Ethics Category

Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships in Behavioral Health: Ethics and Risk Management Challenges

3 CE Hours
1,982 members have taken this course
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About the Course

Behavioral health professionals frequently encounter complex ethical challenges involving boundaries and dual relationships. Examples include proper management of confidential and private information when practitioners live and work in small or rural communities; practitioner self-disclosure; friendships and social contact with current and former clients; favors, gifts, and invitations; hiring of former clients; and online and social networking relationships and communications, among others. Using extensive case material, Dr. Frederic Reamer will acquaint participants with a typology of boundary issues and dual relationships. Participants will learn how to identify and respond constructively to complex boundary issues, protect clients, prevent professional malpractice, and avoid licensing board complaints. Key topics will include the nature of boundary issues, types of dual relationships, ethical standards, and risk-management strategies.

This course is based on the recorded webinar, Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships in Behavioral Health created by Frederick Reamer, PhD. in 2023.

Publication Details

Publication Date: 1st Edition Apr 2023

Course Material Author

Frederic G. Reamer, PhD

Frederic Reamer is professor in the graduate program, School of Social Work, Rhode Island College, where he has been on the faculty since 1983. His teaching and research focus on professional ethics, criminal justice, mental health, health care, and public policy. Dr. Reamer received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has served as a social worker in correctional and mental health settings. He chaired the national task force that wrote the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Social Workers in 1996 and recently served on the code revision task force. Dr. Reamer also chaired the national task force sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers, Association of Social Work Boards, Council on Social Work Education, and Clinical Social Work Association that developed technology standards for the profession. Dr. Reamer has lectured nationally and internationally on social work and professional ethics.

Disclosures

He receives royalties as a published author, and receives recording royalties for this presentation.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Apply relevant ethics standards to manage boundaries and dual relationships.
  2. 2 Identify ethics and risk management issues related to professional boundaries and dual relationships in the behavioral health professions.
  3. 3 Use protocols designed to protect clients and help prevent litigation and ethics complaints.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Frederic G. Reamer, PhD – He receives royalties as a published author, and receives recording royalties for this presentation.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Montana Board of Psychologists

3 CE credit hours — Ethics
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Joint Accreditation (JA)

3 Psychologist CE credit hours
3 Social Worker CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
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Logo: Jointly Accredited Provider (tm) - Interprofessional Continuing Education

American Psychological Association (APA)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Feb 1st, 2028
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
More Info
Logo: American Psychological Association

Course Material

This material is included for free with an annual or lifetime membership or individually for $30.00.

This course material is published by Frederic Reamer. For your convenience, has partnered with Frederic Reamer to make it available for purchase right here.

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