Join us in exploring the boundaries and exceptions to confidentiality and privilege within clinical practice. The counseling relationship can only be as successful as its foundation will allow. Confidentiality and privilege are essential to building the trust that can foster an effective and workable therapeutic relationship. Attendees will have the opportunity to consider how to balance ethical practices with legal, so that counselors can uphold their clients’ trust while ensuring safety and compliance within professional standard.

Objectives: 1. Define confidentiality and privilege in the context of counseling. 2. Understand exceptions to confidentiality and privilege. 3. Explore legal and ethical considerations in Washington State.

About the Presenter: Frances Schopick, JD, MSW is an attorney with an extensive background in clinical Social Work and psychiatric research. She served on the Psychiatry Faculties at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA to research the underlying contributors seen in people with mood, personality, and psychotic disorders. She worked clinically with perpetrators as well as survivors of domestic violence and coercive control. Her experience has given her insights into the dynamics of high conflict families as well as the complex and nuanced challenges posed to the counselors who work with them. Now an attorney in WA State, Fran represents health care providers undergoing Board investigations. To help licensees avoid such complaints, Fran develops Disclosure and Informed Consent resources tailored to individual practice, so that providers can simultaneously minimize counselor risk and maximize client care. Fran provides legal consultation to agencies, counselors, and other healthcare providers working with individual adults, children, couples, and families, often in “high conflict” situations.