If we’re being honest, sometimes it’s hard to feel motivated to take yet another ethics class. But whether we’ve been practicing for years or just starting to integrate the full meaning of our values into the clinical work, it is essential to reconsider how our field's ethical principles and standards apply to the actual daily practice with clients. This class will explore some of the most common ethical pitfalls ensnaring even the most experienced therapists.

This class is intended to be an entertaining guide to the ethical practice and professional responsibility we strive to attain. From a storytelling perspective, we’ll look at some slippery slopes, regrettable missteps, and colossal blunders. Our focus will primarily be on ethical considerations within the therapeutic relationship – boundary crossings & violations, professional competency & misconduct, and the risks of compassion fatigue. 

This full-day class is designed for practicing therapists with clients of all ages. The workshop will be conducted in a Zoom format. Teaching modalities will include clinical discussion, lectures with many case examples, video illustrations, and small group and individual exercises.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Define professional competence and identify our scope of practice.
2. Differentiate between boundary crossings and violations.
3. Identify potential impacts of transference and countertransference on ethical practice.
4. Utilize Ling & Hauck’s ETHICS model as an option for decision-making.
5. Explore the ethical risks of compassion fatigue and strategies to mitigate them.
6. Determine resources and supports for ethical decision-making.