Challenges in the Treatment Planning ProcessFederal and state laws, including Public Law 94-142 and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), require that children with emotional, behavioral and learning are given a diagnosis to receive needed services and accommodations (Neukrug & Fawcett, 2015). A clinical diagnosis is also necessary when requesting reimbursement from managed care organizations and insurance companies, as they will base the number of therapy sessions authorized on the goals of the diagnosis and treatment plan. The DSM -5 is an important tool for determining a client's diagnosis and should be used in conjunction with clinical interviews, family assessments, and standardized assessment tools when developing a treatment plan (Neukrug & Fawcett, 2015). Providing an Accurate DiagnosisSome of the disorders listed in the DSM-5 contain clusters of symptoms, however many disorders are now found on a spectrum with other closely related disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). It is important to remember that patients often do not meet all criteria for a given disorder, and there may be overlapping symptoms across multiple disorders that require clinical attention. Therefore, the lines between various disorders can easily become blurred. Doctors often have to make a diagnosis quite quickly, particularly when requesting third-party reimbursement. And, while a diagnosis should not be provided solely for reimbursement purposes, providing a diagnosis is often a time-consuming process. ENTER CODE OF ETHICS. Helping professionals can harm clients when an inaccurate diagnosis is given, especially since the diagnosis is a key element when making treatment decisions… half of paper… JL (2010). Interdisciplinary treatment planning in hospital settings: from myth to model. Psychiatric Quarterly, 81(3), 263-277. doi:10.1007/s11126-010-9135-1Neukrug, E., & Fawcett, C. (2015). Essentials of testing and evaluation: A practical guide for social workers, counselors, and psychologists (3rd ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage. New Mental Health Freedom Commission. (2003). Keeping the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America: Final Report (DHHS Pub. No. SMA-03-3832). Rockville, MD: Author.Walker, J.S., & Schutte, K.M. (2004). Practice and process in immersive teamwork. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 12(3), 182-192. doi:10.1177/10634266040120030501Walker, J. S., & Schutte, K. (2005). Quality and customization in wraparound team planning. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 14(2), 251-267. doi:10.1007/s10826-005-5052-6