Law and Ethics

This month’s free California law and ethics practice question will test your knowledge on HIPAA. What is HIPAA? HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 has been around for more than two decades. The law is so complex, that even 20+ years later, it’s still difficult for many MFTs and social workers (not to mention other health care providers) to navigate. Not a day passes without at least one HIPAA-related question showing up in my inbox. While this blog cannot cover everything you need to know about HIPAA, it will provide you an opportunity to test your knowledge

One of the subjects that could be tested on your California Law and Ethics Exam is the topic of Professional Will. This is a difficult topic to broach, as it speaks to our personal vulnerabilities. As a consequence, many therapists avoid it all together. However, it is a critically important part of client care and ethically required. If you have clients, you must have a clear plan in place for them in case of planned or unplanned absences. If a professional will is not in place, client’s can suffer greatly. Regardless of how much or how little you already know about the topic of professional

This month’s free law and ethics practice question will test your knowledge on therapy records. Regardless of where you work, (agency, private practice, county mental health, etc.) therapy records are a must! Therapists must maintain therapy records that meet the standard of care; without them, therapists are vulnerable to legal liability. There are a variety of ways this topic can be tested on your California law and ethics exam. Here are some common questions: How long must records be retained? Who has access to client records? What should be included in therapy records? Who owns therapy

This month’s free law and ethics practice question will focus on a topic that could appear on your exam, but one you may not have encountered yet in your clinical practice. It is not uncommon to receive questions relating to the topic of conservatorships, along with comments such as, “I have never worked with a conservator, so this topic is confusing for me.” Here are some common questions: Who can be a conservator? What is the process of becoming a conservator? Why would someone need a conservator? What rights do a conservatee/conservator hold? Let’s test your knowledge on the subject of

Domestic violence (also know as domestic abuse, relationship abuse, or intimate partner violence) is an issue that, unfortunately, is quite prevalent in our society. If you have a second, look at the statistics; the numbers are quite staggering. And because of it’s prevalence, it is more likely than not that you will work with clients who are either the victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. The California BBS wants to ensure that you know the legal and ethical issues that guide your practice when domestic violence presents in the clinical setting. This topic will more than likely

Happy New Year! We finished last year with a practice question that tested your knowledge of a therapist’s duty to protect when a client is a danger to others. We are starting the New Year also exploring a therapist’s duty to protect. However, this time we will explore a therapist’s obligations concerning danger to self. Danger to Self If you are an associate MFT, social worker, or PCC studying for the California Law and Ethics exam you are pretty much guaranteed to see at least one question regarding danger to self appear on your exam. The BBS wants to know that you are able to navigate this

This month’s blog explores the topic of duty to protect. It is not uncommon for us to receive questions on this topic from people preparing for their MFT or social work law and ethics or clinical exams. A therapist's duty to protect is a complicated and emotionally charged issue to navigate. Most clinicians have not encountered clients who are a danger to others, which is a positive thing; however, it tends to make questions on this subject more challenging since it is an abstract concept. It is important to develop an understanding of your responsibilities with clients who are a danger to

Elder abuse and neglect is a subject that will more than likely appear on your exam, and there are numerous ways the topic can be tested. Whether you are studying for the social work or MFT law and ethics exam, it is important to be familiar with the types of abuse as well as the nuances of reporting elder abuse and neglect. How might reporting elder abuse be tested? There are several ways elder abuse and neglect can appear on the exam. Questions could test your knowledge regarding: The definition of an elder Signs of abuse and neglect Types of abuse and neglect When and where to report When

This week, our FREE Law and Ethics practice question touches on the subject of reporting child abuse and neglect. This is an important topic that will very likely appear on your social work or MFT Law and Ethics exam. Since it could be tested in a variety of ways, you can never have too many practice opportunities (this is not our first practice question blog on this subject). Navigating the legal and ethical issues that arise with minors can be tricky; but rest assured, our exam prep programs fully prepare you to tackle any questions on this subject that you may encounter. One difficult

This week, our FREE Law and Ethics practice question touches on the subject of reporting child abuse and neglect. This is an important topic that will very likely appear on your social work or MFT Law and Ethics exam. Since it could be tested in a variety of ways, you can never have too many practice opportunities (this is not our first practice question blog on this subject). Navigating the legal and ethical issues that arise with minors can be tricky; but rest assured, our exam prep programs fully prepare you to tackle any questions on this subject that you may encounter. One difficult