CONTINUING EDUCATION: LAW & ETHICS

Safeguarding

Your Psychotherapy Practice

The Essentials

(6 CE hours)

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Course Summary

This engaging course provides participants with a deeper understanding of the role of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) in relation to our profession, what constitutes unprofessional conduct, and the ethical guidelines that inform our practice as mental health providers. This course will provide participants with the following:
  • a clear overview of the BBS’s role and authority in regulating professional conduct
  • insight into behaviors that can increase vulnerability to disciplinary action
  • a review of key legal issues and ethical standards from the NASW and CAMFT Codes of Ethics
  • opportunities for self-reflection to strengthen ethical decision-making
  • concrete steps to safeguard one’s license (or registration) and uphold professional integrity
This course fulfills the BBS law and ethics requirement for license renewal.
Download course PDF to learn more.

Course Reviews

“This course was fantastic. As a licensed clinician, I do not look forward to the bi-annual law and ethics reviews, but this one was entertaining, informative, and led me to make some significant improvements in informed consent, documentation, risk assessment, and preventative license protection.”
     
Rachel Warren 
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
“I have been licensed since 1996. This is the BEST most USEFUL and practical Law and Ethics class I have ever taken. Thank you!”
     
Christina Nicoloro
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"I absolutely love TDC. I used them for studying for licensure years ago and now used them for continuing education.The presentations are super engaging, clear and highlight dangers in our practices. I am grateful to have access to TDC and the wonderful providers!!”
     
Erica Smith Jimenez
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"Wonderful - I appreciated the real life examples, combination of audio and written materials, prompts to reflect on the cases beforehand, and summaries of takeaway points.”
     
Kristen Runge
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"I took my LCSW studying with you and nailed it first time. I recommend you to everyone. I didn't know you had a course for renewing my license - very happy to have found you again.”
     
Gayle L Thompson
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"I did all of my course prep classes with TDC and continue to use them for my CE for license renewal. I love how the information is presented and I feel like I walk away with a better understanding of the topic and ability to implement the information in my work.”
     
Jennifer Zakarian-Bauman 
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"This course was excellent. A fantastic refresher after being out of the field for a number of years. Very thorough but also kept me engaged. I appreciated having multiple therapists discussing the issues with each other in the audio as this felt like I was taking an in person workshop or course. I will definitely use TDC for future courses!”
     
Aimee Trotter
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"I really enjoyed this course! The discussion of the case studies felt like a podcast, which made the content more digestible. All of the instructors were very knowledgeable about legal and ethical issues that can arise during therapy treatment.”
     
Kyra Meyer
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"I can always count on TDC to provide up to date information for BBS/CEU requirements. The vast information will be utilized toward patients I treat as well as within my private practice.”
     
Marsha Yvette Johnson
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions
"This was one of the more interesting law and ethics courses I have taken as it gave real life examples and consequences.”
     
LeAnna Carrier
2025
Law and Ethics: They Did What?! A Case Study Review of Disciplinary Actions

Learn More

Learning objectives

Upon completion, participants are expected to be able to:
  • Explain the function of the BBS
  • Identify and describe the different categories of unprofessional conduct
  • Explain what is legally required when a licensee or registrant is charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense
  • Explain key differences between ethical and unethical dual relationships
  • Identify at least 5 actions a mental health practitioner can take to safeguard their private practice

Course outline

1. Introduction and objectives
2. Pretest and review of rationales
3. Overview of the BBS's role
4. Review of unprofessional conduct
5. Code of Ethics
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Sexual relationships
  • Confidentiality
  • Impairment
  • Responsibility to the legal system
6. Review of key terms
7. Review of risk assessment and plan to reduce risk

Instructors

Amanda Rowan, LCSW | Founder and CEO
Amanda Rowan is an LCSW and the founder and CEO of the Therapist Development Center. Amanda graduated with honors from Dartmouth College, where she majored in Neuroscience. She earned her Masters in Social Welfare at UCLA. Since founding the Therapist Development Center in 2008, Amanda has prepared more than 100,000 therapists nationwide to pass their state licensing exams. She is a certified Gestalt Therapist who has worked with a wide variety of clients in a range of settings over the past 20 years. She is a highly effective instructor who has a passion for collaborating with seasoned therapists who understand what works because they do it every day.
Robin Gluck, MFT | Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder
Robin Gluck is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She is the COO of Therapist Development Center. Robin was instrumental in creating the Law and Ethics Exam Prep Program and the MFT Clinical Written Exam. Robin has been teaching Law and Ethics to Associate MFTs since 2012 when she joined TDC. Robin has a Bachelor’s Degree from Emory University, a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from American University, and a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from San Francisco State University.

Who should take this course

This course is appropriate for mental health clinicians in California at all levels of experience to better understand the legal and ethical issues that can lead to disciplinary actions and identify concrete steps they can take to protect their psychotherapy practice. 

CE Credits

6 hours.

Registration

Please register online at www.therapistdevelopmentcenter.com

Price

Course format

Online Self-Paced Recorded Audio Lecture.

How to access this course

Once registered, the course will appear in the participant’s Study Center, where participants can download the handouts and listen to recorded audio lectures.

Certificate of Completion 

Certificates of completion can be printed immediately after receiving a score of 80% or higher on the posttest and completing the course evaluation.

Cancellation Policy

If you contact us prior to utilizing your course, you may receive a tuition refund less a $10 cancellation fee.

Grievance Policy

Your satisfaction is our goal. To view our grievance policy, click here.

ADA Needs

We are happy to accommodate your ADA needs. Please email: help@therapistdevelopmentcenter.com.

Date Published

October 2024

Contact Information

Therapist Development Center email: help@therapistdevelopmentcenter.com
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*Please check your state's specific requirements.
Therapist Development Center, provider 1449, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 5/30/24-5/30/27. Social workers completing this course receive 6 legal and ethical continuing education credits.

Therapist Development Center is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers SW-0857.

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