Navigating dual relationships is a complex ethical challenge that requires clinicians to balance professional boundaries with real-world dynamics. This training explores the ethical, legal, and clinical considerations involved in dual relationships, helping clinicians recognize potential conflicts of interest, mitigate risks, and uphold client welfare. Through case discussions and ethical decision-making frameworks, you will gain clarity on when dual relationships may be unavoidable, harmful, or ethically manageable, ensuring that you are able to practice with integrity and accountability.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to
- Identify the ethical and legal implications of dual relationships in therapy, including potential risks and boundary challenges.
- Describe ethical decision-making models and strategies for assessing and managing dual relationships in clinical practice.
- Implement best practices to maintain professional boundaries, minimize harm, and uphold ethical standards when navigating dual relationships.
Syllabus:
Introduction
Objective #1: Identify the ethical and legal implications of dual relationships in therapy, including potential risks and boundary challenges.
- Defining “ethics”
- Exploring ethical implications
- Exploring legal implications
Objective #2: Describe ethical decision-making models and strategies for assessing and managing dual relationships in clinical practice.
- Types of dual relationships
- How to assess for potential harm
- How to determine if dual relationships are appropriate
Objective #3: Implement best practices to maintain professional boundaries, minimize harm, and uphold ethical standards when navigating dual relationships.
- How to manage dual relationships
- Exploring implicit bias
- Developing cultural humility
Summary/Q&A
Social workers completing this course receive 2 General Skill Building asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 General Skill Building continuing education training.
Instructor: Dreya Blume, LCSW
Recording Date: October 10, 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: 08/7/2025 - 08/6/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 2hrs General 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.
System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device.
Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com