How to Work with Children & Families without Burning Out 

Please join us for our annual workshop on working with families and children while understanding state and federal laws. Attendees will understand how the legal system works, the importance of preparing for crises, maintaining professional boundaries, and staying within the therapist's role.

This Program will provide a guideline for working with children and families that emphasizes reducing stress and avoiding crisis scenarios for the provider. It will include a review and discussion of state and federal laws, rules and regulations, and ethical guidelines that apply to licensed mental health professionals who provide mental health and forensic services to children and families.

A family's relationship is often interrupted by death, divorce, separation, the involvement of CPS and other agencies, or serious health or mental health diagnosis that requires outside intervention. Additional ethical and legal considerations must be understood and considered by mental health professionals who provide services to children and families. Professionals working with families must learn how to prioritize client needs over client wants, keep the therapeutic relationship intact and anticipate and plan a crisis. There will be specific instruction on identifying the client, documentation dilemmas, preparing for crisis intervention, dealing with families in litigation, responding to requests for records, and maintaining professional ethics in legal situations.

Objectives:

1. Understand state and federal laws, Board Rules, and ethical guidelines that apply to providing mental health services to children and families when addressing parental access to a child's records, the age of consent for services, navigating subpoenas for testimony or records within the legal system, & preparing for anticipated crises and emergencies that may rise.

2. Understand TX law regarding mandatory reports of suspected abuse and neglect of a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person.

3. Develop strategies for maintaining professional boundaries and protecting the professional when dealing with the legal system or families in crisis.

 Mrs. Kenda Dalrymple is a Partner in the firm of Dalrymple, Shellhorse, Ellis & Diamond, LLP in Austin, TX. She earned her B.A. in Communications from Baylor University and her law degree from Baylor University School of Law. She practices in the areas of administrative and health law, with an emphasis on representing licensed professionals before their licensing boards and advising them on matters related to their practices. She is married to her college sweetheart, Bill Dalrymple, and they live in Cedar Park with a house full of old dogs. 

   We will also have a special appearance from Emmy Award Winning Broadcast Journalist Jane Pauley. She has been a beloved presence on the morning, daytime, and primetime television for 45 years, including hosting NBC's Today show and anchoring CBS Sunday Morning. After her mental health diagnosis, she has used her story to encourage others and advocate for health and wellness issues. She is the author of two bestselling books.