Description
After all these years, one would think that sexual misconduct (entering into a sexual relationship with a client or patient) would be a thing of the past. 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, monetary fines, and even prison. One would think it wouldn't be worth the risk. However, knowing the rules isn't always enough to override the risk factors that make us vulnerable. These factors can have disastrous consequences when combined with a variety of factors in our clients and patients. This program takes an in-depth look at how these situations can develop.
Target audience: Psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, addiction counselors, nurses.
Format: Asynchronous, distance learning. Non-interactive. Recorded audio with transcript.
Content Category: Ethics
This CE course is designated as intermediate.
This course meets the requirement for the risk management discount for the American Professional Agency.
You can access the audio to these interviews via your computer's MP3 player and/or read the text of the interviews.
There are no known conflicts of interest or commercial support to disclose.
Author Bio
Subject Matter Experts:
Hugh Johnston, MD, is clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with certification in psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry. He has more than twenty years of research and clinical experience, has authored many clinical and research publications, and has been the recipient of numerous public and private research grants. Dr. Johnston's enthusiasm, clarity, and effective use of humor have earned him many awards including the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Wisconsin and the Manfred E. Swarsensky Humanitarian Service Award.
Judith Newman, LCSW, is a clinical social worker and psychoanalyst in private practice in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois. She is a graduate of the Psychoanalytic Education Program at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, where she currently teaches in the Adult Psychotherapy Program. She is also on the faculty of the Institute for Clinical Social Work. Her practice includes psychoanalysis, individual and couples psychotherapy, and individual and group consultation for therapists.
Interviewer:
Barbara Alexander, LCSW, BCD, is a graduate of the Smith College School for Social Work and the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. After working for 13 years in child psychiatric settings and 30 years in private practice, she is now founder and president of On Good Authority, and an expert interviewer.
CE Approvals
At Health, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. At Health, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
At Health, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6949. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. At Health, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Athealth.com is approved as a continuing education provider by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Provider #148460.
At Health, LLC, Provider #1707, 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. At Health, LLC, maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 5/3/2023-5/3/2026.
It is At Health's understanding that these programs meet the criteria of an approved continuing education program for social work in Arkansas. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.
It is At Health's understanding that these programs meet the criteria of an approved continuing education program for social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, master's level psychologists, licensed clinical psychotherapists, and alcohol and other drug abuse counselors in Kansas. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.
It is At Health's understanding that these programs meet the criteria of an approved continuing education program for mental health practice and for social work in Nebraska. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.
It is At Health's understanding that these programs meet the criteria of an approved continuing education program for psychologists, pastoral psychotherapists, clinical social workers, clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and alcohol and drug abuse counselors in New Hampshire. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.
It is At Health's understanding that these programs meet the criteria of an approved continuing education program for social workers, professional counselors, marital and family therapists, and clinical pastoral therapists in Tennessee. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.
Other jurisdictions may accept trainings offered by At Health, LLC for your continuing education requirements. Restrictions may apply. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.”
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Page last modified or reviewed by athealth.com on Mar 22, 2025.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this program, participants should be able to:
- Identify situations that make a practitioner vulnerable to boundary violations.
- List some of the signs that a therapist is improperly crossing the patient-therapist boundary.
- Discuss why sexual violations are prohibited.
- Identify the sexual feelings that practitioners commonly encounter within the transference and countertransference relationship.
Monica (verified owner) –