Department of Counseling & Higher Education

Department of Counseling & Higher Education

Counseling Program

COUN 5290: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in CMHC —Summer 2016

Course Syllabus

Course Instructor:
Email:
Phone:
Office Hours:
Class Meetings: / Yi-Ju Cheng, PhD, LPC, RPT, NCC
(best way to reach me)
940-565-2910
Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm and by appointment
Tue 5:30pm-9:20pm, Matthews Hall 108
Teaching Assistant:
Email: / Elliott Woehler

Catalog Description

Study of history and philosophy of counseling and clinical mental health counseling and ethical, legal, professional, and emerging issues specific to clinical mental health counseling.

Prerequisite(s): COUN 5680 and 5710, or consent of department. 3 hours.

Goal of the Course

This course is intended to provide you with current information concerning ethical and legal issues in the counseling profession. Through participation in this course, you will understand the history and philosophy of clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), demonstrate a working knowledge of professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials. You will also be able to recognize and respond to ethnical, legal, and professional issues in CMHC.

Methods of Instruction

Instructional methods might include discussions, peer group work, lecture, demonstration, video recordings, direct observation, direct application, and student presentations to reach learning objectives. We only assume responsibility for providing some of the conditions that allow or encourage involvement. The degree to which you become involved and your resulting degree of success in this course will largely be a function of your own goals for this experience and the responsibility and initiative you assume for implementing your choice of goals.

Core Curricular Experiences Covered:

Curricular experiences will provide an understanding of the following:

Core Curricular Experience / CACREP
a)  History and philosophy of the counseling profession / IIG1a
b)  Professional roles, functions, and relationships with other human service providers, including strategies for interagency/interorganization collaboration and communications / IIG1b
c)  Self-care strategies appropriate to the counselor role / IIG1d
d)  Professional organizations, including membership benefits, activities, services to members, and current issues / IIG1f
e)  Professional credentialing, including certification, licensure, and accreditation practices and standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues / IIG1g
f)  The role and process of the professional counselor advocating on behalf of the profession / IIG1h
g)  Ethical standards or professional organizations and credentialing bodies, and applications of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling / IIG1j

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Assessed:

The student will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and practices necessary for success as a professional counselor via his or her participation in key assessments in this course. SLOs for this course are as follows:

CMHC SLO / CACREP / Evaluation
1.  Understands the history, philosophy, and trends in clinical mental health counseling / A1 / Exam
2.  Understands ethical and legal considerations specifically related to the practice of clinical mental health counseling / A2 / Exam
3.  Knows the professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to the practice of clinical mental health counseling / A4 / Exam
4.  Is aware of professional issues that affect clinical mental health counselors (e.g., core provider status, expert witness status, access to and practice privileges within managed care systems) / A7 / Exam
5.  Demonstrates ability to apply and adhere to ethical and legal standards in clinical mental health counseling / B1 / Case Study Paper
6.  Understands professional issues relevant to the practice of clinical mental health counseling / C9 / Case Study Paper
7.  Understands effective strategies to support client advocacy and influence public policy and government relations on local, state, and national levels to enhance equity, increase funding, and promote programs that affect the practice of clinical mental health counseling / E4 / Professional advocacy project
8.  Knows public policies on the local, state, and national levels that affect the quality and accessibility of mental health services / E6 / Professional advocacy project

Required Texts and/or Readings

Textbook

Remley Jr., T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Required readings on Blackboard

American Counseling Association (2014). Code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved from http://www.counseling.org

Barbee, P. W., Combs, D. C., Ekleberry, F., & Villalobos, S. (2007). Duty to warn and protect: Not in Texas. Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory, and Research, 35, 18-25. Retrieved from www.highbeam.com

Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. (2009). CACREP 2009 standards. Retrieved from www.cacrep.org

Texas Department of State Health Services (n.d.). Health and safety code chapter 611. Retrieved from http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/plc/plc/mhresources.shtm

Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. (2013). Title 22 Texas administrative code chapter 681. Retrieved from http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=4&ti=22&pt=30&ch=681

Recommended Texts and/or Readings

American Mental Health Counselors Association. (2015). Code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.

National Board for Certified Counselors. (2012). NBCC code of ethics. Greensboro, NC: Author.

