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Center for Ethical Practice, Inc.
934 East Jefferson Street, Charlottesville VA 22902

Previous Workshops
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Chance Encounters of the Awkward Kind
        What are the ethical implications of how we handle
encounters with clients or their families outside the clinical setting? 
How do we decide where to draw the line in such encounters?
Are there any ways to minimize their occurrence, or to prevent unnecessary clinical complications?
How can we prevent them from becoming problematic dual relationships?
OUTLINE
Monday, May 3, 2010 -- DoubleTree Hotel -- Charlottesville VA
Friday, May 7, 2010 -- Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook -- Richmond VA

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Ethical Implications of Electronic Technology
What are the ethical and legal implications of
transmitting client information electronically via computer or FAX;
storing client information on computers, laptops, external drives, or disks;
communicating with clients using email, twitter, or other electronic formats;
using mobile phones or other portable communications devices;
interacting with clients on facebook or other online sites? 
What are the necessary safeguards and where should we draw the line?
What are the distinctions between our profession's ethical requirements and HIPAA's legal requirements?
What are the implications for training our clinical and/or non-clinical staff, supervisees, or students?  

OUTLINE
Monday, May 3, 2010 -- DoubleTree Hotel -- Charlottesville VA
Friday, May 7 - Richmond - Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook - Richmond VA
Saturday, June 12, 2010 -- Fairview Park Marriott -- Falls Church VA

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Choosing An Ethical Decision-Making Model
and Teaching It To Others:
A Step-By-Step Guide to Ethical Decision Making
This workshop will introduce several ethical decision-making models
and will then use hypothetical case vignettes
to help participants practice using them iu their own practice
or in the supervision or training of others.
OUTLINE
Friday, June 11 - Hilton Garden Inn - Fairfax VA
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Are Your Policies
(And/Or Your Supervisees' Policies)
Clear Enough?
This workshop considers the ethical implications of the presence or absence of clear policies
about fees, billing, availability, absences, emergencies, confidentiality, disclosure, boundaries, etc.
(1) How clear should they be? (2) How should they be described to clients?
(3) How well are your policies understood by others that you work with who implement them in your setting,
including clinical and non-clinical staff, as well as by those you train, mentor, or supervise?
OUTLINE
Friday, June 11 - Hilton Garden Inn - Fairfax VA
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Boundary "Crossing" or Boundary "Violation" ?
Ethically, What is the Difference?

Ethics writers are asking us to make a distinction between a benign non-sexual "crossing" of boundaries
and a harmful unethical "violation" of boundaries in client relationships.
What are the ethical and clinical implications of that distinction?
Where should we draw the line? Who gets to decide?

OUTLINE
Saturday, June 12, 2010 -- Fairview Park Marriott -- Falls Church VA
Monday, June 28, 2010 -- Holiday Inn, Bypass Road -- Williamsburg VA

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Helping Without Hurting
E thically, it is important for mental health professionals to do good without doing harm
(i.e., practice both beneficence and nonmaleficence).
This workshop will consider ways of meeting this ethical obligation, but also will consider
the importance of balancing this care of patients with ongoing self-care that prevents harm to self.
OUTLINE
Monday, June 28, 2010 -- Holiday Inn, Bypass Road -- Williamsburg VA
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What Are We Not Talking About?
Raising the Ethical Issues We Avoid

Some ethical issues are difficult to address, so we clinicians tend not to raise them
in supervision, consultation, peer conversation, or workshops.
Dr. Fisher will dare to put some of those on the table, using clinical case vignettes.
Participants are invited to share any "hypothetical" case situations they choose,
but no one will be "put on the spot" or required to raise personal examples of the issues she will present.

OUTLINE
Monday, January 25, 2010 - Charlottesville
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Clarifying Our Ethical Responsibilities
in Multi-Client and Agency-Referred Cases

Why is "Who Is The Client?" the Wrong Question?
What Question Should We Ask Instead?

We are often advised to ask "Who Is The Client?"
when determining our ethical responsibilities or clarifying our confidentiality rules
in cases involving multiple clients or agency referrals.
That question implies a singular answer! Why does that create more problems than it solves?
It may be a required reimbursement question; and sometimes it is a helpful clinical question;
but as an ethical question, does it lead us astray?

