GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION This intermediate course provides participants with needed information on documentation and record keeping for mental health professionals so they each may practice in an ethical, legal, and clinically effective manner. The articles that comprise this course cover a range of topics that will assist each practitioner to utilize documentation and record keeping as an effective risk management strategy, to enhance the quality of clinical services they provide, and to meet legal, ethics, and regulatory requirements. Issues addressed include when and how to document, the appropriate format, content, and styles of documentation, just what to include and exclude, and the use of documentation to minimize risk and to enhance treatment outcomes. This course does not cover HIPAA regulations. For an online course on HIPAA, click here. The course is comprised of ten articles, that cover the essential aspects of effective clinical documentation, clinical, ethical, and risk management issues, and how records may impact our practices. It answer questions, such as, why keep records? Why document? What should be included in the records? How do records help me manage risk? The role of HIPAA, electronic records, and effective record storage and retention are addressed briefly (This course does not cover HIPAA regulations. For an online course on HIPAA, click here). APA Record Keeping Guidelines are provided to illuminate specific details that contribute to effective documentation and record keeping. The ethical principles and standards of the mental health professions are presented to accentuate the specific documentation and record keeping requirements of each mental health profession. The California Law on Record Keeping is an addendum for California psychologists, MFTs and LCSWs. The course provides Guidelines for Record Keeping and summarizes the most important aspects of record keeping in bullets-summary format. Finally, Clinical Forms are provided that will assist practitioners to more effectively and efficiently meet documentation and record keeping requirements so that they may be done in an ethical, legal, and clinically effective manner. To review Clinical Forms, click here.