Attorney Articles | Ethics
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Articles by Legal Department Staff

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.

 

In this article, Bradley J. Muldrow, JD provides an overview of key legal and ethical issues therapists should consider when writing referral letters for patients seeking gender affirming medical and surgical treatments. He also discusses information therapists may wish to consider including in those letters.

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.

CAMFT Attorney Alain Montgomery, JD, takes a deep look into the various—and highly nuanced—elements that therapists must evaluate when receiving gifts from clients and when thinking of giving a gift to a client.

In this article, Michael Griffin, 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.

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.

CAMFT attorney Luke Martin, MBA, JD, takes a deep dive into the legal, clinical, and ethical considerations of ending an employment relationship and helps guide both the employer and the employee forward.  Martin places particular focus on how to deal with clients during this transition.

This article, contributed by CAMFT Staff  Attorney Alain Montgomery, JD, explores the ethical, legal, and practical issues LMFTs must consider when retiring.

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.

In this article, Bradley J. Muldrow, JD discusses eight important reasons therapists should consider joining consultation groups.

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.