This is a no-nonsense guide to how mental health practitioners can lower the legal risks and avoid the common pitfalls of contemporary practice. Written specifically for nonphysician practitioners, this book explains common forensic issues and standards as they apply to mental health professionals, and it helps clarify risk-benefit questions involved in mental health care delivery.

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TNGC) clients have complex mental health concerns, and are more likely than ever to seek out treatment. This comprehensive resource outlines the latest research and recommendations to provide you with the requisite knowledge, skills, and awareness to treat TNGC clients with competent and affirming care. As you know, TNGC clients have different needs based on who they are in relation to the world. Written by three psychologists who specialize in working with the TGNC population, this important book draws on the perspective that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for working with TNGC clients. It offers interventions tailored to developmental stages and situational factors—for example, cultural intersections such as race, class, and religion. This book provides up-to-date information on language, etiquette, and appropriate communication and conduct in treating TGNC clients, and discusses the history, cultural context, and ethical and legal issues that can arise in working with gender-diverse individuals in a clinical setting. You’ll also find information about informed consent approaches that call for a shift in the role of the mental health provider in the position of assessment and referral for the purposes of gender-affirming medical care (such as hormones, surgery, and other procedures). As changes in recent transgender health care and insurance coverage have provided increased access for a broader range of consumers, it is essential to understand transgender and gender nonconforming clients’ different needs. This book provides practical exercises and skills you can use to help TNGC clients thrive.

Praise for Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling, Fourth Edition "A stunningly good book. . . . If there is only one book you buy on ethics, this is the one." —David H. Barlow, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Boston University "The Fourth Edition continues to be the gold standard. . . . a must-read in every counseling/therapy training program. It is that good and valuable." —Derald Wing Sue, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University "A must-have for therapists at every step of their career from student to wise elder." —Bonnie Strickland, PhD, former president, American Psychological Association "This Fourth Edition of the best book in its field has much timely new material. . . . A brilliant addition is an exploration of how reasonable people can conscientiously follow the same ethical principles yet reach different conclusions . . . an essential sourcebook." —Patrick O'Neill, PhD, former president, Canadian Psychological Association "Essential for all practicing mental health professionals and students." —Nadine Kaslow, PhD, ABPP, President, American Board of Professional Psychology "I particularly enjoyed the chapter on ethical practice in the electronic world, which was informative even to this highly tech-savvy psychologist. The chapter on responses to the interrogations issue is destined to be a classic. . . . Bravo! Mandatory reading." —Laura Brown, PhD, ABPP, 2010 President, APA Division of Trauma Psychology "There's no better resource to have at your fingertips." —Eric Drogin, JD, PhD, ABPP, former chair, APA Committee on Professional Practice and Standards and APA Committee on Legal Issues "Two of psychology's national treasures, Drs. Ken Pope and Melba Vasquez walk the walk of psychotherapy ethics. Simply the best book in its genre." —John Norcross, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Distinguished University Fellow, University of Scranton

The ethics book no psychology student or professional should be without Thoroughly updated and expanded to include recent research findings, landmark legal decisions, the Hoffman Investigation Report, and changes in the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association, the new 5th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling covers the latest developments in ethical thinking, standards, and practice. You'll learn how to strengthen your ethical awareness, judgement, and decision-making. Distinguished Emeritus Professor Don Meichenbaum described the 5th edition as 'a MUST READ book for both beginning and seasoned clinicians' and Professor David H. Barlow wrote, 'A stunningly good book. . . . If there is only one book you buy on ethics, this is the one.' Covers the many changes and challenges brought about by new technology, EHRs, videoconferencing, and texting, as well as practicing across state and provincial borders Discusses moral distress and moral courage Includes 5 chapters on different aspects of critical thinking about ethical challenges, including a chapter on 'Ethics Placebos, Cons, and Creative Cheating: A User's Guide' Deals with complex issue of culture, race, religion, sexual identity, sexual orientation, and politics Provides steps to strengthen ethics in organizations Offers guidance on responding to ethics, licensing, and malpractice complaints—not to imply that you'll need to after reading this book! Keeps the focus on practical, creative approaches to the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities encountered by therapists and counselors in their work.

An indispensable book for both student and practicing clinicians, as well as for lawyers who want a better understanding of this interesting and ever-changing field, The Essentials of Florida Mental Health Law explains in a straightforward and user-friendly manner the laws most relevant to mental health practice in Florida.

While on some issues couple and family therapists have an exquisitely clear direction from professional codes of ethics, others fall under gray areas that instead rely on therapists making reasoned ethical decisions. Therapists need to develop ethical sensitivity to potential ethical issues in order to decrease their risk in practice, and increase their maneuverability in the therapy room. In Ethics and Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy, Lorna Hecker and her contributing authors address various clinical scenarios that demonstrate the complex ethical situations couple and family therapists face every day. Some points discussed in this holistic book include boundary, power, and privilege issues, along with unique ethical issues in practicing therapy with children. Risk issues when working with potential danger, suicide, and partner violence are also explored. Each chapter sensitizes readers to potential ethical issues and provides a model for ethical decision making that best promotes good on behalf of clients. Couple and family therapists will find this text an invaluable and inexhaustible resource.

Peter Jenkins is a Lecturer in Counselling at the University of Manchester and a member of the Professional Conduct Committee of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He is author of three books on the law and counselling, including Counselling, Psychotherapy and the Law (London, SAGE, 1997). Providing much-needed advice and reference, this book examines the rapidly growing range of situations in which therapists find themselves in contact with the law. The book covers the current legal context of therapeutic work, and specific implications for therapists in relation to: working with survivors of sexual abuse; false memory; and the implications of the Human Rights Act. The book also examines the implications of professional regulation.

"Sexual assault survivors face a precarious dilemma regarding whether or not to disclose their experience. Many survivors, once they disclose their victimization to others, are met with support and validation. These survivors report better outcomes. Unfortunately, others are not believed or are blamed for the incident(s). These negative reactions can have devastating consequences on their long-term recovery. The uncertainty of how others will respond to"--

A common question at the initial meeting of a family therapist and a new client(s) is often whether or not to include a child or children in the counseling sessions. The inclusion of a child in the family therapy process often changes the dynamic between client and therapist -- and between the clients themselves -- within the context of the counseling sessions. And yet, although this is such a common experience, many counselors and family therapists are not adequately equipped to advise parents on whether to include a child in therapy sessions. Once the child does make an appearance in the counseling session, the therapist is faced with the challenges inherent in caring for a child, in addition to many concerns due to the unique circumstance of the structured therapy. Counseling a child in the context of a family therapy session is a specific skill that has not received the attention that it deserves. This book is intended as a guide for both novice and experienced counselors and family therapists, covering a wide range of topics and offering a large body of information on how to effectively counsel children and their families. It includes recent research on a number of topics including working with children in a family context, the exclusion of children from counseling, and counselor training methods and approaches, the effectiveness of filial play therapy, the effects of divorce on children, and ADHD. Theoretical discussion is given to different family therapy approaches including family play therapy and filial play therapy. Central to the text are interviews with leaders in the field, including Salvador Minuchin, Eliana Gil, Rise VanFleet and Lee Shilts. A chapter devoted to ethical and legal issues in working with children in family counseling provides a much-needed overview of this often overlooked topic. Chapters include discussion of specific skills relevant to child counseling in the family context, case vignettes and examples, practical tips for the counselor, and handouts for parents.