OUTLINE
Monday, January 25, 2010 - Charlottesville
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Record Keeping:
Focusing on the Ethical Underpinnings
In the midst of worrying about the record keeping requirements imposed by
state laws, HIPAA, managed care contracts, agency policies, etc., and with our eye on liability,
are we losing our ethical perspective?
We will cover ownership, content, storage, retention time, and other practical issues,
but our primary focus will be on the ethical considerations that should underlie our decisions.

OUTLINE
Saturday, February 13, 2010 -- Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook -- Richmond VA
Friday, March 26, 2010 -- Fairview Park Marriott -- Falls Church VA

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Boundary "Crossing" or Boundary "Violation" ?
Ethically, What is the Difference?

Ethics writers are asking us to make a distinction between a benign non-sexual "crossing" of boundaries
and a harmful unethical "violation" of boundaries in client relationships.
What are the ethical and clinical implications of that distinction?
Where should we draw the line? Who gets to decide?

OUTLINE
Saturday, February 13, 2010 -- Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook -- Richmond VA
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Protecting Confidentiality Rights
When May You Disclose Client Information?
When May You Refuse to Disclose?
When Must You Refuse to Disclose?

This workshop is based on a 6-Step Ethical Practice Model about Confidentiality
that integrates ethical and legal obligations about confidentiality
and guides decisions about disclosure.
OUTLINE

Friday, March 26, 2010 -- Fairview Park Marriott -- Falls Church VA
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Subpoenas & Court Orders
What is the legal difference between an attorney-issued "discovery subpoena"
and judge's "court order? What is the ethical implication of this legal difference?
Can you file a "motion to quash"? Should you? Will you be an "expert witness" or a "fact witness"?

OUTLINE
Monday, May 11, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
Monday, May 18, 2009 - Hilton Garden Inn, Inndbrook, Richmond VA
Friday, June 12, 2009 - Fairview Pari Marriott, Falls Church VA

Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Clarion Hotel, Williamsburg VA

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Professional Ethics:
Two Developmental Perspectives
How have our professions' ethical standards changed across time? How have we reacted to those changes?
How does our personal and professional development affect the ways we approach ethical issues
or change the types of ethical dilemmas we are more likely to notice, encounter, or create?
OUTLINE
Monday, May 11, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
Monday, May 18, 2009 - Hilton Garden Inn, Inndbrook, Richmond VA
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Informed Consent With Couples and Families
Who Must Be Informed? About What? When?
From Whom Must We Obtain Consent? For What? When?

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Informed consent is a process, not a one-time event.
The informed consent process can be more complicated with couples and families.
What topics must we cover and whose consent must we obtain at the initial session?
After the initial informed consent understandings, when must the conversation be reopened?
We will review both ethical responsibilities and legal considerations.
OUTLINE
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
Saturday, March 21, 2009 - Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook, Richmond VA
Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Clarion Hotel, Williamsburg VA
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"Duty to Warn" or "Duty to Protect" ?
Which Obligation Do Virginia Clinicians Have ?
Do Virginia's Laws Match Our Ethics?

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.

What are our ethical and legal responsibilities if a client threatens harm to others?
What is the difference between a legal"duty to warn" and a legal "duty to protect"?
Which of these applies in Virginia?
In addition to cases of threats of harm, what are the other circumstances when Virginia clinicians
have a legal duty to disclose information for the protection of the client or of someone else?
Do our profession's ethical responsibilities coincide with our legal obligations under Virginia law?

OUTLINE
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
Saturday, March 21, 2009 - Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook, Richmond VA

Friday, June 12, 2009 - Fairview Pari Marriott, Falls Church VA
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Which Ethical Question Should We Stop Asking?
Replacing "Who Is the Client?" With a Different Ethical Question
Our Ethics Codes suggest we ask "Who Is The Client? Why does that crete more problems than it solves?
We suggest a different ethical question.
(This workshop is based on Mary Alice Fisher's January 2009 article in the journal, Professional Psychology:
Research and Practice,
"Replacing "Who is the client?" with a Different Ethical Question."
OUTLINE
Monday, May 11, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
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"Ethical & Legal Issues in
Clinical Supervision & Consultation"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
A workshop for clinicians who provide consultation or supervision,
but also appropriate for those who receive consultation or supervision.

