Summary:
This pre-conference session reviews some of the key ethical and legal challenges facing faith-based mental professionals, including psychologists, other licensed mental health professionals, as well as pastoral counselors and coaches. Faith-based mental health professionals have faced increased challenges to provide caregiving consistent with and originating from their sincerely held beliefs and values. Many have experienced increased resistance, skepticism, and even hostility toward their free expression in areas such as education, training, practice, and continuing education. This session reviews foundational worldview changes in ethics codes and legal and legislative developments that have impacted religious freedom in the mental health professions. Despite the significant challenges, the session concludes with reasons for hope and means of purposeful involvement by faith-based mental health professionals.
APA, ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, NAADAC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, AOA Category 2A Credits, Georgia Nurses Association, AAFP