9735L • Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Challenging Client Situations

Table of Contents

9735L • Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Challenging Client Situations

How to Receive Credit

Course Overview

Audience

Accreditations & Approvals

Designations of Credit

Individual State Behavioral Health Approvals

Course Objective

Learning Objectives

Faculty

Faculty Disclosure

Division Planners

Division Planners Disclosure

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Director Disclosure Statement

About the Sponsor

Disclosure Statement

Implicit Bias in Health Care

1. INTRODUCTION

2. WEBINAR

3. WORKBOOK

Works Cited

9735L • Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Challenging Client Situations

Michal (Michelle) Goldman, LCSW

www.netce.com

Copyright © 2026 NetCE, All rights reserved.

This live event takes place Wednesday, July 8, 5 pm-7 pm EST (2 pm-4 pm PST).

This course explores the critical role of boundaries in ethical and effective psychotherapy. While most therapists understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries, many report challenges navigating boundary decisions in complex clinical situations. Through a blend of theory, clinical case examples, and discussion of ethical principles, participants will learn to recognize subtle signs of boundary shifts, assess their own internal responses, and apply structured strategies for maintaining therapeutic integrity. Emphasis will be placed on flexible, relational, and culturally responsive boundary-setting practices, as well as when and how to seek consultation. The course includes experiential exercises and clinical reflection prompts to strengthen confidence and competence in this essential area of practice.

9735L • Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Challenging Client Situations

Education Category. Webinars

Release Date. 05/01/2026

Expiration Date. 07/15/2026

How to Receive Credit

To complete this course for continuing education credit please go to http://www.netce.com/course/3495 in your browser.

For assistance with receiving continuing education credit, please contact us at help@netce.com.

Course Overview

This live event takes place Wednesday, July 8, 5 pm-7 pm EST (2 pm-4 pm PST).

This course explores the critical role of boundaries in ethical and effective psychotherapy. While most therapists understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries, many report challenges navigating boundary decisions in complex clinical situations. Through a blend of theory, clinical case examples, and discussion of ethical principles, participants will learn to recognize subtle signs of boundary shifts, assess their own internal responses, and apply structured strategies for maintaining therapeutic integrity. Emphasis will be placed on flexible, relational, and culturally responsive boundary-setting practices, as well as when and how to seek consultation. The course includes experiential exercises and clinical reflection prompts to strengthen confidence and competence in this essential area of practice.

Audience

This live webinar is designed for mental and behavioral health professionals involved in counseling challenging clients.

Accreditations & Approvals

NetCE has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6361. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NetCE is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. As a Jointly Accredited Organization, NetCE is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. NetCE is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). NetCE complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, NetCE is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. NetCE 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-0021. This course is considered live online by the New York State Board of Mental Health Counseling. NetCE 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-0033. This course is considered live online, as defined by the New York State Board for Social Work. Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of licensed master social work and licensed clinical social work in New York. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice for an LMSW and LCSW. A licensee who practices beyond the authorized scope of practice could be charged with unprofessional conduct under the Education Law and Regents Rules. NetCE 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-0015. This course is considered live online by the New York State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. NetCE 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-0240. This course is considered live online by the New York State Board for Psychology.

Designations of Credit

NetCE designates this live event activity for 2 continuing education clock hours. NetCE designates this live event continuing education activity for 2 NBCC clock hour(s). Social workers participating in this intermediate to advanced course will receive 2 Clinical continuing education clock hours. NetCE is authorized by IACET to offer 0.2 CEU(s) for this program. NetCE designates this live continuing education activity for 2 credit(s).

Individual State Behavioral Health Approvals

In addition to states that accept ASWB, NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education by the following state boards: Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners, Provider #0515; Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, CE Broker Provider #50-2405; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Social Workers, License #159.001094; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Licensed Professional and Clinical Counselors, License #197.000185; Illinois Division of Professional Regulation for Marriage and Family Therapists, License #168.000190;

Course Objective

The purpose of this course is to provide applied strategies and discussion of common challenges to behavioral health professionals who may encounter boundary challenges.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Identify four types of professional boundaries in therapy (psychological, physical, containing, and executed) and their clinical applications.

