MFC 539 - Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues

Credits: 3

This course reviews aspects of California and federal law relevant to Marriage and Family Therapy. The course focuses in-depth on confidentiality and privileged communication, scope of practice and scope of competence, laws defining unprofessional conduct, laws relating to minors and other vulnerable populations, the ethical decision-making process, and the AAMFT professional ethical standards as well as those of CAMFT. Students will recognize when legal and/or clinical consultation/supervision is necessary. The course includes Family Law (issues connected to marital dissolution, child custody and mediation of conflicts). Legal issues connected to mandated reporting requirements (child, elder and dependent adult abuse) and to domestic violence are also presented. Students are asked to consider the application of legal and ethical standards within the framework of different theoretical perspectives with various systems, in different clinical settings, and through the lens of their own values and personal characteristics. The development of the identity of the Marriage and Family Therapist is emphasized.