Law and Ethics of Responding to Client Imminent Harm

3 Law and Ethics CEs Recorded: January, 2024

For many clinicians, client lethality and mandatory reporting are some of the most difficult topics to navigate. In this workshop we will examine the applicable Washington State and Federal laws regarding mandatory reporting obligations with a specific focus on how these rules apply to behavioral health and substance use disorder clinicians. We will also discuss the boundaries and standards of clinician liability for client harm to self or others as defined in Washington State case law.

Participants will gain increased ability to implement strategies to minimize risk and to limit liability to best support their clients. This course is intended to meet ethics CE requirements.

Objectives

Describe Washington state legal standards regarding duty to warn/duty to protect

• Locate and compare legal and ethical standards regarding mandatory reporting obligations
• Create and evaluate strategies to meet legal reporting requirements while maximizing client support

EPDC CE Hours: 3

Presenter: Eric Strom

Eric Strom is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. As an attorney, Eric provides legal counsel, consultation and guidance to mental health professionals. The focus of Eric’s clinical practice is providing mental health counseling services to combat veterans. Eric is currently serving as the ethics advisor for the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association.