OUTLINE

Saturday, June 20, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
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What's New?
Ethical Implications of New and Amended Virginia Laws
As of July 1, 2008, Virginia has some new laws,
several of which were enacted in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy.
How might they potentially affect your clients?
How might you need to change your promises about "limits of confidentiality?"

OUTLINE
Friday, October 3, 2008 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church VA
Saturday, November 15 - Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook), Richmond VA
Monday, December 1, 2008 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, VA

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Want to Delegate It?
What Are Your Ethical Responsibilities When Entrusting Tasks to Others?
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Do others serve as "on call" clinicians for you?
Do you use clerical staff, a billing agent, an answering service, a computer guru, etc.?
Do others participate in interviewing your clients, obtaining signatures on consent forms, etc.?
Do you have assistants who administer or score tests, etc.?

Ethics Codes impose some specific obligations when we entrust tasks to others.
HIPAA also imposes legal requirements if those delegated tasks involve
interactions with clients or with their protected health information.
This workshop summarizes the ethical and legal obligations and considers their practical implications.

OUTLINE
Saturday, Novemgber 15, 2008 - Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook),
Richmond VA
Friday, January 23, 2009 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church VA
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville VA
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Forethought:
Which Ethical Dilemmas Can You Avoid If You Try?
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Forethought is sometimes considered the single most important aspect of ethical practice.
Knowing the "ethical rules" is very necessary, but not sufficient for avoiding ethical dilemmas.
With forethought and planning, however, many ethical dilemmas are actually avoidable.
How well can we avoid receiving subpoenas? prevent misunderstandings about fees & reimbursements?
eliminate the confidentiality confusions in multi-client (couple/family) therapy?
This workshop is about anticipating such problems, avoiding the ethical complications when avoidable,
and being prepared to meet the ones that are unavoidable.
OUTLINE

Monday, December 1, 2008 - DoubleTree Hotel - Charlottesville VA
Friday, January 23, 2009 - Fairview Park Marriott - Falls Church VA
Saturday, March 21, 2009 - Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook - Richmond VA

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Facing Up To Ethical-Legal Conflicts:
Is Civil Disobedience Ever an Acceptable Alternative?
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Respected ethicists suggest that clinicians should consider all the options
when faced with a legal requirement that conflicts with their ethical standards.
Do we recognize the ethical-legal conflicts when they arise, or do we fail to face them for what they are?
If an ethical-legal conflict can't be resolved, how do your personal ethical values fit into the picture?
If you must choose, should you follow your ethical standards or obey the law?
What happens if you choose to disobey the law?
This workshop will use "hypothetical" ethical-legal dilemmas faced by Virginia clinicians,
and a decision-making grid provided by Knapp, et al. (2007), in "When Laws and Ethics Collide."

OUTLINE
Monday, December 1, 2008 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel
Saturday, Novemgber 15, 2008 -
Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)
Friday, January 23, 2009 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church VA
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". . . but everybody does it !"
A Workshop For Developing Ethical Policies Of Your Own
Instead of Following the Crowd

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Whose advice are you hearing as you develop your own policies for clinical pracice?
Who are your ethical models for deciding how to handle such important things as
billing for third party reimbursement, clinical boundaries, or informed consent?
What policies protect your clients in the "double/multiple relationships" of couple/family cases?
What is your policy about disclosing information if you don't have the client's explicit consent?

OUTLINE
Friday, April 4, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Richmond DoubleTree (Airport)
Friday, May 2, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m - Lynchburg Holiday Inn Select
Monday, May 19, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Charlottesville DoubleTree
Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Falls Church Marriott

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Working With
Separating or Divorcing Families
Ethical & Legal Issues for Therapists
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Do our Ethics Codes have anything special to say about working with families
that are separating, facing divorce, or already divorced - or about contested child custody issues?
Does Virginia law have anything in particular to say that affects how we work with these families,
or what we explain in advance about our rules and policies about confidentiality?
Are there particular ethical or legal risks for mental health professionals who work with families,
and if so, how can we avoid or minimize those risks?
OUTLINE
Monday, February 4, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Fairfax Hilton Garden Inn
Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 1:00 pm. - 4:00 p.m. - Williamsburg Ramada 1776
Monday, March 10, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Charlottesville DoubleTree
Monday, June 9, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)

