Examine Specific Laws for Licensed Mental Health Professionals

Full Answer Section

    New thoughts and insights:

• The APA Code of Ethics and state laws governing mental health professionals are designed to protect clients and the public. These laws and ethical guidelines are important because they ensure that mental health professionals are competent and provide ethical care.
• It is important for mental health professionals to be aware of the APA Code of Ethics and the state laws governing their practice. This will help them to avoid ethical violations and to provide the best possible care to their clients.
• Mental health professionals should also be aware of the ethical implications of their work. This includes being mindful of their own biases and values, and how these might impact their work with clients.

Example of an ethical dilemma: A therapist is working with a client who is struggling with suicidal thoughts. The client discloses that they have a plan to commit suicide in the next week. The therapist is faced with the ethical dilemma of whether to report the client's plan to the authorities. The therapist is concerned about the client's safety, but they also respect the client's right to confidentiality. The therapist knows that if they report the client's plan, the client could be involuntarily hospitalized. The therapist ultimately decides to report the client's plan to the authorities. The client is angry with the therapist for breaking confidentiality, but the therapist believes that they made the right decision to protect the client from harm. This example illustrates the importance of ethical decision-making in mental health practice. Therapists must weigh the needs of their clients with the needs of the public when making decisions about how to best serve their clients.  

Sample Solution

   

Category	Law	Description
Abuse Reporting	California Penal Code Section 11166	Licensed mental health professionals are required to report any known or suspected child abuse to the local child protective services agency within 24 hours.
Duty to Protect	California Tarasoff Decision	Licensed mental health professionals have a duty to protect third parties from harm if they know or should know that their client is a danger to themselves or others.
Unlawful Therapies	California Business and Professions Code Section 17900	Licensed mental health professionals are prohibited from engaging in any form of sexual misconduct with their clients.
Licensure Laws	California Business and Professions Code Section 2900	To practice as a licensed mental health professional in California, individuals must meet certain educational and experience requirements and pass a state examination.
Romantic Relationships with students, supervisees and former clients	California Business and Professions Code Section 726.5	Licensed mental health professionals are prohibited from engaging in romantic relationships with their current or former clients, students, or supervisees.
Reporting of Ethical Violations	California Business and Professions Code Section 726.5	Licensed mental health professionals are required to report any suspected ethical violations to the appropriate licensing board.