
Washington Mandatory Reporting and Duty to Warn in the Age of Telehealth
With Eric Ström, JD, MA, LMHC
On Saturday, May 22, 2021
From 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Contact Hours: 3 hours, ANCC approval pending
Registration Fees
- $50.00 for AAPPN members
- $75.00 for Nonmembers
For many clinicians, patient lethality and mandatory reporting are some of the most difficult topics to navigate.
In this workshop, we’ll examine the applicable Washington State and Federal laws regarding mandatory reporting obligations with a specific focus on how these rules apply to behavioral health settings.
We will also discuss the boundaries and standards of clinician liability for client harm to self or others as defined in Washington State case law. Special consideration will be given to applying these topics to the context of telehealth and with regard to client/patient advocacy.
Participants will gain increased ability to implement strategies to minimize risk and to limit liability to best support their clients and patients. This course is intended to meet ethics CE requirements.
Objectives: Participants will be able to
- Identify and apply legal guidelines regarding mandatory reporting obligations.
- Identify and apply legal standards regarding duty to warn/duty to protect.
- Create and evaluate strategies to meet legal reporting requirements while maximizing client/patient support.
- Understand the implications of the telehealth context on reporting requirements and related legal duties.
- Create strategies to advocate for clients/patients appropriately and safely.
About the Speaker

Eric Ström is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle. As an attorney, Eric’s practice is focused on providing legal counsel, consultation, and guidance to behavioral health professionals.
Eric earned a PhD in Counseling at Oregon State University, graduated cum laude from Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit, earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Northwest School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Seattle, and attended the Hague Academy of International Law in The Hague, Netherlands.
Eric serves on the American Mental Health Counselors Association Ethics Committee, and is the ethics advisor for the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association. Eric has taught a range of courses in counseling and professional ethics at a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs.
Contact hours
This activity has been submitted to Oregon Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. Oregon Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Upon approval, attendees may earn 3 contact hours. Participants must be present for all of the educational activity to receive contact hours.