Addiction Counseling and Social Services

Ethics for Mental Health Professionals

Leesa M. Robertson

3 hours

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Ethics are crucial in any profession, particularly in mental health. They establish a framework of principles that guide professionals in making informed, responsible, and morally sound decisions. Adhering to ethical standards ensures the protection of the client’s rights and well-being, fosters trust in the therapeutic relationship and upholds the profession’s integrity. By prioritizing ethics, mental health professionals can navigate complex situations with clarity, mitigate potential harm, and contribute to mental health services’ overall credibility and reliability.

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ethical principles and standards essential in clinical practice. It covers crucial topics such as ethical decision-making frameworks, maintaining professional boundaries, and the appropriate use of physical touch in therapy. The course delves into the complexities of dual relationships, offering guidelines to navigate these situations ethically. Additionally, it addresses the legal and ethical responsibilities regarding the reporting of abuse and other critical issues faced by mental health professionals.

This course will award 3 continuing education hours.

Please see the board approval box for course approvals.

Understand Ethical Principles: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental ethical principles and standards that guide clinical practice in mental health.
Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks: Learn and apply various ethical decision-making frameworks to ensure informed, responsible, and morally sound decisions in diverse clinical scenarios.
Professional Boundaries: Recognize the importance of maintaining professional boundaries in therapeutic relationships and learn strategies to establish and uphold these boundaries effectively.
Appropriate Use of Physical Touch: Understand the guidelines and ethical considerations regarding the use of physical touch in therapy, ensuring it is used appropriately and respectfully.
Navigating Dual Relationships: Explore the complexities of dual relationships in clinical practice and acquire guidelines to navigate these situations ethically to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain professional integrity.
Reporting Abuse: Gain knowledge of the legal and ethical responsibilities related to reporting abuse, including understanding mandatory reporting laws and the processes for reporting suspected abuse.
Handling Ethical Dilemmas: Develop skills to handle ethical dilemmas with clarity and confidence, utilizing case studies and interactive discussions to practice applying ethical principles in real-world situations.
Client Rights and Well-Being: Emphasize the importance of protecting clients’ rights and well-being, fostering trust in the therapeutic relationship, and ensuring high standards of care.
Professional Integrity: Uphold the integrity of the mental health profession by adhering to ethical standards, mitigating potential harm, and contributing to the overall credibility and reliability of mental health services.
Promoting Dignity and Respect: Cultivate a commitment to promoting the dignity, respect, and care that every client deserves, reinforcing the ethical foundation of mental health practice.

Leesa M. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC

Ms. Robertson, M.Ed., CAP, LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. She is credentialed in alcohol and other drug counseling.

Beginning her career in the hospital setting, working in admissions, on the 24-hour unit, inpatient and IOP for both adults and adolescents, she went on to supervise a group of clinicians that went into medical-surgical hospitals to assess and place patients. She went into the outpatient setting, working with adults and families. Throughout her career, Ms. Robertson has focused on training and education through presenting live and authored coursework.

Board Approvals

National Approvals

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) (ACE)

BaysideCEU.com, #1793, 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. BaysideCEU.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 02/04/2024 – 02/04/2026.
The Association For Addiction Professionals NAADAC

Provider #81892. BaysideCEU is responsible for all aspects of programming.
The National Board For Certified Counselors NBCC

BaysideCEU has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP #6098. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. BaysideCEU is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

State Approvals

Information

Relevance: This course is intended for masters level mental health professionals who work with clients facing day to day ethical dilemmas.
Content Level: Intermediate
Course Format: This course is offered as a self-paced distance learning format (reading-based online activity)
System Requirements: This course is offered online. Internet connection required.
Course Completion Information: To earn continuing education credit, professionals must register and pay the fee for the course. They must read the content and demonstrate understanding by earning a minimum score of 70 percent on testing materials. The certificate of completion will be able to be downloaded after the above is completed. Refunds will be granted upon request with the withdrawal of credit for the course. For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call 866-863-4225 or email [email protected].
CEBroker Course ID: 1222238
Credit Hours: 3