2. Describe at least three indicators of being at risk of compromised boundaries and the therapist's ethical responsibility in addressing them.

3. Analyze a clinical case example to evaluate appropriate boundary-setting strategies using ethical guidelines and self-of-therapist reflection.

4. Apply at least two consultation or decision-making frameworks for responding to boundary dilemmas in clinical practice.

Faculty

Michal (Michelle) Goldman, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and clinical therapist who is passionate about helping therapists cultivate secure, ethical boundaries and deepen their self-of-therapist awareness to provide effective, compassionate care. She specializes in work with adults and couples navigating relational challenges and holds extensive training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and discernment counseling. In addition to her clinical practice, she writes a biweekly mental health column for a local newspaper.

Faculty Disclosure

Contributing faculty, Michal (Michelle) Goldman, LCSW, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Division Planners

Kimberly Byrd, EdD, PMSW

Scott Deatherage, PhD

Division Planners Disclosure

The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Sarah Campbell

Director Disclosure Statement

The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

About the Sponsor

The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.

Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.

Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.

Implicit Bias in Health Care

The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.

Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.

1. INTRODUCTION

The maintenance of professional boundaries is a cornerstone of therapeutic effectiveness and ethical practice. Yet, even seasoned therapists encounter moments where boundaries feel unclear, particularly in emotionally charged or relationally complex situations. Research suggests that therapists who struggle with boundary-setting are more vulnerable to burnout, ethical missteps, and ruptures in the therapeutic alliance. At the same time, rigid or overly cautious boundaries can hinder emotional attunement and growth within the therapeutic relationship.

This course was developed in response to a recognized gap in therapist training: While ethical codes emphasize the importance of boundaries, they often fall short of providing guidance for the nuanced, real-world dilemmas therapists face. Many clinicians are left without practical tools or structured frameworks to navigate the gray areas where professional judgment, self-awareness, and clinical intuition intersect. This course helps to bridge that gap by offering applied strategies and discussion of common challenges such as client crises, boundary-testing behavior, fee negotiations, therapist self-disclosure, and countertransference.

2. WEBINAR

To see this media go to http://www.NetCE.com/activities/ using a browser that supports Adobe Flash.

3. WORKBOOK

The workbook discussed in this webinar is available here.

Works Cited

1. Barnett JE. Setting boundaries in psychotherapy: essential skills for maintaining therapeutic integrity. Psychotherapy Bull. 2014;49(2):4-10.

2. Gabbard GO. Boundaries and Boundary Violations in Psychoanalysis. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2017.

3. Kleinman JY. Boundaries in clinical practice [webinar]. 2024

4. . Pope KS, Keith-Spiegel P. A practical approach to boundaries in psychotherapy: making decisions, bypassing blunders, and transforming therapist-client relationships. J Clin Psychol. 2008;64(5):638-652.

5. Prasko J, Ociskova M, Vanek J, Burkauskas J, Slepecky M, Bite I, et al. Managing transference and countertransference in cognitive behavioral supervision: theoretical framework and clinical application. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2022;15:2129-2155.

6. Shore JT. The neurobiology of feeling safe: working with boundaries inside and out [webinar]. Academy of Therapy Wisdom; April 27, 2021.

7. Trueman D. Avoiding and preventing claims of therapist unethical or unprofessional conduct [webinar]. Nachas Consulting; April 1, 2025.

8. Yilmaz M, Turkarslan KK, Zanini L, Hasdemir D, Spitoni GF, Lingiardi V. Transference interpretation and psychotherapy outcome: a systematic review of a no-consensus relationship. Res Psychother. 2024;27(1):29-42.

9. Zur O. Boundaries in Psychotherapy: Ethical and Clinical Explorations. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2017.