Ethical Considerations
Individual therapy for married individuals presents multiple ethical challenges, particularly concerning the principles of beneficence (optimizing benefits) and inadvertent maleficence (doing harm to the client, their spouse, or their marriage). Additionally, ethical dilemmas regarding dual relationships versus the one-therapist rule, therapist competence, and confidentiality present unique considerations when a client is married. Via research, case examples, and experiential learning, this webinar explores these multiple ethical dilemmas, then offers potential solutions.
https://nefesh.org/workshops/Ethicalconcers222/viewFREE WEBINAR
When an Individual-Therapy Client Is Married:
Ethical Considerations
Sunday, June 22, 2025, 9:30 AM EDT - 12:30 PM EDT
Presenter: Susan Heitler, PhD
Course Length: 3 Hours
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize at least one example in which individual therapy for a married client violated the ethical standard of beneficence.
- Explain at least one example in which individual therapy violated the ethical standard of maleficence.
- Roleplay how to explain their rules for confidentiality to clients when the treatment involves a combination of individual and couple therapy treatment formats.
This workshop Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
Individual therapy for married individuals presents multiple ethical challenges, particularly concerning the principles of beneficence (optimizing benefits) and inadvertent maleficence (doing harm to the client, their spouse, or their marriage). Additionally, ethical dilemmas regarding dual relationships versus the one-therapist rule, therapist competence, and confidentiality present unique considerations when a client is married. Via research, case examples, and experiential learning, this webinar explores these multiple ethical dilemmas, then offers potential solutions.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize at least one example in which individual therapy for a married client violated the ethical standard of beneficence.
- Explain at least one example in which individual therapy violated the ethical standard of maleficence.
- Roleplay how to explain their rules for confidentiality to clients when the treatment involves a combination of individual and couple therapy treatment formats.
Agenda:
Hour 1: Beneficence and Maleficence: lecture, case examples, and guided discussion.
Hour 2: Confidentiality, Dual relationships, The One Therapist Rule: case examples and practice case.
Hour 3: Win-win conflict resolution and other essentials for meeting the ethical concern of competence. Lecture, guided discussion, followed by small group exercise with a practice case.
This presentation is open to:
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- Therapist Express 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-0774.
- Therapist Express 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-0129.
- Therapist Express 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-0325.
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.