Legal Self Defense for Mental Health Practitioners by Robert Woody

Legal Self Defense for Mental Health Practitioners by Robert Woody

At some point in their careers, mental health professionals may face legal action from clients. Clients may be noncompliant regarding policies agreed upon at the outset of therapeutic services, not adhere to an individualised treatment plan, be inappropriately aggressive, and file unjustified ethics and licensing complaints and/or lawsuits. Unfortunately, many mental health practitioners are not prepared for such actions and suffer great distress that affects their professional and personal lives. This practical text, written by an author who is both a psychologist and an attorney, demonstrates how mental health professionals can avoid legally actionable mistakes in their practices and what to do if they occur. Reflecting contemporary social policy and laws regarding mental health services, the text emphasises the protection of rights for both practitioner and client, and addresses such pitfalls as malpractice, licensing hearings, noncompliant clients, and dealing with the legal system. It distils the author's wisdom, gained over more than 30 years of legal counsel to all types of mental health practitioners, and describes how to improve practice strategies for achieving quality care, confront ethics and licensing complaints, and defend against potential or actual lawsuits. Additionally, the book covers individualised treatment planning, effective record keeping, how to deal with dangerous clients, how to insulate yourself from risk, and more. Numerous real life examples further help practitioners foster the knowledge and skills to assertively defend their rights should the need arise. Key Features: Illustrates how to avoid legally actionable mistakes in assessment and treatment Covers such issues as effective record keeping, treatment planning, dealing with dangerous or non-compliant clients, protecting your practice, and more Helps mental health professionals foster a ""warrior"" mentality when faced with unjust allegations of wrongdoing Presents numerous real-life cases

Robert Henley Woody, Senior, received the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Michigan State University, the Doctor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and the Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University. He completed postdoctoral studies at the University of London and the Washington School of Psychiatry. He is a member of the Florida, Michigan, and Nebraska Bars, and a Licensed Psychologist in Florida and Michigan. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a Diplomate in Clinical and Forensic Psychology (ABPP) and Diplomate in Psychological Assessment (ABAP). After professorial stints at the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Maryland, the Ohio University, and the Grand Valley State University, in 1975 Dr. Woody became a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (and he is a former Dean for Graduate Studies and Research there). He has consistently maintained independent private practices in both law and psychology. Over his three decades plus as an attorney, he has advised, counseled, represented, and taught courses and seminars to mental health practitioners from all of the professional disciplines. Dr. Woody graduated from the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Center (Tallahassee) and was a sworn law enforcement officer with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The National Rifle Association has named him a Certified Instructor of Pistol and Personal Protection in the Home. Dr. Woody has previously authored/edited thirty-four books and over two hundred articles and chapters.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780826195654
ISBN 10	0826195652
Title	Legal Self Defense for Mental Health Practitioners
Author	Robert Woody
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Springer Publishing Co Inc
Year published	2012-06-30
Number of pages	208
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.