Boundaries in the Treatment Relationship

Course Code: REL-BHC-0-BTR

Hours: 1.25

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2025

Learning Objectives:
Recall the meaning of a therapeutic boundary and the difference between boundary crossings and boundary violations.
Indicate how to avoid the red flags of boundary violations.
Discuss current standards for use of social media and other technology pertaining to maintaining therapeutic boundaries.

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction

About This Course

Learning Objectives

Section 2: What Is a Therapeutic Boundary?

Meet Greg and James

What Is a Therapeutic Boundary?

Boundary Violations

Personal Relationships vs. Professional Therapeutic Relationships

Establishing Therapeutic Boundaries

Avoiding Dual Relationships

Unavoidable Dual Relationships

Revisiting Therapeutic Boundaries

Review

Summary

Section 3: Boundary Crossings and Violations

An Unexpected Introduction

A Continuum of Boundary Transgressions

Boundary Crossings

Considerations with Boundary Crossings

Client Requests

After a Boundary Has Been Crossed

When Boundary Crossings Go Wrong

Boundary Violations

Review

Summary

Section 4: Avoiding Boundary Violations

Meet Rebecca and Zack

Red Flags of Boundary Violations

General Preventive Measures

Appropriate Use of Language

What About Boundaries with Former Clients?

Ethical Decision-Making Regarding Professional Boundaries

Review

Summary

Section 5: Boundaries with Social Media and Other Technology

Social Media in the Clinical Context

Challenges Facing Social Media Use

General Guidelines on Social Media Use

Personal and Professional Accounts

Boundaries and Delivering Services Via Telehealth

Review

Summary

Section 6: Conclusion

Course Summary

Course Contributor

Resources

References

Instructor: Amanda Gayle, Ph.D.

Amanda Gayle received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee.  She completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Georgia in the Counseling and Testing Center.  She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical Center in the Occupational Health Department working in both the internal and external employee assistance programs.  She is licensed in North Carolina where she was in private practice for 15 years serving primarily adults in individual and couples counseling with many presenting issues.  Her focus was on cognitive behavioral therapy to treat anxiety, mood disorders, grief, relationship difficulties, stress management, self-esteem, and parenting.  She joined Relias as a subject matter expert writer for behavioral health in 2021.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Alcohol and Drug Counselors; Beginner level Social Workers; Marriage and Family Therapists; Nurses; Professional Counselors; Psychologists; in the following settings: Health and Human Services.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.

To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.