Ethical Dilmmas

Increasing numbers of grievances and malpractice suits force mental health professionals to be more risk conscious and aware. Lack of knowledge is never a defense for professionals. Dr. Holman has chaired an Ethical Standards Committee for more than 15 years, developing Guidelines and Recommendations to help mental health professionals practice within ethical and legal standards. In addition, she was an approved teacher of Jurisprudence Workshops required for mental health licensure in Colorado.

Case consultation has become an essential risk management tool. You will be engaged in an ethical decision making process based on a thorough understanding of client dynamics and ethical standards. Individual case consultations can be arranged on an as-needed basis, and can occur in person, by email, or by telephone.

Records and Record Keeping Workshops explore the tension between the ethical responsibility to protect client privacy and the need to document care. Ways to document work and progress with sensitivity to privacy will be discussed. HIPAA and state regulations are reviewed along with ethical standards for record keeping.

Privacy and Confidentiality Workshops review state, federal and ethical standards
regarding confidentiality, identify limits to confidentiality, clarify the rights of minors, discuss confidentiality in family and group interventions, and review authorizations to release information and the handling of subpoenas and court orders.

Boundaries: Ethical and Clinical Considerations Workshops discuss "small world"
situations, identify risky non-sexual dual roles, and consider clinically appropriate boundaries.

Self-Disclosures: Ethical and Clinical Considerations Workshops identify different
kinds of self-disclosures, clarify rationales for self-disclosures, and discuss the ethical, legal and clinical risks of self-disclosures.

Workshops on Professional Ethics & Colorado Laws for Clinical Supervisors inform supervisors of current statutes and professional ethical standards related to clinical practice and supervision. Risk and liability issues for supervisors are discussed. Topics include forging a supervisory agreement, record keeping issues and requirements, confidentiality, disclosures and informed consent, conflictual dual role relationships, and competency.