Exploring Ethical Obligations: Boundaries, Confidentiality and
Mandated Reporting
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
3 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
The line between ethical responsibility and legal obligation isn’t always clear—but getting it wrong can cost clients their dignity and professionals their license. Clinicians must navigate difficult situations where confidentiality, mandated reporting, and boundaries intersect—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
If you've ever wrestled with what to disclose, when to report, or how close is too close, you're not alone. This course invites you to explore your ethical code more deeply so that your next tough call is grounded in clarity, confidence, and compassion.
Register for the 3 CE Online Self-Study for
$60
Clarify your duties around ethics and reporting
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Get the Mandated Reporter Training Certificate (MRTC) for $197 (Save $63)
Earn 13 CEs and access all 5 training modules
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Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.W., is a national expert in professional ethics and mandated reporting. As a lawyer, social worker, and principal consultant at Krase Consulting, she has spent years helping clinicians, agencies, and systems understand the legal and ethical implications of their work. Her extensive writing and teaching in this area makes her uniquely equipped to guide behavioral health professionals through the complex interplay of ethics and law.
Dr. Krase’s engaging, down-to-earth style combines research, real-world case examples, and practical insights. She offers clear frameworks for ethical decision-making while honoring the values and struggles clinicians face in everyday practice. Her teaching approach is both informative and empowering, helping you think critically while reinforcing what matters most: client care.
This course covers the evolution and function of professional codes of ethics, the relationship between ethics and law, and strategies for setting and maintaining professional boundaries. It dives into the limits of client confidentiality, including the difference between confidentiality and privilege, and when breaching confidentiality is ethically or legally necessary. A special focus is given to the obligations and challenges of mandated reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect, especially in systems where racial disproportionality and trauma can complicate ethical decision-making.
Instructor
Kathryn Krase, PhD, J.D., M.S.W., Principal Consultant with Krase Consultant and founder of Making the Tough Call, is an expert on the professional reporting of suspected child maltreatment. She has authored multiple books and articles on the subject. She has years of experience consulting with government and community-based organizations to develop policy & practice standards.
“Making the Tough Call” is a project of Krase Consulting. Kathryn S. Krase is the sole proprietor of both initiatives. Both Making the Tough Call and Krase Consulting are registered entities in New York State.
Key Takeaways:
Navigate legal and ethical tensions: Learn when your ethical duties diverge from legal mandates—and what to do when they do.
Strengthen client trust: Gain clarity on how to maintain appropriate boundaries and handle confidentiality concerns with professionalism and sensitivity.
Make confident decisions: Feel more prepared and informed when facing mandated reporting scenarios or ethical gray areas.
Why this course?
Exceptional instruction: Taught by a nationally recognized ethics expert with legal and clinical expertise.
Real-world application: Offers relevant case scenarios and guidance rooted in actual practice challenges.
Trusted provider: Presented by the Telehealth Certification Institute, known for equipping clinicians with high-quality, applicable continuing education.
Learning Objectives:
Explain the ethical code provisions as they relate to practice with clients/patients at the micro and mezzo levels.
Describe the limitations on the relationships with clients, as outlined in relevant ethical codes.
Describe the expectations for keeping client information confidential in their professional practice.
Whether you’re a seasoned clinician or newer to the field, this course will deepen your understanding, protect your practice, and strengthen your confidence in handling the ethical dilemmas that matter most.
Add this valuable training to your professional development today.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 3 hours of video instruction and a post-test.
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Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to attend: Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This program was recorded on September 9, 2022.
Testimonials
Bridgette Nalumu
Public health consultant, Green and Purple Consultancy Network
Lora Verley
Clinical Therapist, Bayless Integrated Healthcare
Jackie Tanna
Therapist, Region One Mental Health
Jackie Bell-Russell
Therapeutic Behavioral Strategist, Rialto Unified School District