HIPAA: Federal law governing privacy and security of healthcare information, setting standards for patient data protection and access rights

ADA Compliance: Federal law ensuring therapy services are accessible to individuals with disabilities and preventing discrimination

Civil Rights Act: Federal legislation ensuring non-discrimination in provision of therapy services regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

42 CFR Part 2: Federal regulations governing confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records

State Mental Health Laws: State-specific regulations governing mental health practice, including licensing requirements and treatment standards

State Consent Requirements: State-specific rules regarding what constitutes valid informed consent and documentation requirements

State Privacy Laws: Additional state-level privacy protections that may exceed federal HIPAA requirements

Age of Consent Laws: State-specific regulations determining when minors can consent to therapy and what parental involvement is required

Mandatory Reporting Requirements: State laws requiring therapists to report certain situations such as abuse, harm to self/others, or neglect

APA Ethical Guidelines: Professional standards set by the American Psychological Association governing ethical practice of therapy

Record Keeping Regulations: Federal and state requirements for maintaining, storing, and protecting therapy records and documentation

Informed Consent Standards: Legal and ethical requirements for obtaining proper informed consent, including disclosure of risks and benefits

Duty to Warn/Protect: Legal obligations established by Tarasoff decisions requiring therapists to protect third parties from potential harm

Emergency Procedures: Legal requirements for handling crisis situations, including suicide risk and immediate dangers

Limits of Confidentiality: Legal and ethical requirements to disclose situations where confidentiality may be broken, including court orders and safety concerns