What Happens in Therapy, Stays in Therapy. Unless...: Exploring the Ethics of Confidentiality

Description

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of behavioral health practice—yet navigating its ethical and legal boundaries can be complex and emotionally charged. When does protecting client privacy give way to a duty to warn, protect, or report? And how do you make the right decision when lives or careers are on the line?

This course empowers clinicians to navigate the gray areas of confidentiality with greater clarity, competence, and confidence. Through real-world scenarios and clear, research-informed guidance, participants are equipped to uphold both professional integrity and client trust.

Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.W., is a nationally recognized expert in professional ethics and mandated reporting. As Principal Consultant with Krase Consulting, she brings decades of experience advising community agencies and government entities on ethical practice standards. Her deep understanding of law, social work, and clinical realities positions her as the ideal guide for this critical training.

Dr. Krase takes a grounded, practical approach to ethics, combining legal analysis with human-centered teaching. Her style is approachable yet precise, offering learners an accessible path through even the most difficult ethical dilemmas.

Participants will explore the ethical and legal foundations of confidentiality, the concept of privilege, and the nuanced obligations clinicians face when client information intersects with harm, legal proceedings, or third-party requests. Topics include managing confidentiality in digital spaces, working with minors or cognitively impaired adults, court-ordered disclosures, and maintaining appropriate client records.

Key Takeaways:

• Clarify your legal and ethical boundaries: Learn when confidentiality must be maintained—and when it must be breached.

• Strengthen your communication skills: Discuss confidentiality openly with clients to build informed trust and avoid future misunderstandings.

• Navigate complex scenarios with confidence: Respond appropriately to legal subpoenas, mandated reporting laws, and client crises.

Why this course?

• Deep expertise with real-world application: Dr. Krase’s legal, clinical, and consulting experience ensures the training is grounded in both theory and practice.

• Trusted CE provider: The Telehealth Certification Institute is known for delivering high-quality, accessible, and up-to-date continuing education for behavioral health professionals.

• Learn what others miss: Confidentiality violations are the most common ethical breach in the field—yet often go unnoticed. This course helps you avoid hidden pitfalls that could jeopardize your clients or career.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the legal obligation to keep client information confidential.

• Competently discuss with their clients these obligations so that clients make an educated decision when sharing information with the professional.

• Respond to ethical, legal, and moral conundrums faced when considering to breach client confidentiality.

Whether you're a seasoned clinician or new to the field, this self-paced course offers essential tools to protect your clients, yourself, and the integrity of your practice. Join us in exploring what it means to “keep a confidence”—and when doing so may come at too high a cost.

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Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course that consists of 180 minutes of video instruction, a post-test and a course evaluation.

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.

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

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 ethics 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 ethics 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 2/20/2024. 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 is a non-interactive, self-study course.

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