Ethically-Based Strategies for Reducing Risks Associated With Boundaries
The outcome of psychotherapy depends greatly on the quality of the therapeutic relationship. It goes without saying that practitioners want to avoid harming clients or receiving disciplinary actions; however, they also want to have quality client relationships and good therapeutic outcomes. Nonetheless, boundary violations and multiple relationships are the most common complaints against mental health professionals.

Dr. Knapp focuses on "positive ethics" or ways to use ethics to promote high standards of services, instead of viewing ethics merely as a way to avoid being sanctioned by a disciplinary body. Although he does not shy away from addressing difficult issues in professional practice, Dr. Knapp avoids "scare tactics" and assumes participants have intrinsic motivation to improve the quality of their services. Using a positive approach, this practical program teaches attendees how to apply overarching ethical principles to improve the quality of their client relationships and enhance client outcomes, while reducing their legal risks.

Course Content

Ethical Foundations

• Why client relationships are important
• Overarching principles behind boundary rules
• Applying the ethics acculturation model
• Adopting a positive approach to ethics
  • More than just avoiding being disciplined
  • Sensitivity to ethical issues improves quality of services
  • Good risk management means good client care
• Deepening self-reflection
• Embracing cultural, religious, and other diversities
  • Ethical basis of cultural competence
  • Impact of cultural competence on outcomes
  • Improve competence in special areas

Applying Ethical Principles to Common Boundary Problems

• Unavoidable multiple relationships
• Relationships with former clients
• Intense emotions
  • Sexual attraction
  • Disgust
  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Hatred
• Multiple relationships, including social media
• Subtle boundary issues
  • Self-disclosure
    • Public disclosures (what you wear, how you speak)
    • Targeted disclosures
  • Gift-giving/taking
  • Selling products to clients
  • Psychological voyeurism (when entertainment trumps relationships)
  • Intrusive advocacy
  • Hate-filled comments
  • “Googling” clients without consent
  • Avoiding incompatible treatment agendas (such as multi-generational services)
  • Clarifying relationships with collateral contacts and others
  • Working in forensic, quasi-forensic, or hybrid roles

when ethical principles collide: ethical decision making

• Protecting your practice
  • Informed consent
  • Documentation
  • Consultation
  • Secondary protections (if necessary)
• Summarizing what we learned