All professional ethics and standards are critical to ethical practice; however the overlap of the standards lends to focus upon 6 critical areas of ethical awareness and practice. The intent of this seminar is to focus upon those areas and elicit critical thought about how to apply these standards to everyday clinical practice. Content is derived from the ethics and standards of the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American Psychological Association.

Course Content:

The Therapist and Client Relationship

• Ethics and Standards Overview
• Objectivity and your clients
• Clinical presence and professional influence
• Rationalizations that can harm the client
• Opinions and values the therapist needs to manage

Confidentiality

• Ethical disclosures and confidentiality limits
• Informed consent and education of client about mandated disclosures
• Your obligation when imminent risk of danger is present for the client or others
• Decisions to inform third parties and documentation

Multiple Relationships

• Interpreting the ethical language regarding relationships
• What constitutes a boundary crossing vs. an ethical violation?
• Is a client necessarily always “off bounds” with regard to future social interaction?
• What exceptions exist and are they legitimate?

Ethical Practice In A Techno World

• Risks of using email, texting, “tweeting” and other electronic messaging
• Risks of social networking with clients
• Internet and Skype counseling risks

Socio-Cultural Competency

• Can a clinician be 100 % socially and culturally competent?
• If the clinician does not feel competent with a specific socio-cultural issue, does referring the client to another make a negative statement to the client?
• Does a clinician need to be an “expert” to counsel persons of diversity?

Treatment Plans, Documentation, and Termination

• Over-emphasis on a diagnostic labels vs treating the client
• Establishing a true conjoint treatment plan that addresses the client’s needs and abilities
• Attention to appropriate documentation and avoiding “omission or exaggeration” of client issues
• Informing the client of the treatment focus and ultimate goal of successful termination

Maintaining focus of the treatment on the original goals