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

Description

This course does not offer CE Credits. The same course is available for purchase and offers 3 Ethics CE hours for behavioral health clinicians.  See "related products" below.

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.

Enrol for this course now to begin learning instantly.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course that consists of 180 minutes of video instruction, 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. This continuing education course is designed for licensed behavioral health professionals and provides training in suicide prevention using expressive arts as an integrative approach. However, this is not a creative arts therapy course and does not provide training in creative arts therapy.

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

This course does not offer CE credits, just great content.

The same course is available for purchase and offers 3 Ethics CE hours for behavioral health clinicians.  See "related products" below.

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