2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Contemporary Legal Challenges in Counseling is presented by Theodore P. Remley Jr., JD, Ph.D.

In this program, Dr. Remley discusses some of the most common legal challenges facing contemporary counselors in mental health, school, college, and private practice settings. Topics include managing clients who may be at risk for suicide or violence; counseling children and families involved in child custody disputes; avoiding unwanted court appearances; and dealing with subpoenas. Practice guidelines for managing these legal issues are provided.

Learning Objectives

  • 1 Describe appropriate steps to take after receiving a subpoena
  • 2 Describe the proper steps to take when a counselor determines that a client may be at risk for suicide
  • 3 Demonstrate they know what to do when a parent asks a counselor to appear in court to help the parent obtain child custody

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for counselors who want to deepen their understanding of legal issues commonly encountered in mental health practice. It provides practical guidance for navigating legal challenges relevant to various counseling settings, including clinical, school, college, and private practice environments.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Clinical Counselors
    • School Counselors
    • College and University Counselors
    • Private Practice Counselors

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in legal and ethical issues in counseling practice.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to legal and ethical challenges in counseling and seek foundational knowledge about responding to subpoenas, managing client risk, and navigating court-related requests.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with legal and ethical issues in counseling and are looking to deepen their understanding of best practices and refine their skills in complex situations such as suicide risk assessment and court involvement.

    • Advanced: Participants have extensive experience managing legal and ethical challenges in diverse counseling settings and are seeking advanced strategies for complex cases and leadership in legal risk management.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners work in client-facing counseling environments within healthcare, educational, and community contexts, balancing therapeutic care with rigorous documentation, policy compliance, and interprofessional coordination. Their day-to-day includes structured risk assessment, confidentiality management, and navigation of legal processes such as subpoenas, court-related requests, and custody matters.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Clinical mental health agencies and outpatient clinics
    • School counseling offices (K–12)
    • College and university counseling centers
    • Private practice (solo or group)

Presented By

Theodore Remley, Jr., JD, PhD Counseling Faculty Member at the University of Holy Cross

Theodore P. Remley, Jr. holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Florida and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana and Mississippi, where he also holds the Supervisor credential. Dr. Remley also holds a JD in law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and is a member of the Virginia and Florida bars. Dr. Remley is a full-time counseling faculty member at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the co-author with Dr. Barbara Herlihy of a textbook entitled, Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling, that is published by Pearson Press and is in its 6th edition, and has published numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters on legal and ethical issues in counseling. Dr. Remley has served on counselor licensure boards in four states and is a former executive director of the American Counseling Association.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Theodore Remley, Jr., JD, PhD

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.