and law intersect with counselor practice
3. Review business practices, record keeping practices and other issues related to managing a counseling practice

Speaker(s): Anne Marie Nancy Wheeler, JD
Moderator(s): John P. Duggan, EdD

*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate*

Technology is designed to make many aspects of running a practice easier and smoother, however, all technology comes with a risk. In this webinar, attorney Anne Marie “Nancy” Wheeler discusses a variety of risks to using technology in your practice and ways to keep your practice safe.

Learning Objectives:
In this webinar participants will:

1. Discuss the risks associated with using technology in your practice.
2. Review ways to address ethical and legal issues around technology.
3. Hear examples of possible technology and HIPAA compliance issues.

Speaker(s): Anne Marie Nancy Wheeler, JD | John P. Duggan, EdD

Act now to update your HIPAA Privacy Policies and Procedures and thrive in an electronic world. Professional liability insurance...does your policy cover what you need? Prepare for sudden counseling practice closure due to death, illness, or disability. Liability pitfalls you can avoid in dealing with custody issues, subpoenas, reporting duties, boundary extensions, and civil/criminal fraud. Emergency procedures: What is in YOUR informed consent document?

Learning Objectives:

• Counselors will learn about HITECH breach notification and steps to keep up with our changing world of technology.
• Counselors will learn how to spot potential issues which could lead to liability and how best to protect themselves and their clients.
• Counselors will learn how to institute practices that will help them comply with changing ethics and legal/regulatory standards.