Ethical Challenges in Mental Health Practice Presented by the Use of Technology

CE Hours 3 3 Ethics

About this live event

Technology has revolutionized access to mental health services for people around the world. However, the ethical challenges presented by the rapid expansion of the use of technology in this field cannot be overstated. This training will explore the ethical challenges related to video/tele therapy services, as well as extra-office communications through texting, emailing, and app-based communications. Special attention will be paid to interactions with clients in virtual spaces that were not previously considered, because they were not technologically possible.

Learning Objectives

Describe the ethical and legal responsibility of mental and behavioral health professionals to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients when using technology in their practice.
Describe the ethical and legal responsibility of mental and behavioral health professionals to protect client confidential information when using technology in their practice.
Apply a framework to avoid boundary conflicts when using technology in their professional practice, whenever possible.

Learning Levels

All Levels

Target Audience

This live interactive webinar is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, MFT's and Addiction Professionals.

Agenda

11:00am - 11:20am Introductions, Revisiting Ethics in Professional Practice

What do we mean by “ethical”?
How is “ethical” related to “legal”?
Introducing the concepts of boundaries and confidentiality.

11:20am - 11:35am Protecting Yourself from Ethical & Legal Liability

11:35am - 12:30pm Ethical Challenges Related to the Use of Technology in Modern Mental and Behavioral Professional Practice

Communications with clients: telephone, fax machine, electronic mail, texting

App based communications, including tele/video therapy

12:30pm - 12:45pm Break

12:45pm - 1:45pm Ethical Challenges Related to the Use of Technology in Modern Mental and Behavioral Professional Practice (continued)

Storage of client information electronically
Interactions with clients in the cyberspace
Yourself in cyberspace (your online persona, website reviews/client testimonials1:45pm - 2:05pm Applying Ethical and Legal Principals through Case Examples

2:05pm - 2:15pm Q&A, Conclusion

Live event Instructor(s)

Kathryn Krase, JD, MSW

Kathryn Krase is a social worker, lawyer, researcher, educator, and expert on professional ethics. She has significant experience as a family law practitioner, social work supervisor, along with more than 20 years of experience in faculty and administrative roles in undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level social work programs in and around New York City. Dr. Krase is the Principal Consultant for Krase Consulting, in Brooklyn, New York, where she focuses on educating mental and physical health professionals on their general legal and ethical obligations.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS 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). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.