Posted on 4/8/2013
This article will cover the legal and ethical standards regarding advertising by LMFTs, trainees and interns.
Posted on 9/6/2012
There seems to be much confusion with regard to whether an MFT must or is even permitted to report consensual sexual activity involving minors. The information below applies only to consensual sexual activity-not incest, date rape or any situation in
Posted on 8/31/2012
This article will explore the various circumstances in which minors may receive treatment, both with and without parental consent, and provide guidelines for the therapist to follow to make the most appropriate decisions.
Posted on 8/31/2012
This article addresses the most commonly asked questions with regard to informed consent and therapist disclosure.
Posted on 8/15/2012
This article is designed to be a resource for therapists working as school counselors. It will discuss issues such as confidentiality, privilege and parent access to school counseling records. A previous article, published in the July/August 2002 iss
Posted on 8/15/2012
Working in school settings involves frequent tricky situations in which therapists are asked to meet with children without parental consent, reveal students' personal information to teachers and other school officials, share the contents of clinical
Posted on 7/1/2010
Guidelines for Job Interview Questions
Posted on 7/1/2009
New Law affects LMFTs ability to release outpatient psychotherapy records
Posted on 6/1/2009
Decision to Terminate Therapy
Posted on 6/1/2009
CANRA does not limit child abuse or neglect reporting to children who resides in California. Learn how to report abuse that has occurred outside of California.
Posted on 5/11/2009
This article will address the specific circumstance of obtaining proper consent for treatment of a minor with divorced parents, and provide guidelines for therapists to follow to make the most appropriate decisions in difficult situations.
Posted on 4/3/2009
Bonnie's Top Ten list of Things Therapists can do to avoid getting into Trouble. The following is a list of things therapists commonly do, or fail to do, which tend to create exposure to liability, complaints to licensing boards, and unnecessary conf
Posted on 1/1/2006
laws have been passed to improve the quality of evaluators and the evaluations they conduct. This has resulted in the development of uniform standards for child custody evaluators, including specialized training requirements, specifically tailored to
Posted on 11/1/2005
This article is intended to provide therapists with a fundamental understanding of contested custody proceedings, including the role of the mediator, child custody evaluator, minor's counsel and the court.
Posted on 9/1/2005
The issues discussed in this article are equally applicable to all types of employees, including trainees, interns, licensed professionals, and non-clinical staff. This article will discuss performance evaluations, disciplining employees, termination
Posted on 5/1/2005
his article will discuss the relevant wage and hour laws applicable to all employees; it will also address the proper use of volunteers.
Posted on 3/1/2005
This article will be the first in a series of articles that will address the legal aspects of recruiting, hiring, paying, reviewing, disciplining and terminating employees, including trainees and interns.
Posted on 1/1/2005
The exiting Intern
Posted on 9/1/2004
Bonnie's Top Ten List of Things Therapists do go Get into Trouble by Bonnie Benitez.
Posted on 7/1/2004
Confidentiality is the cornerstone that differentiates the therapist patient relationship from many other professional relationships. Therapists must be equipped to navigate a myriad of exceptions.
Posted on 11/1/2003
A conservatorship is one of several legal arrangements by which one person controls and administers the affairs of another. The term "conservator" describes one who legally has care and management of the person or estate, or both, of a person determi
Posted on 9/1/2003
Maintaining the confidentiality of patient records is of utmost importance to every therapist, regardless of his/her work setting. Patient records must be stored, transferred, and ultimately disposed of in a way that preserves confidentiality. This a
Posted on 3/1/2003
Vignette on Consent for Minor in Custody Situation
Posted on 1/1/2003
This article is intended to include guidelines for therapists who have been asked by a patient to give testimony in a court of law or deposition, and/or therapists who have been asked to submit an evaluation, report or declaration to a court of law r
Posted on 9/1/2002
By bringing health care to the patient instead of the patient going to the provider, telemedicine is providing alternatives to the way health care services, including mental health services, are rendered to consumers. In a nutshell, telemedicine, or
Posted on 5/1/2002
California law authorizes the parents(s), guardian(s) and under certain circumstances caregivers of a minor child to consent to the medical, mental health, and diagnosis and treatment relating to drug and alcohol abuse of that child. However, there a
Posted on 3/1/2002
When a therapist leaves a place of employment, often his or her patients want to follow. Unfortunately, for many counseling agencies, this can create a "revolving door" of sorts in which therapists join the agency, build a client base through agency
Posted on 3/1/2002
One of the most important decisions a therapist can make, when forming a private practice, is choosing the right type of business entity to form. Most therapists wish to avoid personal liability for the obligations of their business and may also wish
Posted on 1/1/2002
Use this checklist to review useful information and resources before hiring your first employee.
Posted on 9/1/2001
Therapists who treat children caught in the middle of a custody dispute are often contacted by attorneys. Typically, therapists will want to avoid engaging in any communication with the attorney of either parent (for reasons discussed in "Avoiding th
Posted on 7/1/2001
A therapist who treats a child in the midst of a custody battle needs to be aware of his or her proper role in the process. Find out what you need to know.
Posted on 5/1/2001
This article will discuss the elements of the definition of "child abuse." A reasonable suspicion of any forms of child abuse discussed in the article would mandate a child abuse report by any mandated reporter.
Posted on 5/1/2001
Consent for the treatment of minors: caregiver authorization
Posted on 11/1/2000
dangerous patients; Patients who are a danger to themselves or others; risk reduction, Patients Who Are a Danger to Themselves or Others
Posted on 7/23/2000
This article will attempt to clearly spell out what therapists need to do prior to disclosing information about their patients.