Texas Department of State Health Services (n.d.). Professional licensing and certification unit resources for mental health professionals. Retrieved from http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/plc/plc_mhresources.shtm

Welfel, E. (2012). Ethics in counseling and psychotherapy (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Student Performance Evaluation Criteria and Procedures

1.  Weekly Quizzes (15%)

Each class meeting you will be given a short quiz over the day’s assigned reading(s). There will be 8 quizzes in total and these quizzes will be given in class only and will be due no later than 10 minutes past the start of class.

2.  Professional Advocacy Activity (30%):

As part of this course, you are expected to (1) understand the role and process of the professional counselor advocating on behalf of the profession. You are also expected to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and practices in (2) understanding the effective strategies to support client advocacy and influence public policy and government relations on local, state, and national levels to enhance the equity, increase funding, and promote programs that affect the practice of CMHC. Additionally you are expected to (3) demonstrate knowledge, skills, and practices regarding acquired knowledge of public policies on the local, state, and national levels that affect the quality and accessibility of mental health services. To demonstrate such learning, you will complete both of the following:

A.  Individual Assignment (15%)

In this assignment, you are expected to read and become familiar with ACA legislative agenda, AMHCA public policy, and TCA public policy. From this knowledge, you will identify one issue that you are personally invested in that advocates for client well-being and/or for the counseling profession. You will write a letter to your identified representative advocating for the identified issue on behalf of the profession. The letter should 1) demonstrate knowledge of the public policy, 2) how policy will impact the quality and accessibility of mental health services, and 3) follow the guidelines recommended by ACA, AMHCA, and/or TCA for communicating with congress. You will write a one-page reflection regarding the public policies and how you continue to advocate for the profession. Please note, you are not required to send the letter to representatives. You are evaluated on ability to support client/professional advocacy, understanding of public policy, ability to advocate as a CMHC, knowledge of how public policy impacts quality and accessibility of mental health services, and format of letter, including writing style. The letter and reflection paper are submitted electronically to Tk20 by class time on the due date.

B.  Group Assignment (15%)

In order to practice how to communicate public policy to others, a group of 3 students create a poster presentation representing one public policy issue of choice. The poster must include the pertinent information regarding the public policy issue, connections to ethical codes, and suggestions on what the public (other counselors) can do to advocate. Be sure to include citations and reference information (as per APA style). Each member in the group must be able to speak to the issue during the mini poster presentation “conference.” Some class time is allotted for groups to meet, but students may need to meet outside of class to complete the poster.

3.  Case Study (30%):

In this paper, you will demonstrate the ability to utilize an ethical decision-making model to conceptualize three case studies. You will explore the nature of each dilemma by using one of the ethical decision making models discussed in class. You will be evaluated on your demonstrated ability to apply and adhere to ethical and legal standards, professional issues, APA writing style, and 13 page maximum. Additional requirements include: use of five original, scholarly sources and APA title page and reference page. Papers are submitted electronically to Tk20 by class time on due date. You are required to bring a hardcopy to class as well.

4.  Final Exam (25%):

This is a cumulative exam of ethical, legal, and professional issues in CMHC covered in the course texts and class discussions. You must demonstrate understanding of history, philosophy, and trends in CMHC; understanding of ethical and legal considerations related to practice in CMHC; knowledge of professional organizations, preparation standards, and credentials relevant to CMHC; and knowledge of professional issues that affect CMHCs (e.g., core providers status, expert witness status, access to and practice privileges within managed care systems). The exam format is multiple choice, short answer, online, timed, and open-book/notes. The exam will be available on BbLearn for you one week before the due date. You must complete the exam by the due date at 9:20pm CST. You only receive one (1) chance to take exam, therefore, please create a quiet space with adequate time to complete the exam once started on Blackboard Learn.

