Ethical Decision Making: Boundaries and Dual Relationships in Therapy

Is it ever appropriate for therapists to maintain relationships with individuals they have counseled after services are terminated? How should therapists respond to unsolicited invitations to be a Facebook "friend" or when learn they are being followed by a client on Twitter? Should clinicians ever disclose personal information about themselves in therapy or conduct Google searches on individuals from their caseload without their knowledge? How should therapists respond to gifts and social invitations from clients, or handle unexpected encounters with them in the local community?  

In this special three-hour ethics web conference, Dr. Frederic Reamer returns to GoodTherapy.org to answer these questions and more. An expert on ethics in the field of mental health, Dr. Reamer will share case studies in their entirety and provide first-hand accounts of his experiences being an expert witness. He will use extensive case material including:

• Typology of boundary issues and dual relationships, including themes of intimacy, emotional and dependency needs, personal benefit, altruism, and unavoidable circumstances.
• Current trends in ethics complaints and malpractice claims. 
• Risk-management strategies to maintain proper boundaries in psychotherapy.
• Ethical decision-making strategies (decision-making protocols, codes of ethics, ethics literature, relevant regulations and statutes)

Dr. Reamer will also provide attendees with comprehensive information about more complex boundary issues as well as complicated dual relationship considerations that arise in psychotherapy, especially in the digital age. Participants will learn how to identify unusual ethical dilemmas and respond constructively to protect individuals in therapy, prevent professional malpractice, and avoid liability. 

This intermediate instructional level web conference is designed to help clinicians:

1. Recognize complex boundary issues and identify unavoidable circumstances. 
2. Utilize ethical decision-making frameworks and protocols.
3. Identify specific ethical and boundary issues that pose malpractice and liability risks. 
4. Apply strategies to protect clients and prevent ethics complaints and lawsuits.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of ethics violation consequences, including licensing board standards and career implications.

GoodTherapy.org members who register for this special three-hour ethics web conference event will be invited to submit their questions about ethics to Dr. Reamer in advance of the live event.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference or would like more information, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Three CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy.org is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services and legal, ethical, and professional development.

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, 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. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 ethics continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, 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 #0395.

GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium or Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no cost. Not yet a Premium or Pro Member? Mental health professionals can attend this live web conference for $29.95 or access the homestudy recording for $14.95.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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