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Navigating Self-Disclosure, Countertransference, and Boundaries: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Clinical Practice

CE Hours 6 6 Ethics

About this live event

This workshop addresses therapist responsibility in ethical practice, with an emphasis on ensuring patient welfare across all areas of clinical work. Participants will learn about: (1) recognizing and properly managing countertransference issues, (2) the three types of self-disclosure and their effects on the therapeutic relationship, (3) proper termination and avoiding patient abandonment, and (4) preventing boundary violations. Literature updates, relevant Codes of Ethics, and current expert opinions will be incorporated throughout the discussion. This program reviews current research findings and knowledge that inform both ethical and legal practice.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the three types of countertransference and apply strategies for managing personal reactions to clients in clinical practice.
  • Describe the three types of therapist self-disclosure, their intended use in therapy sessions, and how clients may perceive therapist self-disclosure.
  • Identify key elements of appropriate therapeutic boundaries and describe their role in maintaining an ethical and effective therapy relationship.
  • Describe ethical considerations related to patient abandonment and apply best practices for proper termination of treatment.

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

10:00 – 11:00 AM
Countertransference: Understanding and Impact
 • Definition of countertransference
 • Three types of countertransference
 • Handling negative feelings about clients
 • Clinical impact of unresolved countertransference
 • Resulting problems of unresolved countertransference

11:00 – 12:00 PM
Therapist Self-Awareness and Legal Protections
 • Therapist gaining awareness of countertransference
 • Therapist impairment in accordance with the ADA
 • Use of terminology other than “Impairment” (protected by ADA law)

12:00 – 12:15 PM – Break

12:15 – 1:15 PM
Therapist Self-Disclosure: Types, Outcomes, and Considerations
 • Therapist self-disclosure
 • Three types of therapist self-disclosure
 • Client reactions to therapist self-disclosure
 • Research related to outcomes when using self-disclosure
 • Self-disclosure and diverse populations

1:15 – 2:15 PM
Best Practices in Self-Disclosure and Therapist Self-Care
 • Guidelines for using self-disclosure
 • Importance of therapist self-care
 • How to practice self-care
 • Research on therapist self-care
 • The “DOVE” method related to therapist self-care

2:15 – 2:30 PM – Break

2:30 – 3:30 PM
Ethical Boundaries and Digital-Age Considerations
 • Preventing boundary violations
 • Multiple relationships
 • Exploitation of patients
 • Difference between boundary violations and boundary crossings
 • Boundary violations in the digital age

3:30 – 3:45 PM – Break

3:45 – 4:45 PM
Ethical Challenges in Modern Practice
 • Bartering
 • Letter writing for patients
 • The Cures Act and Open Notes

Live event Instructor(s)

  • Pamela Harmell, Ph.D.

    Dr. Pamela Harmell, Ph. D. is a national lecturer specializing in legal and ethical issues in clinical practice. She is a Professor at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and has written extensively in professional publications on ethical practice and has formally studied law. She is the Past President of the Board of Psychology. Dr. Harmell is the former Chair of the California State Ethics Committee and former Chair of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Ethics Committee. She served on the Board of Directors of the California Psychological Association and is Past President of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association.

CE Process Info

Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

  • Complete evaluation forms for the event
  • Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ce-go.com".

If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer.

Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case those emails get "stuck". We'd also suggest "Allowlisting" support@ce-go.com. This tells your email client that you know this sender and trust them, which will keep emails from this contact at the top of your inbox and out of the junk folder.

  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

    CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Make An Impact is a service division of CE Learning Systems.

  • NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

    This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems, LLC is responsible for all aspects of their programming.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSEDSW)

    CE Learning Systems SW CPE 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 #0060.

  • New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

    CE Learning Systems (d/b/a CE-credit.com), 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 creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008

  • New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

    CE Learning Systems, 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 mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.

  • New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts (NYSEDLP)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC dba CE-credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com 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 psychoanalysts #P-0031.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYSEDPSY)

    CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0016.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYSEDMFT)

    CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.

  • Joint Accreditation

    Joint Accreditation (JA)

    In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems 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.

  • American Psychological Association (APA)

    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.

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems 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 under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 6 ethics continuing education credits.

CELS Grievance Policy

If a grievance arises pertaining to continuing education activities or processes, please contact Tyler Gibson via confidential email to tyler@celearningsystems.com as soon as possible, so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion.

Disability Accommodation

We are committed to providing ADA accommodations in compliance with the law. To ensure your needs are met, please inform us of any requirements when you register, ideally at least 30 days before the event. You can do so by emailing support@ce-go.com or calling 888-498-5578.

Refund Policy

Live webinar event registration purchases are not eligible for a refund. If you need to cancel your registration, please let us know by email: support@makeanimpact.com or call: 888-459-1680, prior to the event.

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your registration for a webinar, please email support@makeanimpact.com or call 888-459-1680, prior to the event. Please note that live webinar events hold a no refunds policy. 

Live Webinar Events

Make An Impact webinars are live events that you attend virtually via Zoom. CE credit can only be earned through your live attendance during the presentation. The registration deadline for this webinar is the start time. Please note that all webinar start and end times are in Eastern Time.

Technology

1. This virtual event will be hosted via Zoom Webinar, and you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi connection will be required for best quality.


2. We recommend clicking your "Join Webinar" button early and checking that your speakers are on before the event begins. Please do not worry about being seen or heard! Attendee video feeds and mics are turned off by default when entering a webinar. You will be able to ask questions via the Q&A feature.


3. Please respect that no copying, recording, or distribution of live session content is allowed. CE's are provided for the "live" sessions only. CE's will not be available for the recordings.

Navigating Self-Disclosure, Countertransference, and Boundaries: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Clinical Practice
You Have Completed This course
$147.00
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    6
  • Type
    Live Interactive Webinar
  • Date
    Sat Sep 6th, 2025
  • Time
    10:00am - 04:45pm EDT

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