Articles for physicians and other providers practicing mental and behavioral health, including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and behavior analysts. Topics cover the compliance, privacy, corporate, and operational issues specific to behavioral health practices, with attention to the confidentiality and documentation questions these providers face.
Owners and operators of youth intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) face legal questions long after opening their doors. This article explores the recurring compliance and operational issues that commonly arise as programs hire staff, serve patients, navigate regulations, and expand.
Many therapists assume they must either accept insurance or operate entirely as a cash-pay practice, but each model offers advantages and tradeoffs that should be evaluated before launching or growing a practice.
A no-secrets policy sets expectations about what a couples therapist may share between partners. This post explains what the policy must include to be enforceable, where mandatory reporting and safety duties override it, and how to structure intake paperwork to hold up clinically and legally.
Starting a mental health private practice in Illinois takes more than clinical expertise. This legal checklist walks Illinois therapists through the seven steps before seeing the first client, from PLLC formation to HIPAA, Good Faith Estimates, and employment agreements.
Walk-and-talk, surf, and equine therapy require informed consent documents that go beyond standard EMR templates. Here is what your outdoor therapy consent forms should cover.
Artificial intelligence (AI) can greatly enhance healthcare delivery, but in Illinois, new regulations now strictly govern its use in therapy
AI tools promise more time with patients and less on documentation, but not without new risks.
A franchise can jumpstart your practice—but it comes with tradeoffs. Here’s what to know before you sign the contract.
Do you own a mental health practice? Explore how Management Services Organizations (MSOs) can help you provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary patient care and allow you to focus on your clinical services.
Mental health providers and their clients can develop close relationships over the course of therapy. When does it cross an ethical line, and what types of behavior can result in professional discipline?
