Consider this scenario: A client tells their therapist that they wish someone was dead. How does a therapist ethically and legally handle this situation? Therapists have legal and ethical responsibilities to both their clients and greater society. Many mental health professionals face challenges determining the best course of action when clients make threats towards others. This workshop will present a history of duty to warn laws and an examination of Tarasoff Rule. Case vignettes will illustrate various situations that therapists may encounter when clients are expressing threats, violence, or harm to others. Learners will be provided with concrete and ethically sound practices to increase their confidence in managing duty to warn dilemmas.
https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/dutytowarn2/viewDuty to Warn:
Ethical and Clinical Considerations
Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 10:00 AM EST - 1:00 PM EST
Presenter: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW
Course Length: 3 Hours
Consider this scenario: A client tells their therapist that they wish someone was dead. How does a therapist ethically and legally handle this situation? Therapists have legal and ethical responsibilities to both their clients and greater society. Many mental health professionals face challenges determining the best course of action when clients make threats towards others. This workshop will present a history of duty to warn laws and an examination of Tarasoff Rule. Case vignettes will illustrate various situations that therapists may encounter when clients are expressing threats, violence, or harm to others. Learners will be provided with concrete and ethically sound practices to increase their confidence in managing duty to warn dilemmas.
1. Competent clinical practice indicators for homicidality (45 mins)
Opening scenario
The Tarasoff Case, rulings
Warn vs. protect
subsequent legal rulings
State Law: variations, tour of state map and regulations
2. Summary of ethical models - NASW and APA (45 mins)
Practice questions
Key Considerations (NASW)
3. Assessing Duty to Warn/Homicidality (45 min)
Assessing threat level
Guidelines: behavior, affect, cognitive expression, interpersonal relationships
Case studies: differentiating factors
4. Clinical Considerations (45 min)
Threats made with the intended victim present
HIV status and duty to warn
Domestic violence
Reamer's considerations
Recommendations
Return to the opening case scenario
