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Moral Injury and Harm in the Behavioral Health Professions

Enroll in the Online Self-Study and complete the training on your own schedule.
3 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians

When behavioral health professionals are asked to carry out duties that contradict their deepest ethical convictions, the emotional consequences can be devastating. This course sheds light on the invisible wounds many clinicians carry—and offers a roadmap for healing, advocacy, and transformation.

Moral distress and injury don’t just affect the well-being of clinicians—they shape the quality of care they can provide and their ability to remain in the field. This powerful training invites participants to confront difficult realities and equips them with the tools to restore integrity and resilience in their practice.

Register for the 3 CE Online Self-Study for $75

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Frederic G. Reamer, Ph.D., a preeminent expert in professional ethics and author of Moral Distress and Injury in Human Services, leads this course. With decades of experience shaping national codes of ethics and consulting on complex legal and clinical dilemmas, Dr. Reamer brings unparalleled insight into the emotional and moral terrain of behavioral health practice.

Dr. Reamer’s approach is both clinically grounded and ethically rigorous. Through real-world case studies, policy analysis, and practical frameworks, he guides learners in identifying, understanding, and addressing moral injury in a way that affirms professional values and protects client care.

This self-paced, online course explores the spectrum of moral injury in behavioral health—from workplace pressures and ethical conflicts to burnout and whistleblowing. Topics include the origins and symptoms of moral harm, the ethical implications of moral distress, strategies for moral repair, and systemic advocacy for structural change. The course also addresses secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and the underrecognized power of moral courage in our profession.

Dr. Frederic Reamer Headshot

Instructor

Frederic Reamer is a professor in the graduate program at the School of Social Work, Rhode Island College, where he has been on the faculty since 1983. His teaching and research focus on professional ethics, criminal justice, mental health, health care, and public policy. Dr. Reamer received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and has served as a social worker in correctional and mental health settings. He chaired the national task force that wrote the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Social Workers in 1996 and served on the code revision task force. Dr. Reamer also chaired the national task force sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers, Association of Social Work Boards, Council on Social Work Education, and Clinical Social Work Association that developed technology standards for the profession. Dr. Reamer has lectured nationally and internationally on social work and professional ethics, including in India, China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and in various European nations. His books include Social Work Values and Ethics; Risk Management in Social Work; The Social Work Ethics Casebook; Ethical Standards in Social Work; Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships in the Human Services; Ethics and Risk Management in Online and Distance Behavioral Health; Moral Distress and Injury in Human Services; and The Social Work Ethics Audit, among others. Dr. Reamer has served as an expert witness in many court and licensing board cases throughout the United States. Read more about Dr. Reamer here.

Key Takeaways:

  • Recognize signs of moral harm: Learn to identify the personal and professional symptoms of moral distress and injury.
  • Respond with purpose: Gain practical frameworks and actionable strategies for mitigating moral injury and fostering ethical resilience.
  • Advance ethical practice: Understand how to advocate for organizational, community, and policy-level changes that reduce harm and restore integrity.

Why this course?

  • Led by a national ethics leader: Dr. Reamer chaired the task force that wrote the NASW Code of Ethics and brings decades of real-world expertise to the topic.
  • Clinically relevant, ethically grounded: This course bridges everyday clinical practice with the deeper moral dimensions of the work.
  • A mission-aligned learning experience: Offered by Telehealth Certification Institute, a leader in behavioral health continuing education with a values-driven commitment to clinician well-being and professional excellence.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify common symptoms and manifestations of moral distress and injury in behavioral healthcare.
  • Design state-of-the-art strategies to address moral distress and injury.
  • Develop protocols to promote prevention, self-care, and resilience.

Whether you’ve personally experienced moral injury or you’re looking to better support colleagues and clients who have, this course provides essential guidance. Join a community of behavioral health professionals committed to ethical clarity, courageous practice, and collective healing.

Your path to professional sustainability begins here—Enroll now.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 3 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

 

Enroll in the 3 CE Online Self-Study for $75

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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: Instructions for attending and completing a course can be found here.

This program was recorded April 25, 2025.

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