How can mental health professionals appropriately comply with the requirements of health insurance plans in documenting medical necessity for psychotherapy treatment while also protecting clients holding vulnerable identities from being exposed to possible governmental intrusion into their lives?

The Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association clearly states that counselors have a duty to avoid harming their clients, and to advocate on behalf of clients to address potential barriers that inhibit access or the growth and development of clients. This two-hour, 2-CE workshop is designed for practicing counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and other mental health professionals who are concerned about the rapidly changing macro environment in the United States which may put clients at risk of harm, and who want to be proactive in adopting client-centered, protective practices of care in their documentation.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the purpose, ownership, and legal considerations of clinical notes for mental health treatment.

• Define the concept of medical necessity in the context of clinical notes for mental health counseling and psychotherapy.

• Identify client and session data elements that, if included in notes or a file, would cause it to be considered a "medical record"

• Discuss at least 2 ethical strategies for clinical documentation that may help protect vulnerable client information in 2025.

• This training is centered on protecting clients who may be vulnerable based on marginalized identities that they hold.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Learning Levels

• This workshop is best suited for clinicians with previous knowledge of documentation methods.

CE Information - Earn 2 CE Credit Hours including

• 2 Laws & Ethics Hour

• 2 Clinical Documentation Hour

CE Process Info

Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

• Complete evaluation forms for the event

• Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com

Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ce-go.com".

If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer.

Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case those emails get "stuck". We'd also suggest "Allowlisting" support@ce-go.com. This tells your email client that you know this sender and trust them, which will keep emails from this contact at the top of your inbox and out of the junk folder.

Disclosure

Chicago Center for Relationship Counseling's Continuing Education (CE) Sponsorship is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), credits are applicable to LMFT (Sponsor License # 168.000227) and LCPC (Sponsor License # 197.000295) in Illinois.

If you have a different licensure or are licensed outside of Illinois please check with your licensure body before purchasing and attending our workshops. Attendees are responsible for compliance with licensure renewal laws.

Refunds for the workshop and/or CE credit are available up to 24 hours in advance of the workshop. Refunds will not include the 6% merchant credit card fee. Neither partial nor full refunds are provided for lack of attendance or if a participant determines that they do not need CE credit less than 24 hours before the workshop. Please contact ccrctrainings@gmail.com if you would like a refund on your order.

Coupons must be used and shared appropriately. A full discount is available to CCRC and Phoenix Clinic staff only. If you are experiencing financial hardship and would like a coupon code to attend our workshop, please contact us. We will be glad to help make workshops accessible to you.

The planners and presenter of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

About the Instructor

Dr. Lisa Wenninger MA, MBA, PhD, LPCC, LPC, LMHC, NCC®, BC-TMH™

Dr. Lisa Wenninger (she/her) has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University Seattle. She is a National Certified Counselor and is licensed in California and Washington, with a telehealth-only social justice counseling practice working with individuals with marginalized identities who are navigating a complex and difficult world. Dr. Wenninger serves on the Board of Counselors for Social Justice to promote advocacy and allyship within the counseling profession and help nurture development of the professional identity of counselor-advocate in colleagues. Dr. Wenninger makes a point to attend the meetings of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and in other ways stay on top of laws and regulations affecting counselors and our clients. She regularly provides continuing education courses on topics such as law and ethics of telehealth, culturally informed diagnosing, and antiracism in counseling, and consults with organizations interested in building more inclusive and welcoming cultures.