Course Description

*This complete Online Course includes a PDF of the book, Risk Management: Clinical, Ethical, & Legal Guidelines for Successful Practice (Second Edition), and the Final Exam. If you have access to the book and want to purchase the Final Exam only, click here.

Topics discussed in this program include how practitioners regularly review/understand their board’s ethical and legal standards, informed consent considerations and how to manage client expectations from the outset of therapy, the management of boundaries, dual relationships, conflicts of interest, ethical decision making and preventing ethical problems before they arise, the importance and benefits of consulting with colleagues, good documentation and record keeping, responding ethically to complaints and investigations, practicing within one’s area of competence, and aspiring to a standard of ethical excellence.

12 ethics CE credits/hours, 75 questions

Target Audience

Psychologists | School Psychologists | Marriage & Family Therapists | Mental Health Counselors | Social Workers

Learning Level

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

  • Demonstrate how practitioners regularly review/understand their board’s ethical and legal standards.
  • Analyze informed consent considerations and manage client expectations from the outset of therapy.
  • Explain the management of boundaries, different types of dual relationships, and conflicts of interest.
  • Practice ethical decision making and prevent ethical problems before they arise.
  • Recognize the importance and benefits of consulting with colleagues.
  • Demonstrate good documentation and record keeping.
  • Summarize how to respond ethically to complaints and investigations.
  • Demonstrate how to practice within your area of competence and aspire to a standard of ethical excellence.

William F. Doverspike, PhD

William F. Doverspike, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and Diplomate in Neuropsychology, American Board of Professional Neuropsychology (ABPN).  He is an Adjunct Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, where he teaches professional ethics and legal standards in the clinical psychology doctoral program.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, where he teaches professional ethics, psychopathology, and addictions in the professional counseling program.  Dr. Doverspike is currently a member of the Georgia licensing board for psychologists.  He is a former President of the Georgia Psychological Association (GPA) and has served on the GPA Ethics Committee.  He has authored over 100 articles and chapters on a variety of topics ranging from professional ethics and spirituality to neuropsychology and psychotherapy.  He maintains a private practice at the Atlanta Counseling Center.

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Statement of Understanding (downloadable/printable)
  2. 2

    • PDF Book (downloadable/printable)
  3. 3

    • "Risk Management: Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Guidelines for Successful Practice (2nd ed.)" - Final Exam Questions (downloadable/printable)

    • Final Exam
  4. 4

    • Evaluation Questionnaire