The Law of Psychology and the Psychology of Law

Reviews the book, Law & Mental Health Professionals: Vermont by John J. McCullough III, Ilona M. Engel, and Spencer Wright (see record 2006-05780-000). This is another one of the comprehensive volumes in the American Psychological Association (APA) series, Law and Mental Health Professionals. It is a very complete and extensive look at laws affecting the practice of psychology and how psychologists interact with the legal system in the State of Vermont. It is not an exciting book, nor was it intended to be, but is an excellent reference book, as are the other volumes in this series. This volume, like the other volumes in the series, consists of eight different sections that are loosely called chapters, but, in essence, there are 117 separate discussions in the volume. Again, the discussions are expansive in their scope, but the authors do not make an attempt to explore similarities or differences among the laws discussed in the different sections. The sections deal with legal credentialing of mental health professionals; business and insurance matters; maintenance and privacy of professional information; and a series of discussions of adults, minors and families, civil matters, criminal matters, and voluntary and involuntary commitment procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)