Santa Cruz Chapter of CAMFT
presents
High-Risk, High-Stakes: Legal & Ethical Issues When Working with Suicidal, Dangerous and Court-Involved Clients
with Michael Griffin, Esq., LCSW, CAMFT Staff Attorney
Friday, October 23, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm
Simpkin's "Community Center" Room B
(979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062)
6 CE Credits
Description
This workshop provides 6 (six) hours of continuing education on the following topics: Legal and ethical issues involved when working with suicidal clients. Content includes, but is not limited to: Standards of care; The relevance of assessment to foreseeability of harm; identifying risk factors for suicide and undertaking “reasonable protective actions.” Information from selected cases and relevant exceptions to confidentiality will also be discussed.
Legal and ethical issues involved when working with dangerous clients. Content includes, but is not limited to: Standards of care; understanding the “duty to protect” based upon Tarasoff and Civil Code §43,92; the meaning of patient communication based upon the Ewing cases; understanding the “duty to report,” based upon Welf. & Inst. Code §8100(b)(1) and §8105(c), and relevant exceptions to confidentiality.
Legal and ethical issues when working with court-Involved clients. Content includes, but is not limited to: Legal and ethical issues which commonly arise when working with clients who are court-involved; Clearly defining the therapist’s role and client expectations at the start of treatment; Writing letters for clients and offering opinions; Impartiality, and the therapist’s responsibility to the legal system.
The workshop incorporates relevant laws and ethical standards, along with examples drawn from the presenter’s experience as a psychotherapist for children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of professional settings. Mr. Griffin has been a staff attorney for CAMFT since 2006 and is a practicing therapist in Laguna Niguel, CA.
Educational Goals/Learning Objectives
In successfully completing and attending this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify legal and ethical standards of care when working with suicidal or dangerous clients.
- Describe key risk factors, assessment responsibilities, and appropriate protective actions.
- Explain the duty to protect and duty to report, including major laws such as Tarasoff, Civil Code §43.92, and Welf. & Inst. Code §8100/§8105.
- Recognize when confidentiality exceptions apply in cases involving risk of harm.
- Define the therapist’s role with court‑involved clients and apply ethical guidelines for documentation, letters, and impartiality.
- Integrate legal requirements, ethical standards, and case examples into sound clinical decision‑making.
Presenter
Michael Griffin, Esq., LCSW has been a member of the CAMFT legal team since 2007. A graduate of the USC School of Social Work and Chapman University School of Law, Mr. Griffin earned his LCSW in 1982 and his California license as an Attorney in 2002. He has a broad professional background in various mental health settings (including Western Youth Services in Orange County, California, and Rady Children’s Psychiatry Department in San Diego) as a clinician, administrator, supervisor, clinical case manager, school program coordinator, and outpatient clinic director, and has served as an oral examiner for LCSW candidates. In addition to his work for CAMFT, Mr. Griffin is a practicing psychotherapist with adults, adolescents and children in Laguna Niguel, California.
Schedule
9:00am: Check-in/Networking & Breakfast *
9:30am-12:00pm: CE Session
12:00pm-12:30pm: Lunch *
12:30pm-4:00pm: CE Session
* = non CE portion of day
Advanced registration is required for this event and must be completed at least one day before the event. Each individual seeking CE credits must register separately, attend the event, and submit the post-session evaluation to receive CE certificate within one week. The evaluation with attached CE certificate will be sent out to confirmed attendees by 48 hours after the event.
Cost
SC-CAMFT Member (Clinical and Affiliate): $65
SC-CAMFT Member (Associate and Student): $55
Non-Member: $100
Non-Member (Associate/Student): $90
*Registration closes Thursday, October 22.*
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Continuing Education Provider #62284: This training meets the qualifications for 6 hours continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Course completion certificates will be available to attendees after completion of the session evaluation and sent by email no later than three weeks after the session. The Santa Cruz Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs. The Santa Cruz Chapter of CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Due to this program being managed by volunteers, there are no cancellation refunds for this program.
Special Accommodations: The Santa Cruz Chapter of CAMFT is committed to providing a presentation that is accessible to all who wish to attend. If you have a special need and plan to attend, please notify us at president@santacruztherapist.org. Requests must be made one week in advance.
Grievances/Other Questions: Contact SC-CAMFT at president@santacruztherapist.org.