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What If You (or Your Records) Go To Court?
Ethical
Pitfalls, Legal Rules, & Confusing Roles
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Whether you provide records or testimony voluntarily or involuntarily,
some important ethical standards and legal rules will apply.
Things become even more complicated if you are not clear in advance about your role(s).
OUTLINE
Saturday, January 12, 2008 – 11am OR noon - Richmond
Monday, January 28, 2008 – 1pm - 4pm OR 5pm -- Charlottesville
Monday, February 4, 2008 – 8am - 11am OR noon-- Fairfax
Monday, February 18, 2008 – 8am - 11am OR noon - Williamsburg
Saturday, April 5, 2008 - 1:00 - 4:00 - Newport News Omni

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Establishing Ethical Relationships With Colleagues:
Collaboration, Consultation, Consolation, Confrontation
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
What do our mental health Ethics Codes have to say about relationships with colleagues?
What might be the complications that arise in collegue relationships, whether in
consultations, case referrals, or other collaborative situations?
What are our ethical obligations if a colleague's behavior is putting clients at risk?
How do our Ethical Standards fit together with Virginia's laws on these matters?
OUTLINE
Monday, January 28, 2008 - 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Charlottesville
Saturday, April 5, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon - Newport News Omni ---- (1.5 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
Friday, May 2, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Lynchburg Holiday Inn Select -(2 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
Monday, June 9, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 pm - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn ---- (2 Ethics/Laws CEUs)

Saturday, March 21, 2009 - Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook, Richmond VA
-- (1.5 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
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Virginia Minors & Confidentiality:
Integrating Ethical Standards and Laws
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Ethics Codes have some important things to say about minors' confidentiality rights
,
but how do those fit together with the legal provisions in Virginia statutes?
Because Virginia law gives minors of any age the right to consent to outpatient treatment,
HIPAA regulations therefore give Virginia minors almost the same rights as adults;
but what are the legal limitations of those rights? How do they fit together with the ethical standards?
And how does all this fit together with the Federal statutes protecting substance abuse records?
This workshop represents our best attempt to integrate all these ethical and legal mandates.
OUTLINE
Monday, January 28, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. - noon - Charlottesville --- (1.5 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
Saturday, April 5, 2008 - 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Newport News Omni ---- (1.5 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
Fri., May 2, 2008 - 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Lynchburg Holiday Inn Select -- (2 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Falls Church Marriott ---- (2 Ethics/Laws CEUs)
Monday, June 9, 2008 - 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn ---- (2 Ethics/Laws CEUs)

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Managing Your
Managed Care Contracts
Ethical & Practical Implications of Provider Contracts
Mary Alice Fisher,
Ph.D.
Each provider contract you sign will have slightly different terms;
each managed care company will have different policies and impose different limitations.
We will review some implications of various written and unwritten understandings,
consider their ethical implications,
and use case examples to discuss how we can avoid some of the potential pitfalls.

OUTLINE
Monday, October 8, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel
Saturday, November 3, 2007 - Falls Church Marriott
Saturday, Novewmber 10, 2007 - Richmond
Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)

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Can You Keep A Secret?
Ethical Complications of Conditional Confidentiality:
Deciding What to Disclose to Whom and When
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
This workshop considers the ethical and legal complications that arise
when confidentiality is "conditional" rather than absolute.
How clear are your policies about exactly what you plan to disclose to whom -- and when?

How ready are you to describe those policies to patients and answer their "what if...?" questions?
OUTLINE
Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 10:30 am - noon - Williamsburg
Friday, April 4, 2008 - 8:00am - 11:00 a.m. OR noon - Richmond DoubleTree (Airport)
Monday, May 19, 2008 -
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. OR noon - Charlottesville DoubleTree

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"Beginnings & Endings:
Ethical Issues and Practical Implications"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
What are our ethical and legal responsibilities at each end of a clinical relationship?
What are our ethical and legal obligations when beginning a reltionship?
How can the beginning help to create a better ending?
How might a "professional will" protect clients in the event of unexpected endings?

