Ethics of Private Practice: A Practical Guide for Mental Health Clinicians

The Ethics of Private Practice helps mental health professionals understand the essential ethical issues related to the many challenges of being in independent practice. Seasoned clinicians Barnett, Zimmerman, and Walfish offer readers astute insight into building a practice that is designed to minimize unintended ethics violations and reduce associated risks. Each chapter focuses on a major aspect of the business of practice and incorporates relevant standards from the ethics codes of four mental health professions. Topics addressed include planning and successfully managing a practice, documentation and record keeping, dealing with third parties and protecting confidentiality, managing practice finances, staff training and office policies, advertising and marketing a practice, continuing professional development activities, and the closing of a private practice. Full of practical tips that can be readily implemented, this handy guide will be the go-to resource for all mental health clinicians in private practice.

Jeffrey E. Barnett, PsyD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist with 30 years of experience in independent practice. He also is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland, where he teaches courses in ethics and professional practice. He is a past Chair of the APA Ethics Committee and has published and presented widely on ethics and professional practice issues for mental health professionals.

Jeffrey Zimmerman, PhD, ABPP, has been in private practice since 1981. From working solo to managing a large multi-site inter-disciplinary group, Dr. Zimmerman has dealt with the complex challenges faced by clinicians who are trying to run a successful mental health practice in an ethically responsible manner. He is also a Founding Partner of The Practice Institute, LLC.

Steven Walfish, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and has been in independent practice since 1982. He has built three successful private practices in Tampa, Florida, Edmonds and Everett, Washington, and now Atlanta. He is also a Founding Partner of The Practice Institute, LLC. He has been the Editor of the Independent Practitioner, and author/editor of six books. In 2013 he served as President of APA Division 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice).