California Law & Ethics: Mandated Reporting & Client Safety (on-demand)

Logistics & Scheduling

Preferred date or timeframe:
Proposed length: hours
Requested fee:

Curriculum & Content Plan

Content/curriculum: The entire curriculum is focused on law & ethics

Online class experiential components: slides (PowerPoint, Google Slides), poll or survey

Learner experience level: Novice/Beginning Learners: No advance knowledge required

NBCC Content Area: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship, Counselor Professional Identity and Practice Issues

Program Description:

Ideal for Registered Associates needing their 3 Law & Ethics CEs for renewal! This is also Part 1 of a 5-module 12-hour California Law & Ethics course that meets BBS requirements for out-of-state applicants for CA license. Designed for pre-licensed clinicians and those newer to practicing in California.

Topics covered include:

• LPCC license, professional identity, and differences with other professional licenses
• Scope of practice including the difference between counseling and coaching
• Overview of telehealth laws and requirements for California licensure in order to practice in California
• Responsibilities of supervisors and rights of pre-licensed clinicians
• Training sites, work settings, and employment arrangements for trainees and associates earning hours towards licensure in California
• Advertising requirements including proper citation of licensure status and supervisory relationships
• Professional conduct and ethics, with a basic overview of complaints, where complaints might be filed, and common disciplinary actions

This course will answer questions like:

• If I am working under supervision, can I see clients in other states and count those hours?
• If I have an out of state license, can I see clients in California if I have moved here?
• What do I have to put on my website depending on what stage of license I am in?
• What can I do if I don’t think my supervisor is following the law?
• Can I work as a coach and see clients on the side before I have a California license?

And many more!

Bring your questions!

Educational Goals:

This course covers the scenarios that trigger a legal requirement for mental health clinicians in California to break client confidentiality and report information learned from a client in the course of therapy, including child abuse and neglect; abuse or neglect of an elderly person or other dependent adult including self-neglect; and a client’s credible threat of harm to an identified person. The course also discusses involuntary admission to a hospital setting for mental health care.

Learning Objectives:

• Name at least 4 scenarios where client confidentiality must be broken through a mandated report or other legally-required action to protect safety of the client or another individual.
• Determine if sexual activity involving a minor must be reported under CANRA
• Describe the process of reporting information about an elderly person for whom there is reasonable suspicion of harm
• Explain what the law known as “Tarasoff” requires of mental health clinicians in California
• Describe who is responsible for reporting when suspected abuse becomes known to two or more mental health professionals

Equity Focus:

This training covers research on involuntary hospitalization based on sociodemographic factors including race, age, and income, with an emphasis on trauma informed crisis care options to support those who are vulnerable.

References:

Presenters

Presenter Name: Lisa Wenninger, PhD, MBA, LPCC/LPC/LMHC, NCC, BC-TMH

Pronouns: she/her
Email: lisa@myriadsites.com
For this training, this presenter’s background and expertise qualifies them for this NBCC Presenter Category: Category 1: Graduate degree in mental health field, and qualified by education, training, or authorship for this specific subject
Presenter CV/Resume : https://resonantequity.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/3/WenningerLisa-CV-Nov2024-2-2-1-1-3-1.pdf

Education:

• Doctorate: CES Antioch University 2024

Relevant experience/training related to topic :

Doctorate degree in Counselor Education and Supervision. Five years as an active participant in California BBS Board and Committee meetings on regulations.

Professional licenses (including state), and/or specific certifications that are related to this topic.:

CA LPCC #14315
WA LMHC #61478356
VA LPC #0701015452

Presenter Bio (to be included on promotional materials):

Dr. Lisa Wenninger (she/her) has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University Seattle. She is a National Certified Counselor and is licensed in California, Washington, and Virginia, with a telehealth-only social justice counseling practice working with individuals with marginalized identities who are navigating a complex and difficult world. Dr. Wenninger serves on the Board of Counselors for Social Justice to promote advocacy and allyship within the counseling profession and help nurture development of the professional identity of counselor-advocate in colleagues. Dr. Wenninger makes a point to attend the meetings of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and in other ways stay on top of laws and regulations affecting counselors and our clients. She regularly provides continuing education courses on topics such as law and ethics of telehealth, culturally informed diagnosing, and antiracism in counseling, and consults with organizations interested in building more inclusive and welcoming cultures.

Does presenter have special needs or require any accommodations?: none
Permission to Record I give my permission to record my presentation for use by Resonant Equity in creating an on-demand version of my training content.

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Respect for Intellectual Property – All presenters attested that: The content to be presented does not infringe upon or violate intellectual property or privacy rights of any other party, including copyright, trademark, and license rights, The presenters attest that they either own the materials to be presented, and/or are permitted by law to use the materials in the proposed program.