OUTLINE
Saturday, May 5, 2007 - Newport News Omni
Monday, June 4, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel

Friday, June 22, 2007 - Fairfax Hilton Garden Inn
Saturday, November 10, 2007 - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)

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Maintaining Ethical Practices
Under Virginia's Laws
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Clinicians in every state must follow both their profession's Ethical Standards and their state's laws.
How do Virginia's laws fit together with mental health professionals' Ethical Standards?
What ethical issues might arise for clinicians under Virginia's specific combination of laws ?
[[[ We are offering this workOUTLINEshop at a reduced fee ]]]

Monday, March 10, 2008 - 9am - noon - Charlottesville

Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 1:00 - 4:00 - Richmond

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"HIPAA, Ethics Codes, & Virginia Law:
How Do They Really Fit Together?"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
When it comes to privacy and confidentiality,
how do the legal standards (state laws & regulations, or federal HIPAA regulations)
compare to the Ethical Standards of our own profession?
These three types of standards impose overlapping obligations.
How can we integrate them? What are our ethical obligations if they differ?
OUTLINE
Saturday, April 14, 2007 - Fairfax Hilton Garden Inn
Saturday, April 21, 2007 - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)
Monday, May 14, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel
Saturday, October 13, 2007 - Newport News Omni

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"Who Is The Client?"
How Do You Decide? Who Must You Tell?
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
How we conceptualize, define, and explain "client"
can sometimes have wider consequences than we expect.
This workshop is designed to explore some of the
ethical, clinical, legal, contractual, and financial implications
of how we answer the question, "Who Is The Client?"

OUTLINE

Saturday, April 14, 2007 - Fairfax Hilton Garden Inn
Saturday, April 21, 2007 - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)
Saturday, May 5, 2007 - Newport News Omni

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"Deliberate Dual Relationships:
Ethical Responsibility to Anticipate Harm"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Ethics Codes specify that not all dual relationships are unethical.
When must we say "no?" When do we have no choice? When are we free to say "yes?"
Before we voluntarily create a dual relationship,
or if we enter one "involuntarily" because required by law or by agency policies,
what are our ethical responsibilities for evaluating/anticipating
the potential for harm - or the perception of harm?

OUTLINE
Friday, May 4, 2007 - Virginia Beach DoubleTree Hotel
Monday, June 4, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel
Monday, June 11, 2007 - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)
Friday, June 22, 2007 - Fairfax Hilton Garden Inn

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"Promises Kept, Promises Broken"
Ethical Implications of Our Inevitable
Loyalty Conflicts & Conflicts of Interest

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
This workshop explores some of the loyalty conflicts and conflicts of interest
inherent in clinical work and considers ways of reducing their impact.
We will explore ethical, legal, clinical and personal implications of denying them,
as well as resources for helping us respond to them.

OUTLINE
Monday, January 15, 2007 - Charlottesville
Monday, February 19, 2007 - Fairfax
Saturday, March 3, 2007 - Richmond
Saturday, March 31, 2007 - Virginia Beach
Friday, May 11, 2007 - Williamsburg Hilton Garden Inn
Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Roanoke, Hotel Roanoke

Monday, October 8, 2007 - Charlottesville

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"Can You Keep A Secret?"

Using an Ethical Practice Model
to Protect Patients' Confidentiality Rights

[See copy of the Ethical Practice Model on this website.]
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
OUTLINE

July 1, 2004 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
November 12, 2004
- Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia

March 12, 2004
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

February 19, 2005 -
The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
September 16, 2005 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

May 6, 2006 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
June 26, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn, Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

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"Ethical Planning & Decision Making:
Anticipating & Responding to Ethical Dilemmas"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
A workshop about facing the problematic ethical aspects of clinical practice,
reducing the risks to patient and clinician by avoiding the avoidables,
and using an Ethical Decision-Making Model to resolve the unavoidables
!

OUTLINE
December 3, 2004
- Harrisonburg, Virginia Clinicians
May 26, 2005 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

June 13, 2005
-
Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia

December 12, 2005 -
The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

June 16, 2006 - Stratford Inn, Danville, Virginia
Friday, May 11, 2007 - Williamsburg Hilton Garden Inn

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"Which Hat(s) Are You Wearing?
Why Does It Matter?"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
What ethical obligations are specific to the hat(s) you wear?
Certain basic ethical responsibilities apply across the board - regardless of our role;
but some roles bring with them specific additional ethical obligations.
This becomes even more complicated when we multiply hats.

OUTLINE
Monday, May 14, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel
Monday, June 11, 2007 - Richmond Hilton Garden Inn (Innsbrook)
Saturday, October 13, 2007 - Newport News Omni
Saturday, November 3, 2007 - Falls Church Marriott
Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 1pm - 4pm - Virginia Beach

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"Ethical & Legal Issues in
Clinical Supervision & Consultation"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
A workshop for clinicians who provide consultation or supervision,
but also appropriate for those who receive consultation or supervision.

