Moral Injury and Harm in the Behavioral Health Professions

Description

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.

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.

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

Format and Access

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

Course Details

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. This continuing education course is designed for licensed behavioral health professionals.

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: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Frederic G. Reamer, Ph.D.

Frederic Reamer is professor emeritus in the graduate program, 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 Risk Management in the Behavioral Health Professions; 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.

Dr. Frederic Reamer's instruction information.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 3 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists:

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits, effective 10/15/2025. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 180 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This course is a non-interactive, online self-study.

Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of completion to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement