Outline

How would you deal with ethical challenges?

Confidentiality needs to be protected.

• Scenario – A clinical psychologist disclosed clinical records in response to a subpoena without proper authorization.

Minors and parents rights are not properly balanced.

• Scenario – The mother of a 15-yearold client requested a full copy of the psychotherapist’s notes.

Self-Disclosure is a slippery slope.

• Scenario – A client in an addictions treatment program asked his clinician whether he is in recovery and who he voted for in the last presidential election.

There are dual relationship traps.

• Scenario – The clients of a marriage and family therapist offered her the free use of their vacation home.

There are financial issues such as billing, fees and gifts.

• Scenario – A client who was an unemployed painter had a large unpaid counseling bill and offered to paint the counselor’s home to pay off the debt.

When to and when not to warn.

• Scenario – A clinical social worker in a mental health center counseled a client who made threats against an unidentified estranged partner.

Insufficient informed consent is a 7.

• Scenario – A clinical psychologist provided distance counseling services to a client who filed a licensing board complaint alleging substandard informed consent protocols.

Common ethical challenges of social media.

• Scenario – A case manager in a mental health agency received a Facebook “friend” request from a client with whom he often exchanged text messages using a messaging app that is not HIPAA compliant.

Distance counseling is available.

• Scenario – The client of an addictions counselor in private practice moved to another state and asked the counselor to continue providing services to him using Skype and text messaging.

There are complex documentation decisions.

• Scenario – The client of a mental health counselor divulged that he had committed a murder several years earlier while under the influence of illegal substances.