OUTLINE
June 12, 2005 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
September 9, 2005
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

November 16, 2005
- The Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia

January 8, 2006
-
Fairview Park Mariott, Falls Church, Virginia

January 13, 2006
- The Hilton Garden Inn, Richmond, , Virginia

March 12, 2007 DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

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For All Mental Health Professionals
"
Multi-Client Therapy:
Ethical & Legal Considerations"

(Couple, Family, Group, Child+Parent)
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
When providing therapy for couples, families, or groups,
combining child therapy with collateral parent consultation.
or adding a collateal participant to an individual adult therapy,
certain ethical, legal, and/or clinical dilemmas will predictably arise.
Are you avoiding predictable dilemmas and preparing clients for "unpredictables"?
Do you remember that "clinically interesting" is not synonymous with "ethically appropriate"?
This workshop is designed to help clinicians anticipate, prevent, and/or minimize the
risks to clients - and thus to themselves - when providing therapy in multiple-client configurations.

OUTLINE
Monday, Oct. 9, 2006 - 1pm-4pm - Charlottesville
Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006 - 9am-noon - Fairfax

Monday, Nov. 13, 2006 - 9am-noon - Richmond
Saturday, February 17, 2007 - Newport News
Saturday, March 31, 2007 - Virginia Beach
Saturday, April 28, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree
Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Roanoke, Hotel Roanoke

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For All Mental Health Professionals
"
Confidentiality Ethics:
What Do We Need to Know? Who Do We Need to Tell?"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
This workshop includes a brief review of what "Confidentiality Ethics" requires us to know;
but it is mostly about what we should be trying to DO with what we know.
Beyond protecting the confidences of patients/clients,
what other ethical, legal, clinical, and practical steps will help us
carry out our broader professional obligations about confidentiality?

OUTLINE
Sat., February 17, 2007 - Newport News
Sat., March 3, 2007 - Richmond
Friday, May 4, 2007 - Virginia Beach DoubleTree Hotel

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For All Mental Health Professionals
"
Providing Ethical/Legal Training
For Non-Clinical Staff
in Virginia Mental Health Settings"
With Access to Patient Data, What Should They Know?

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Offered by popular demand, this workshop is
appropriate for clinicians,
and/or their non-clinical employees or contracted agents (e.g., billing agents).
(Workshop Fee discounted if both attend together.)
Employee training rarely includes formal discussion of professional ethics.
Yet, clinicians are ethically and legally responsible for the actions of their staff.
HIPAA now requires "workforce training"
to cover
patients'
privacy/confidentiality rights as legally defined by HIPAA.
We recommend for all non-clinical personnel with access to patient data
(and also for supervisees, students, interns, and volunteers)
a broader ethical/legal training, in order to better protect patients and their rights...and you.
Participants leave with a sample staff-training manual, on paper and on CD.

OUTLINE
Monday, November 13 - 1pm - 4pm - Richmond

Monday, January 15, 2007 - Charlottesville
Monday, February 19, 2007 - Fairfax

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For All Mental Health Professionals
"Record Keeping:
Ethical and Practical Considerations"
Eugene F. Maleski, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
What guidelines should we follow for developing our policies about clinical records?
This workshop covers some of the ethical, legal, and practical considerations.

PRESENTED:

May 1, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
June 24, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfax, Virginia
Monday, October 9 - 9am-noon - Charlottesville
Saturday, November 4 - 9am-noon - Newport News

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"Using What We Know:
Resolving 'Sticky' Ethical Issues
"
Sharon Patterso, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
This is an opportunity to practice using an Ethical Problem-Solving Model
when faced with the "sticky" ethical issues that predictably arise in clinical practice.
After reviewing the Model, we will use our hypothetical case examples - or yours -
for considering together how to resolve some of the difficult ethical, legal,
and ethical/legal issues we face in our clinical work.
PRESENTED:
Saturday, April 28, 2007 - Charlottesville DoubleTree Hotel

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For All Mental Health Professionals
"Beyond the Basics:
Conversations About Ethical & Ethical/Legal Issues
"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
This involves little formal presentation of information.
We will use your experiences and hypothetical case situations,
along with handouts of your ethical & legal standards,
to practice using an Ethical Problem-Solving Model
to resolve ethical and ethical/legal dilemmas.

