Course Description

Most of us learned in graduate school to avoid dual relationships that are reasonably avoidable. But that isn’t actually what our ethics codes ask of us, and such a conservative approach sometimes means that prospective clients aren’t helped by the person in the best position to help them: you. In this advanced ethics course, we’ll review the actual ethical guidance on dual relationships, focusing on the flexibility built into that guidance. We’ll talk about situations where a therapeutic relationship may involve some risk because of a dual relationship — and be worth pursuing anyway. And we’ll talk about the steps to take to reduce risk when moving forward with therapy in a dual relationship context.

1 Hour CE. Recorded Video Format (non-interactive)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Describe three key factors ethics codes are concerned about with dual relationships

  • Articulate their own boundaries surrounding multiple relationships

  • Identify three ways to reduce risk when therapy is one part of a dual relationship

Course Outline

1. Defining Dual Relationships

a. Dual v multiple

b. APA definition

2. Ethical Standards

a. ACA

b. NASW

c. AAMFT

d. APA

3. Key Ethical Issues

a. Why the appearance of a problem matters

b. Avoidability

c. What the standards call on therapists to assess

4. Case Examples


References


Reviews

Excellent course

Lydia Malcolm

I found this course very useful and easy to follow. It is an important area for therapist and counselors to be proficient at.

I found this course very useful and easy to follow. It is an important area for therapist and counselors to be proficient at.

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Excellent presenter, course material, and case scenarios applicable to the therapy field.

Kimberly Whalen

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Very informative

Danielle Comerford

I really enjoyed this course. This is timely, as dual relationship is showing up unexpectedly in a current therapeutic relationship. I appreciate the nuanced perspective.

I really enjoyed this course. This is timely, as dual relationship is showing up unexpectedly in a current therapeutic relationship. I appreciate the nuanced perspective.

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Instructor

Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT

Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723). He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics, Chair of the workgroup that developed Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy, and author of several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs.

Dr. Caldwell is also the co-author of the forthcoming Basics of California Law for Psychologists.

Additional Information

Format and Length:

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 71 minutes.

Topic Area:

Law and Ethics

Instructional Level:

Advanced

Completion Requirements:

To obtain your CE certificate, you must progress through all course segments, complete a satisfaction survey, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a course completion quiz. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within a reasonable number of attempts, and may be blocked from completing the course and receiving their certificate if unable to do so.

Completion Quiz and Course Evaluation:

After watching course videos, the course completion quiz will be available to complete, followed by the course evaluation.

Who Should Attend:

Psychologists, counselors, masters or doctoral level clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Publication and Review Dates:

Course Published: April 08, 2019
Course Reviewed: January 8, 2020
Course Reviewed: October 26, 2020

Financial Support Statement:

SimplePractice pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest Statement:

There is no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Refund Policy:

Click here to see our policies on attendance, refunds, grievances, and accessibility, and other frequently asked questions. Click here to contact us or submit a grievance.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries related to subject matter guidance, correction, grading, comments, or problem resolution please contact us.

System Requirements:

Please ensure your device meets our system requirements.

Continuing Education Approvals:

SimplePractice is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course provides 1 hour of continuing education (1 CE credit) for psychologists.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice, #1749, 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. Simple Practice maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 07/06/2021 – 07/06/2024. Social workers participating in this course will receive 1 continuing education credit in the Ethics topic area.

SimplePractice is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #145276). SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 1 hour of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

SimplePractice is approved as a Rule/Statute Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Note that we do not automatically report CE completion to CE Broker at this time, so certificates of completion must be manually uploaded. Click here for more information.

SimplePractice LLC 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 #SW-0582.

SimplePractice LLC 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-0030. 

SimplePractice 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 marriage and family therapists #MFT-0091.

SimplePractice 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-0206.

This course is not part of our continuing education program approved through NAADAC. Click here to view our complete CE approval information, or check out our collection of NAADAC approved courses.