Training Title:
Retired ~ Ethics VII, Part B, Risk Management Mania

Clock Hours: 1

Objectives:
• Become aware of situations that may make a practitioner vulnerable to boundary violations • Be able to recognize signs that a therapist is improperly crossing the patient-therapist boundary • Understand the reasons why sexual violations are prohibited • Be able to identify the sexual and eroticized feelings that practitioners commonly encounter within the transference and countertransference relationship.

Description:
One would think, after all these years of having it pounded into our heads, that sexual misconduct—entering into a sexual relationship with our clients or patients—would be a thing of the past. After all, the codes of ethics of all the professional organizations for social work, psychology, psychiatry, and counseling state unequivocally that sexual contact with current and former clients is unethical. However, next to suicide, boundary problems and sexual misconduct rank highest as causes of malpractice actions against mental health providers. Repercussions to the therapist are stringent, ranging from loss of license to criminal and civil prosecutions, resulting in monetary fines and even prison. You’d think that it wouldn’t be worth the risk. In this interview, we will hear how the topic of boundary violations is being used and misused in lawsuits against therapists.

Approval Bodies