Breakdown of Points and Grading Scale / Percentage
Weekly Quizzes / 15%
Professional Advocacy Project (KA) / 30%
Case Study Paper (KA) / 30%
Final Exam (KA) / 25%
Grading Scale:
A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% / F: 0-59%

Tentative Course Schedule

Class Date / Agenda / Reading/Assignments Due / Codes
Week 1
06.07.16 / o  Syllabus review
o  Intro to ethics
o  Professional preparation & credentials
o  Professional organizations / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 1-2
ACA 2014 Code of Ethics, overview (on Bb)
NBCC Code of Ethics, overview (on Bb) / Chapter 681 Subchapter D, F
LPC, 681.C.52
Week 2
06.14.16 / o  Moral principles and ethical decision making
o  Client right and counselor responsibilities
o  Informed Consent / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 4
ACA Practitioner’s Guide to Ethical Decision Making (on Bb) / ACA, Section A, C
LPC, 681.B.31, 681.C.45
AHMCA Code of Ethics, Section I, Subchapters A (1-2; 5), B (1-5; 7-8)
Week 3
06.21.16 / o  Confidentiality and privileged communication
o  Records, subpoenas, and technology / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 5-6
DAP Notes Procedures / ACA, Section B
Chapter 611, 611.004
Chapter 611, 611.0045
AHMCA, Sec I, Subchap E
LPC 681.C.45
Week 4
06.28.16 / o  Professional advocacy
o  Professional practice in a multicultural society
o  Ethics and Technology / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 3, 10 / ACA, Section H
AMHCA, Sec I, Subchap B.6
Week 5
07.05.16 / o  Counseling children and vulnerable groups
o  Counseling families and groups / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 11, 12 / Chapter 681 Subchap N
Texas Family Code, Chap 261
Week 6
07.12.16 / o  Competency and malpractice
o  Boundary issues
o  Dual Relationships / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 7 (pg 154-170), 8 (pg 188-201), and 9 / Chapter 681 Subchap K, L, M
AMHCA, Sec I, Subchapters A (3-4), C & Section V
ACA, Section C.6
LPC, 681.C.42, 681.C.44
Week 7
07.19.16 / o  Resolving legal and ethical issues
o  Advocacy Project Fair / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 8 (pg 201-214)
Professional Advocacy Project Due 9:20pm CST / ACA, Section I
AMHCA, Section VI
LPC 681.K,Complaints and Violations
Week 8
07.26.16 / o  Professional relationships, private practice, and healthcare plans
o  Supervision and consultation / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 13, 15 / ACA, Section D, F
LPC, 681.C.49, 681.F.93 Supervision Requirements
AMHCA, Section II
Week 9
08.02.16 / o  Issues in counselor education: expert witness status, core provider status, managed care
o  Research and publications
o  Evaluation, testing, and diagnosis / Remley & Herlihy, Chapters 7 (pg 170-185)14, 16
Case Study Due 9:20pm CST / ACA, Section E
AMHCA, Sections I, Subchap D; III, IV
681.43
Week 10
08.9.16 / o  No in-class meeting. Exam available on BbLearn starting 08.03.2016 at 8am until 08.09.2016 at 9:20pm / Final Exam due by 8/09/2016 @ 9:20pm CST / Review all Ethical Codes for Final

Important Policies

Attendance & Participation

Students will gain the most from this course by being present and participating fully in all classes and assignments. Enrollment in COUN 5290 is limited to graduate students who are preparing for professional careers; thus, attendance is required and class participation is expected as just one component of professional responsibility. At all times, students are expected to demonstrate personal characteristics consistent with the characteristics of professional counselors (see Master’s Student Handbook), engage in ethical behavior as defined in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, and adhere to UNT’s Academic Integrity Policy. As professionals, students also are responsible for coming to class prepared to discuss readings, making productive contributions to class discussions/activities, and attending respectfully to others when not contributing directly.

Please remember, professionalism includes using technology (e.g., laptops, tablets, smart phones) appropriately in class. Students who do not meet expectations regarding professional responsibilities will be evaluated as such. This evaluation may be reflected in a grade reduction, competency concern report, and/or request for other remediation per Counseling Program policies.

Absences

As previously mentioned, prompt attendance at all class meetings is a professional responsibility. The rigors of graduate training in counseling involve more than simply the ability to earn an “A” or “B” in course material. It is recognized that adult learners have busy, complex lives and that setting priorities is often challenging. As a counselor trainee, this challenge becomes self-evident early in graduate student life and remains throughout most individuals’ professional career. Learning to balance responsibilities within the text of one’s life is an essential part of developing into a competent and trustworthy clinician. Students who miss more than one class, for whatever reason, will be considered below professional expectations and will be deducted points. There is UNT protocol if students need to miss an extended period of time, please consult your instructor for more information. Students are responsible for ALL material and assignments covered on days they are absent. In the event of an absence, please contact a classmate to get pertinent class notes, handouts, etc.