Balancing Connectivity and Confidentiality: Ethical Considerations for Therapists in Online Interactions with Clients

Please note: This webinar was originally scheduled for July 31 but was rescheduled to Wednesday, August 14, 9-11 a.m. PT/12-2 p.m. ET. If you registered for July 31, your registration remains intact for the new date on August 14. No action is required from you. A reminder email will be sent before the webinar begins on August 14.

In today's digital age, the lines between personal and professional boundaries can easily blur, especially in the realm of online interactions and social media. For private practice therapists, navigating this digital landscape while upholding ethical standards and preserving the integrity of the therapeutic relationship is crucial. This comprehensive 2-hour presentation aims to equip therapists with the knowledge and strategies necessary to maintain professional boundaries and ensure responsible use of social media and online communication channels when interacting with clients.

Through interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain a deep understanding of the ethical principles and professional guidelines governing social media use and online communications with clients. The presentation will delve into the potential risks and benefits of engaging with clients in the digital realm, empowering therapists to make informed decisions that prioritize client welfare and therapeutic effectiveness. Additionally, attendees will explore best practices for establishing clear policies, responding to client requests or interactions online, and addressing breaches of online boundaries or inappropriate communications. By the end of the session, therapists will have the tools to develop a personalized social media and online communication policy tailored to their private practice, ensuring ethical and professional conduct in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

This 2-hour introductory continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. Define the ethical principles and professional guidelines related to social media use and online communications with clients.
2. Analyze potential risks and benefits of using social media and online communication channels in a therapeutic context.
3. Identify strategies for maintaining appropriate boundaries and protecting client confidentiality when engaging with clients online.

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: This course utilizes the latest research, guidelines and best practices from authoritative bodies of mental health field. Research is continuously being updated and this course will have most up to date information found. Resources will be shared to stay up to date with changes made in the field.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: The presenter has no conflicts of interest/commercial interests to declare.

In this 2-hour continuing education webinar on family therapy, Dr. Phil Feldman, will focus on various clinical interventions that are highly effective for a variety of presenting problems. Topics include various family therapy models based on work by Minuchin, Bowen, and Ackerman.

This webinar will also explore ways to assess family communication patterns, intergenerational patterns, and underlying dynamics. Mental health clinicians will learn ways to restructure boundaries, reframe problems, identify triangulation, and help clients improve communication skills.

This introductory continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. Identify three common intergeneration family problems.
2. Recall three ways to use Genograms to help families understand their family patterns.
3. Name four specific roles that family members may have within their family and four effective family therapy interventions to improve communication within families. 

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: This program presents empirically-validated family therapy interventions to address communication problems. It is consistent with the ethics code of the NASW and the American Psychological Association. A significant body of research suggests that these family therapy methods are effective and safe when properly applied. There are no known contraindications for this modality. A list of references supporting the course content will be provided to participants.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: No conflict of interest indicated.

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

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE ethics/telehealth contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy 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/telehealth continuing education credits.

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

GoodTherapy, LLC 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 #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, 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 and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

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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