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Addiction Counseling and Social Services

California Laws and Ethics for Mental Health Professionals

Leesa M. Robertson
6 hours
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California Laws and Ethics for Mental Health Professionals is designed to equip mental health and substance abuse professionals with essential knowledge of state-specific legal standards and ethical guidelines. Participants will explore key topics including confidentiality, mandated reporting, informed consent, dual relationships, and professional boundaries. Through case studies and practical examples, the course will provide a deep understanding of legal obligations and ethical considerations unique to California, ensuring that practitioners are well-prepared to navigate complex scenarios and uphold the highest standards of professional conduct in their practice.

We will give an overview of the following California laws:

Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act (Welfare and Institutions Code §§ 5000-5550)
Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) (Welfare and Institutions Code §§ 5840-5898)
Community Mental Health Services (Welfare and Institutions Code §§ 5600-5624)
Involuntary Treatment Act (Welfare and Institutions Code §§ 5350-5372)
Drug Medi-Cal Program (Health and Safety Code §§ 11750-11983)
California Mental Health Parity Act (Health and Safety Code §§ 1374.72, Insurance Code §§ 10144.5)
California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) (Civil Code §§ 56-56.37)
Minor Consent to Treatment (Family Code §§ 6924-6929)

This course will award 6 continuing education hours.

Please see the board approval box for course approvals.

Course Objectives

  1. Identify and comprehend the California-specific laws and regulations governing mental health practice in California, including recent legislative updates.
  2. Explain the requirements for maintaining client confidentiality, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), and California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA).
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of mandated reporting laws in California, including the responsibilities for reporting child abuse, elder abuse, and threats of harm to self or others.
  4. Understand the components and legal requirements of informed consent in the mental health context, ensuring clients are fully informed about treatment processes and their rights.
  5. Recognize potential dual relationships and conflicts of interest and develop strategies to manage these situations ethically and legally.
  6. Establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients to prevent ethical violations and ensure a therapeutic relationship.
  7. Utilize ethical decision-making frameworks to address and resolve common ethical dilemmas encountered in mental health practice, ensuring adherence to legal and ethical standards.

Course Author

Leesa M. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC

Ms. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. She is credentialed in alcohol and other drug counseling.

Beginning her career in the hospital setting, working in admissions, on the 24-hour unit, inpatient and IOP for both adults and adolescents, she went on to supervise a group of clinicians that went into medical-surgical hospitals to assess and place patients. She went into the outpatient setting, working with adults and families. Throughout her career, Ms. Robertson has focused on training and education through presenting live and authored coursework.

Board Approvals

National Approvals

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) (ACE)
    BaysideCEU.com, #1793, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. BaysideCEU.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 02/04/2024 – 02/04/2026.
  • The Association For Addiction Professionals NAADAC
    Provider #81892. BaysideCEU is responsible for all aspects of programming.
  • The National Board For Certified Counselors NBCC
    BaysideCEU has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP #6098. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. BaysideCEU is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

State Approvals

Information

  • Relevance: This course is intended for licensed and certified professionals in California working with clients in the mental health and substance abuse fields.
  • Content Level: Intermediate
  • Course Format: This course is offered as a self-paced distance learning format (reading-based online activity)
  • System Requirements: This course is offered online. Internet connection required.
  • Course Completion Information: To earn continuing education credit, professionals must register and pay the fee for the course.  They must read the content and demonstrate understanding by earning a minimum score of 70 percent on testing materials.  The certificate of completion will be able to be downloaded after the above is completed. Refunds will be granted upon request with the withdrawal of credit for the course. For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call 866-863-4225 or email [email protected].
  • CEBroker Course ID: NA
  • Credit Hours: 6
Leesa M. Robertson
6 hours
This course is intended for licensed and certified professionals in California working with clients in the mental health and substance abuse fields.
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