Regulatory Complaints Summary
Type of document Essay
3 Pages Double Spaced (approx 275 words per page)
Subject area Psychology
Academic Level Master
Style APA
Number of sources/references 3
Order description:
Read the four cases and the associated questions in the Regulatory Complaints Case Scenarios.
Discuss how each topic applies to the regulatory complaints case scenarios:
Concepts of scope of practice and scope of competence
Risk management strategies
Potential legal and ethical violations in each scenario
Identify the specific ethical code violations from the CAMFT Code of Ethics
Differences in legal and ethical standards for different work settings for marriage and family therapists
Any actions the regulatory agency should take, for each scenario, including the learning team’s rationale
Write a 350- to 700-word summary
University of Phoenix Material
Regulatory Complaints Case Scenarios
Discuss the following case scenarios and questions in your Learning Team to complete the Regulatory Complaints Summary Learning Team assignment due in Week 4.
Case 1
Mariah B., an LMFT, worked with a client for over 2 years and no longer sees him. The client presented with generalized anxiety disorder, which reduced in frequency and severity of anxiety after working with Mariah B. Mariah B. was out in a busy part of town one weekend and saw the client. The client came up to her and thanked her for all the work that was done to help him better manage the disorder. Mariah B. accepted the thank you and told her former client, “If you ever need me again, do not hesitate to contact me.”
After several weeks, Mariah B. received a phone call from her former client. She returned the call and found out that the client had a romantic interest in her. Mariah B. noticed that she felt the same way and initiated the personal relationship with the former client. For 2 years, she pursued this client through e-mails, phone calls, and meetings at a local coffee shop.
- What are the potential legal issues that would apply?
- What other extenuating circumstances might be relevant?
- What other information would you need to know to make a decision on her conduct?
- Could the client lodge a complaint?
Case 2
Dominic A., an LMFT, had several discussions with a current client about the possibility of terminating the therapeutic relationship and the possibility of establishing a friendship after therapy. He said that the symptom presentation was minimal and that he treated the client more like a friend to begin with. Many times they talked about events in each other’s lives more than the minimal adjustment symptoms. After terminating therapy, Dominic A. began talking to the client on the phone socially. The two never saw each other in person, and the phone calls lasted for approximately 4 months.
- What are the potential legal issues that would apply?
- What other extenuating circumstances might be relevant?
- What other information would you need to know to make a decision on his conduct?
- Could the client lodge a complaint?
Case 3
Jane Allen P., an LMFT, informed her client that the client’s health insurance was not covering her therapy fee. Jane already knew that the client could not afford to pay, so she got creative and ethical at the same time. To avoid a lapse in treatment and issues of client abandonment, Jane decided to allow the insurance company to continue to bill at the same rate and allow the client to discontinue the $10 co-pay. Jane considered this to fulfill her pro bono requirements.
The client continued to bill her insurance company and Jane wrote off the remaining balance. This practice continued many months. Allegations of misconduct were reported to the licensing board.
- What are the potential legal issues that would apply?
- What other extenuating circumstances might be relevant?
- What other information would you need to know to make a decision on her conduct?
- Does the client or the board have a legitimate complaint?
Case 4
Mike B., an LMFT, plead guilty to a wet and reckless offense, which is a lesser offense than a DUI, and sought treatment for it. He volunteered to attend DUI group classes although he was not mandated to do so. Approximately 2 years later, he plead guilty to a charge of illegal possession. He hired an expensive attorney and ended up getting the illegal possession charge dropped.
- What are the potential legal issues that would apply?
- What other extenuating circumstances might be relevant?
- What other information would you need to know to make a decision on his conduct?
- Does the state have a legitimate interest?
- Could the board file a complaint?
