Have you ever been perplexed regarding receiving gifts from clients or giving them? One aspect of ethical boundaries in mental health practice is understanding considerations around gift giving and receiving with clients. This webinar will present the extent and nature of client gift-giving in counseling, ethical and therapeutic issues, a scheme for categorizing and assessing gift-giving behavior, and general suggestions for handling these incidents. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in professional discussions around case studies. Learn how to identify ethical issues around gift giving and the importance of key considerations in making sound ethical decisions within this area of professional boundaries.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to
- Identify ethical and therapeutic issues of gift giving and receiving in mental health practice.
- Explain at least three key ethical and practice considerations around gift giving in practice.
- Discover and consider variables related to culture, therapeutic relationships, and countertransference as they relate to gifts.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Identify ethical and therapeutic issues of gift giving and receiving in mental health practice.
- Case study Cleo
- Themes of gifts in therapy
- Meaning of gifts
Objective #2: Explain at least three key ethical and practice considerations around gift giving in practice.
- Chat time: key reflection questions for the audience
- Ethical Perspectives
- Dr. Ofer Zur video: Gifts in Psychotherapy
- Gift giving: ethical considerations
- Informed consent
- Unethical gift giving to clients
- Transparency, documentation
Objective #3: Discover and consider variables related to culture, therapeutic relationships, and countertransference as they relate to gifts.
- Case study: cultural influences in client gift giving
- Small research study review by Knox
- Key considerations
- Declining gifts scripts
- Special considerations
- A problematic gift event
- Case study: Jordan and Counselor Beth
- Helpful resources, Q&A
Social workers completing this course receive 2 Cultural Competency/Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 hours of Cultural Competency/Ethics continuing education training.
Instructor: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW
Recording Date: April 3, 2025
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, 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: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2hrs Ethics continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com