[You may attend "Beyond the Basics" as often as you like for CE Credit,
because each time the cases and participants will be different.]

PRESENTED:
Saturday, October 14 - 1pm-4pm - Fairfax
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D. & Sharon Patterson, Ph.D.
Saturday, November 4 - 1pm-4pm - Newport News


o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Confidentiality Update 2006"
A review of changes in laws & ethical guidelines about confidentiality and disclosure.
How might they affect your policies or what you say to patients about your rules ?
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.

PRESENTED:

March 4, 2006 - Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia
March 10, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, Richmond
June 5, 2006
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
June 23, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfax, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Couples in Therapy:
Ethical, Legal, and Practical Issues"
John T. Schroll, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
When working with couples in therapy, certain policies and practices
can predictably create ethical dilemmas &/or lead to legal complications.
Couple therapy is difficult enough without adding unnecessary complications.
This workshop is designed to help you anticipate, prevent,
and/or minimize risks to clients - and thus to yourself.

PRESENTED:
December 2, 2005 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
January 9, 2006 -
Fairview Park Mariott, Falls Church, Virginia

January 14, 2006
-
The Hilton Garden Inn, Richmond, , Virginia

March 27, 2006
-
Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia

May 12, 2006
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Self-Care for Mental Health Professionals:
Ethical and Professional Implications of
Burn-Out, Stress, & Self-Neglect"

Patricia Cheeks, R.N., CNS, & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Our ability to take care of ourselves as professionals has a direct impact on our
objectivity and competence in caring for clients.
Similarly, clinical work affects our own personal, emotional, and spiritual life.
We approach this topic from both perspectives as we consider
the ethical, clinical, and personal importance of self-care.

PRESENTED:
June 10, 2006 - Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia
June 3, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
May 5, 2006 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
February 13, 2006 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

o-o-o

For Mental Health Professionals in Private Practice
(Independent Individual or Group)

"MONEY MATTERS!
Ethical, Professional & Business Aspects of
Running an Independent Practice"

Morning: Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D., & Joyce McCusty, LCSW
Afternoon: Louis Perrott, Ph.D.
This workshop covers ethical, legal, & personal issues
that can affect business decisions, then provides a process
for clarifying & expanding your own business plans.

PRESENTED:
November 11 , 2005 - The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
January 16, 2006 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
February 4, 2006 - Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia
April 1, 2006 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
June 2, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Dual Relationships & Boundaries"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D. and Joyce McCusty, LCSW
How Many Hats Do You Wear? & Where Do You Draw the Line?
This workshop explores two inter-related issues
that can create big ethical dilemmas
for clinicians.

PRESENTED:
March 4, 2005 - Martha Jefferson Outpatient Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
September 12, 2005 -
Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
September 23, 2005
- The Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia
September 24, 2005
- The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

April 22, 2006
- Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
Advanced Seminar #1:

"Serious Conversation About
Ethical Dilemmas"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
You bring the "hypothetical" dilemmas.
We provide an Ethical Decision Making Model.

PRESENTED:
December 3, 2005 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
January 9, 2006 -
Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia

March 4, 2006 -
Omni, Newport News, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
Advanced Seminar #2:

"Ethical Temptations in
Private Practice"
Sharon Patterson, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
You bring the "hypothetical" temptations.
We provide an Ethical Decision Making Model.

PRESENTED:
December 11, 2005 - The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
April 21, 2006 - Wellesley Clubhouse, Richmond
, Virginia

June 9, 2006 - Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
Advanced Seminar #3:

"More Conversation About
Ethical Dilemmas"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
You bring the "hypothetical" dilemmas.
We provide an Ethical Decision Making Model.

PRESENTED:
April 28, 2006 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
May 15, 2006 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
June 24, 2006 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virgvinia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
Advanced Seminar #4:

"Resolving
Ethical-Legal Dilemmas"
Carol Schrier-Polak, Esquire & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
This is an opportunity to consider the complex relationship between
your professional/ethical obligations and the legal demands you may face.

We will problem-solve about the "hypothetical" dilemmas you bring.

