PPW: DORA: Integrating Statutory Requirements, Ethical Standards, and Clinical Practice
Presentation by Elizabeth Schulte, LCSW
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 - 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Summary:
In this workshop, you will learn about the Department of Regulatory Agencies and its role in mental health practice in Colorado. Specifically, we will review DORA’s mission, its history, and the makeup and function of its individual Mental Health Boards. We will review the Colorado Mental Health Practice Act, DORA Rules and Regulations, and DORA Policies, and how they pertain to the practice of mental health in Colorado. You will be provided with strategies and tips to reduce your risk if you are the subject of a licensing board grievance, including recommendations for the informed consent process. Please note that this section does not take the place of formal clinical, ethical, and legal consultation, and does not take the place of professional liability insurance recommendations and requirements.1.5 CEUs
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding the role of DORA in consumer protection and the regulation of mental health professionals in Colorado
- Becoming familiar with the Mental Health Practice Act, DORA Rules and Regulations, and DORA Policies
- Learning to engage in ethical, legal, and responsible professional conduct to reduce the potential for grievances and associated disciplinary actions
About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth have been a member of CSCSW since 2014, a past Board President, and the current Board Treasurer. She graduated with her MSW from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work in 2009 and has held an LCSW in Colorado since 2012. She also has a Telehealth License in Vermont, and plans to obtain the social work multistate license once the Social Work Licensure Compact is implemented.
In her psychotherapy private practice, she works with individual adults across their lifespan from developmental, psychodynamic, and relational perspectives, with a focus on interpersonal trauma and disrupting relational patterns. As part of her private practice, she also supervises master’s-level mental health practitioners working towards independent licensure and provides post-licensure consultation to psychotherapists in support of their clinical practice. She is also a former accountant and consults with mental health professionals to help them organize the financial aspects of their private practice.
From 2016 to 2021, she was the Chair of the NASW-CO/CSCSW Practice Standards Committee. This committee is a volunteer committee that writes guidelines for social workers in Colorado to help them navigate clinical, ethical, and statutory issues in their practice.
Who is this Workshop For?
This workshop (and others in this series) is for mental health professionals who are looking to start a private practice. These workshops are also great for clinicians who are in private practice, but could use some additional support. This workshop is open to all mental health professionals (not just social workers) who have at least a Master's Degree.
Cancellation Policy
Full refunds will be offered for cancellations made at least 24 hours before the first session. No refunds will be offered for day of cancellations.