Exploring the Ethics of Professional Boundaries

This workshop will explore the importance of understanding and exploring the ethics of professional boundaries. We will examine why ethics and boundaries are important when doing direct and indirect client work. An emphasis will be placed on exploring dual relationships (professional and personal relationships) and various boundary issues to enhance and improve ethical responsibilities and reduce ethical violations. There will be an overview of various codes including the Maryland Board of Social Workers Code of Ethics NASW code of Ethics to highlight the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries. A sample of issues discussed will be maintaining and upholding professional relationships, money exchanges, gift giving and receiving and so much more. This is an interactive workshop were cases vignettes will be presented and discussed to further maximize participants understanding of the concepts presented. The presenter is a bicultural, clinical, and forensic social worker specializing in criminal defense mitigation, dual-diagnosis, crisis intervention, ethics, trauma and working with diverse ethnic groups.

Upon completion of this  intermediate course, participants will be able to: 

1. Increase their knowledge of various direct and indirect service situations and the importance of balancing ethical responsibilities to promote professional boundaries. 
2. Demonstrate an understanding of issues related to dual relationships and boundary violations/crossing and the use of various ethical decision making models to help reduce and/or eliminate ethical violations. 
3. Effectively understand and explore the overall importance of boundaries and how to effectively set them when working with clients/patients to ensure we are practicing ethically. 
4. Explore the potential harm to participants/clients when boundaries are not upheld. Highlighting how to recognize and promptly address boundary issues.