Legal Issues in Social Work, Counseling, and Mental Health
Guidelines for Clinical Practice in Psychotherapy
- Robert G. Madden - Saint Joseph's College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA, The University of Bergen
Volume:
36
March 1998 | 296 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
As a psychotherapist, what do you need to know about the law? How does the legal system support (or fail to support) your work or the delivery of mental health services generally? What can you do to make use of the law and the legal system to improve your practice and to protect yourself? Filling a significant gap in the social work and other psychotherapeutic literature, Legal Issues in Social Work, Counseling, and Mental Health presents clearly and comprehensively what mental health and other direct practice professionals need to know to respond to the legal issues that surround practice. This volume covers a wide 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. The author also discusses various direct practice and human service issues, incorporating some of the everyday legal issues these professionals encounter and using case material. The book educates counselors and clinicians on the function of the law in their professional lives. Through cases and case vignettes, the author illustrates the legal processes relevant to cliniciansÆ professional lives, and suggests "alternative behaviors for clinicians that would satisfy legal requirements, yet remain within sound practice."
Helping to demystify the legal system, Legal Issues in Social Work, Counseling, and Mental Health will allow professionals and students in social work, human services, family studies, counseling, clinical psychology, pastoral counseling and psychotherapy a better understanding of the law.
Society, the Law and Mental Health
Standardization of Practice Policies and Procedures
Disclosure of Confidential Information
The Standard of Care and Practice Issues
Legal and Clinical Standards
Interactions with the Legal System
Legal Issues in the Business of Psychotherapy
Knowledge for Practice