Course description

In one study, *every single therapist surveyed* rated themselves as “above average” in their profession. It’s unlikely that the researchers just happened upon a skilled group. In a profession that prizes self-awareness, how can half of us be so mistaken? It may have something to do with there being so many meaningful ways to be and do good as a therapist. In this uplifting talk, Dr. Ben Caldwell reviews the clinical and moral aspects of defining yourself as a “good” therapist: How we reach that conclusion about ourselves in the first place, why it can be dangerous to believe your own hype, and how being good as a therapist also means continually working to be better. Participants are encouraged and empowered to reflect on what makes them good, assess the accuracy of their self-evaluation, and find new ways to better achieve the aims they entered the field to achieve.

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

This course was initially presented at the 2019 Therapy Reimagined conference in Los Angeles. For information on past and future Therapy Reimagined events, visit therapyreimagined.com.

Learning objectives

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

  • Articulate why they consider themselves to be good therapists

  • Identify at least two risks associated with defining yourself as a “good” therapist

  • Integrate at least one avenue for ongoing improvement as a therapist

Course outline

1. Define "good"

a. Clinical effectiveness

b. Helping people

c. Reducing suffering 

d. Combating social problems

e. Philosophical ways of thinking about doing good

2. Burnout and moral injury

a. Therapists leaving the field

b. Moral injury

3. How do we assess our goodness?

a. Some obviously-wrong ways

b. Some not-so-obviously wrong ways

c. The right question

4. What makes a good therapist


References

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.

Additional Information

Format and Length:

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 60 minutes.

Topic Area:

Law & Ethics

Instructional Level:

Intermediate. This course assumes a post-graduate level of clinical experience.

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.

Who Should Attend:

Psychologists, counselors, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Publication and Review Dates:

Course Published: February 10, 2020 

Financial Support Statement:

SimplePractice pays content providers. This course is provided by Therapy Reimagined, with SimplePractice maintaining full control of content development and continuing education compliance. 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

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 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.

This course is not part of our ASWB approved continuing education program.