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Analyzes responses from school psychologists (N=378) to the Blueprint I, a document detailing how school psychology could improve public schools. Findings revealed numerous areas of congruence and dissonance between psychologists' training and practice. Respondents preferred to decrease the amount of time spent in assessment and increase time spent in other domains. (RJM)

Responds to earlier four articles on integration of counseling psychology and neuropsychology by noting that neuropsychology occurs in settings with high risk of legal complaints. Contends that aspiration to press counseling psychology toward clinical neuropsychology should be filtered through consideration for legal risk. Explores legal vulnerability of counseling psychologists and offers risk management ideas. (NB)

Historically, promoting family permanence (e.g., keeping the original parent-children relationships intact) has been controversial. At times, priority was given to the family of origin, but due to the best interests oft he child principle, there has also been preference for foster placements and adoptions. This article presents the legal backdrop (e.g., the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997) and discusses history, as well as ethical and psychological issues. It is asserted that (1) at present, the concept of the best interests of the child is of foremost importance and (2) biological and psychological parental qualities can be enhanced through preventive and remedial parent education in the family therapy context. DOI: 10.1080/01926187.2010.522492

There are seven reasons mental health practitioners providing services to children and families face an escalation of legal liability and risk of ethical, regulatory (licensing), and legal (malpractice) complaints: (1)parents using children to assuage their own anxiety; (2) the increase in governmental control of mental health practice; (3) the penchant for litigation; (4) the demise of community mental health services programs (resulting in highly disturbed persons seeking services from private practitioners); (5) distrust of health care providers (which results in a common negativity towards health care practitioners in general and mental health therapeutic compliance in specific); (6) demands from and restrictions imposed by third-party payment sources that increase the risk of client dissatisfaction; and (7) the competitive marketplace. This article explains the practitioner's hesitancy to rely on legal counsel for risk management purposes, noting that there are two barriers to making the decision to obtain legal services: the wish to maintain control of the situation; and the financial expense. Guidance is given for recognizing the need for legal counsel.

This article recognizes rapprochement between intervention theories, and asserts that contemporary recognition of the effects from the therapist-client relationship supports that family therapists should embrace interpersonal process. Specific guiding principles are posited.

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) work in highly stressful conditions. The protective police culture reinforces social isolation that increases stress. For the LEO, the major sources of stress are.. the ambiguous framework in which discretionary decisions are made; the danger of dealing with lawbreakers; public suspicion and disdain; and the lack of community and organizational support. The elevated level of stress can lead to the LEOs experiencing burnout, alcoholism and substance abuse, marital discord, depression, suicide, and a host of other personal problems. Practical suggestions are offered regarding how the family therapist can implement interventions with LEOs and their family members.

The unique nature of law enforcement has always fostered a distinct subculture that often pushes law enforcement officers (LEOs) to accept unique cultural tenets that are quite different from those held by average citizens. As a result, LEOs may isolate themselves from commonplace family and social relationships, with the byproducts of mental, physical, and behavioral problems. Despite the prominence of the police culture in modern life, there is a paucity of empirical research. On the basis of a review of the behavioral science literature and research, this article describes the negative and positive cultural effects that merit consideration by psychologists. The implications for psychological services to LEOs are discussed. Keywords: law enforcement, police culture, psychological services

In this modern era, the family, and each member therein, is subjected to new socio-environmental pressures. This article advocates that family interventions must be consonant with the modern era, considers the critical components of contemporary mental health services, and offers ten guidelines for the family therapist's adoption and adaptation of clinical practices that will be appropriate for the modern era.

In mental health practice, protecting the confidentiality of psychological information provided by clients is the cornerstone of professionalism. Often there are inadvertent violations of this axiom. On the basis of true examples, this article reveals the pitfalls associated with an office in the home, unsecured documents in the home, the telephone answering machine in the home, the family Internet account, the family computer, the shared fax machine, the shared mail box, the family dining table, the accidental revelation, the errant spouse, the exposure through litigation. Possible exceptions and special situations are discussed, and safeguards are recommended.

The negative economic impact from managed health care has led some clients to request and, consequently, their psychologists to explore unique financial arrangements, such as bartering. Bartering is not precluded by ethics or law, but in this article, the author opposes bartering by exploring the ethical and legal considerations involved and the dual relationships that occur. Clinical considerations and the potential for exploitation in the relationship are examined, and caveats about bartering are offered. For the psychologist who accepts bartering, guidelines for keeping a bartering arrangement are provided. Even if carefully monitored for clinical contradictions or exploitation, bartering imposes a high risk of allegations of misconduct (e.g., impropriety or a conflict of interest) and should be avoided.