Giving and accepting gifts within therapy raises ethical questions that are rarely simple. Clinicians look at professional boundaries, ethical guidelines and the possible effect on the therapeutic alliance when a gift enters the picture. The training shows how to weigh a gift’s intent, timing and meaning and offers best practices for decisions grounded in ethical principles and clinical judgment. Participants reflect on their own cultural values, beliefs and professional roles while considering the norms and customs their clients bring. Discussion and case analysis build ethical awareness and culturally sensitive ways to handle gift dilemmas.
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.
- Opening case example: Cleo
- Self-Assessment exercise: Gifts in therapy
- The meaning of gifts
- Themes of gifts in therapy
Objective #2: Discover and consider variables related to culture, therapeutic relationships, and countertransference as they relate to gifts.
- Case vignette: cultural implications
- Exploring cultural perspectives
- Practice question exercise
Objective #3: Explain at least three key ethical and practice considerations around gift giving in practice.
- Ethical perspectives
- An ethical continuum
- Ethical considerations
- Informed consent
- When accepting a gift would be unethical
- Transparency, documentation
- Knox. Hess, Williams & Hill research findings
- Typical therapist to client gifts
- Key considerations in receiving gifts from clients
- Script examples
- Special considerations
- Case example: Problematic gift
- Three brief case studies
- Closing Q&A, resources review
Social workers completing this course receive 3 Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 Ethics continuing education training.
Instructor: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW
Recording Date: May 16, 2026
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 3hrs 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