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The Legal Department articles are not intended to serve as legal advice and are offered for educational purposes only. The information provided should not be used as a substitute for independent legal advice and it is not intended to address every situation that could potentially arise. Please be aware that laws, regulations and technical standards change over time. As a result, it is important to verify and update any reference or information that is provided in the article.
Legal and ethical issues often arise when a therapist is ending their relationship with an employer. Focusing on topics of dispute that commonly arise between employers and therapists/employees, Michael Griffin, JD, LCSW examines the application of California law to the use of noncompetition clauses in employment contracts and considers sections of the CAMFT Code of Ethics relevant to issues such as patient autonomy and independence.
In this article, Michael Griffith, JD, LCSW, discusses ethical standards that are applicable to treatment planning, particularly at the start of treatment with a new client/patient or when a therapist is contemplating changes to a client's treatment plan. The discussion includes a review of various disclosures that therapists are either required or encouraged to provide to their clients.
Regarding the Release of the DSM 5 TR
This article discusses a number of key legal issues which are generally applicable when treating a suicidal client. The article also briefly discusses the topic of assessing and managing risk when working with suicidal clients.
This article by CAMFT Staff Attorney Michael Griffin, JD, LCSW, discusses six common myths and misconceptions that influence therapists in their interpretation of common legal and ethical issues.
Staff Attorney Michael Griffin, JD, LCSW, discusses various changes to the CAMFT Code of Ethics, focusing on substantive revisions to sections 9-13 of the Code. This article is part III of a three-part series regarding the revised Code of Ethics.
This article discusses the changes to the Code of Ethics, focusing on substantive revisions to sections 5-8 of the Code. It is the second of a three-part series in The Therapist regarding this topic.
This article discusses the recent changes to the Code of Ethics, focusing on substantive revisions to sections 1-4 of the Code. It is the first of three articles regarding this topic.
Reviewing the commonly encountered legal and ethical issues that clinical supervisors face, CAMFT attorney Michael Griffin, JD, LCSW, offers helpful legal and ethical reminders regarding the supervision of pre-licensed marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers and professional clinical counselors.
This article discusses the topic of independent contractors, including relevant legal factors to consider regarding their use. Consideration is given to a recent California Supreme Court decision concerning the classification of independent contractors.