PRESENTED:
June 23, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn, Fairfax, Virginia with Carol Schrier-Polak, Esq.
June 30, 2006 - DoubleTreel, Charlottesville, Virginia with Rachel Rust, Esq.

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Where Are We Going Astray? ...Why?"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Which practice areas create ethical or legal difficulties for mental health professionals?
Why? What pressures lead us to make poor ethical decisions? What can we do about it?

PRESENTED:
March 11, 2006 - Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
April 29, 2006 - Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
May 8, 2006
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Working With the Elderly & Their Families:
Ethical Issues & Practical Considerations"
Most clinicians see some elderly patients and/or work with their adult children.
This workshop is appropriate for therapists and other mental health clinicians
of all professions in all settings, and for clinical graduate students
Deborah Strzepek, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
PRESENTED:
June 12, 2006 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
"Working With Minors:
Ethical, Legal, and Professional Pitfalls "

Sherry Kraft, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.

Appropriate for any mental health professional who works with minors
in any setting, this workshop will cover some of the ethical and legal basics,
plus some of the complications created by recent Virginia statutes and court cases.

PRESENTED:
May 21, 2004 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
May 7, 2005 -
Omni, Newport News, Virginia

November 19, 2004
-
Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia

June 10, 2005
- The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

October 24, 2005 -
DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

February 10, 2006
- Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia

o-o-o

(For Psychologists Only)
"Applying Virginia's Legal Standards
in Your Own Practice"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
Integrating the Virginia Board of Psychology Practice Standards,
Virginia Statutes, Federal HIPAA Regulations,
and the 2002 APA Ethics Code

PRESENTED:
March 10, 2005 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
September 17, 2005 -
The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia

October 17, 2005
- Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia

November 9, 2005
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
November 14 , 2005 - The Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia
November 15, 2005 - The Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia

o-o-o

(For Psychologists Only)
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond
Morning - 9am - noon:
"Learning The 'New' APA Ethics Code:
Have Our Rules Changed?"

Afternoon - 1pm - 4pm:
"Informed Consent Revisited:
Integrating the APA Ethics Code, Virginia Law & HIPAA"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
o-o-o

For All Mental Health Professionals
February 4, 2005, June 17, 2005 & June 28 2005
Martha Jefferson Outpatient Care Center,
Pantops, Charlottesville, Virginia

". . . But everybody does it !! "
Seminars About Developing Ethical Practices
Instead of Following the Crowd
1. Ethics of Dual Relationships:
How many Hats Can we Wear?
2. Ethics of Boundary-Setting:
Where Do We Draw the Line?
3. Money Matters

Mary Alice Fisher, Clinical Psychologist., and Joyce McCusty, LCSW
o-o-o

For Psychologists
June 30, 2004
Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia

"Learning The New APA Ethics Code:
Have Our Rules Changed?"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
(Psychologists have a New Ethics Code effective June 1, 2003)

o-o-o

For Psychologists
(AT THE VPA CONVENTION)
April 16, 2004
Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia

9:00 - NOON
"Learning the New APA Ethics Code:
Have Our Rules Changed?"
Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.

o-o-o

For Psychologists
(AT THE VPA CONVENTION)
April 16, 2004

Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia
1:30 - 4:30
"Informed Consent Revisited:
Integrating the New APA Ethics Code,
Virginia Law, and HIPAA"

Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.

o-o-o

For All Therapists
"Beginnings and Endings:
Avoiding the Ethical, Legal, and Clinical Pitfalls"
Co-led by Susan Moss, Ph.D. & Mary Alice Fisher, Ph.D.
(6 CEUs, with 3 Applicable Toward Ethics/Laws )
PRESENTED:
November 7, 2003 - DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
December 13, 2003
- DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
March 19, 2004
- The Place at Innsbrook, Richmond, Virginia
May 7, 2004 - Omni Hotel, Newport News, Virginia

o-o-o

For Psychologists
"Learning The New APA Ethics Code:
Have Our Rules Changed?"
(3 CEUs Applicable Toward Ethics/Laws)
PRESENTED:
July 18, 2003, Charlottesville, Virginia
July 26, 2003, Charlottesville, Virginia
September 26, 2003, The Place at Innsbrookk, Charlottesville, Virginia
October 8, 2003
-
Holiday Inn Tanglewood, Roanoke, Virginia

January 16, 2004
- DoubleTr4ee Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia

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