This book, designed for graduate and doctoral level students as well as practicing professionals, provides a comprehensive look at the standards of law and ethics by which mental health professionals must abide. Issues related to ethics and law can be confusing as values and rules change based on client and context. For example, a school counselor who works with children is bound by different rules of confidentiality than a psychologist who counsels adults. To simplify issues, this book divides information into the legal and ethical rules appropriate for various types of clients in a number of settings. The book opens with an explanation of the history of law related to mental health professionals; this includes a description of how and why laws related to clinicians are enacted. It then focuses on the therapist-client relationship and examines the many points at which legal and ethical considerations intersect with the practice of therapy. Exercises at the end of each section reinforce the reader's understanding of the principles outlined. Chapter 9, "The Mental Health Professional in the School," is of particular interest to school psychologists and counselors. (Contains an extensive reference list and an index.) (Author/MKA)