COURSE DESCRIPTION

Professional Ethics and the Law will explore the realm of professional ethics in Psychology, state laws and legal implications for professionals in the field of psychology. Emphasis will be given to the ethics of the counselor-client relationship.

COURSE GOALS

· The student will study the state and local laws governing the counseling profession, e.g. licensing, penalties, etc.

· The student will understand the ethical conflicts involved in professional work

· The student will study professional Codes of Ethics

COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND EVALUATION

The student will study State Laws and Codes of Ethics and observe professionals in the counseling field.

PROJECT

The student will write a paper, a critical comparison of ethical standards as elaborated in the AACD or APA Ethical Standards with actual state/national laws governing counselors/therapists, social workers.

Specific areas of coverage will include:

· Privacy

· Counselor-Client relationships

· Confidentiality

· Legal testimony

· Laws governing contempt

· Counselor rights and obligations

COURSE PREREQUISITE: A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for admission to this course of study. 

COURSE DELIVERY: This course shall be delivered completely through online interaction via the Internet or other acceptable distance learning medium(s). Due to this being a non-traditional program, traditional classroom residency is not required. Therefore, you are expected to independently read and analyze the subject matter with me performing the roles of an advisor and mentor.