NetCE 2 Hour Course #9734L • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Couples Therapy
Author: Michal (Michelle) Goldman, LCSW; www.netce.com
Date: 2026-09-15
Keywords: Webinars
Description: This live event takes place Thursday, October 29, 6 pm-8 pm EDT (3 pm-5 pm PDT). Ethical challenges in couples therapy are complex and distinct from individual therapy, yet many clinicians receive minimal formal training in this area. Research indicates that therapists often struggle with managing confidentiality, systemic neutrality, communication boundaries, and cultural responsiveness within relational work. Moreover, ethical complaints and board actions increasingly highlight relational therapy as a high-risk area for boundary violations and malpractice concerns. This course addresses an i
Publisher: NetCE
Rights: Copyright © 2026 NetCE, All rights reserved.

9734L • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Couples Therapy

Table of Contents

9734L • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Couples Therapy

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

9734L • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Couples Therapy

Michal (Michelle) Goldman, LCSW

www.netce.com

Copyright © 2026 NetCE, All rights reserved.

This live event takes place Thursday, October 29, 6 pm-8 pm EDT (3 pm-5 pm PDT).

Ethical challenges in couples therapy are complex and distinct from individual therapy, yet many clinicians receive minimal formal training in this area. Research indicates that therapists often struggle with managing confidentiality, systemic neutrality, communication boundaries, and cultural responsiveness within relational work. Moreover, ethical complaints and board actions increasingly highlight relational therapy as a high-risk area for boundary violations and malpractice concerns. This course addresses an identified need for specialized education by equipping clinicians with practical strategies and ethical frameworks tailored specifically to couples therapy. By enhancing clinicians' knowledge and application of ethical boundary-setting within relational contexts, the course aims to reduce ethical risk, support therapist confidence, and promote safer, more effective therapeutic outcomes for diverse couples.

9734L • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Couples Therapy

Education Category. Webinars

Release Date. 09/15/2026

Expiration Date. 11/15/2026

How to Receive Credit

To complete this course for continuing education credit please go to http://www.netce.com/course/3682 in your browser.

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

Course Overview

This live event takes place Thursday, October 29, 6 pm-8 pm EDT (3 pm-5 pm PDT).

Ethical challenges in couples therapy are complex and distinct from individual therapy, yet many clinicians receive minimal formal training in this area. Research indicates that therapists often struggle with managing confidentiality, systemic neutrality, communication boundaries, and cultural responsiveness within relational work. Moreover, ethical complaints and board actions increasingly highlight relational therapy as a high-risk area for boundary violations and malpractice concerns. This course addresses an identified need for specialized education by equipping clinicians with practical strategies and ethical frameworks tailored specifically to couples therapy. By enhancing clinicians' knowledge and application of ethical boundary-setting within relational contexts, the course aims to reduce ethical risk, support therapist confidence, and promote safer, more effective therapeutic outcomes for diverse couples.

Audience

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

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

Couples therapy presents unique ethical challenges that are often not addressed thoroughly in standard professional ethics training, which tends to focus on individual client work. The purpose of this course is to providing foundational training to promote safer, more ethically grounded couples therapy.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify ethical challenges unique to couples therapy, including managing confidentiality and diversity in coupleships.

2. Apply relationally sensitive strategies to maintain professional boundaries with distressed couples.

3. Examine clinical scenarios in which couples therapy may be contraindicated due to relational risk factors.

4. Implement communication strategies that uphold transparency, safety, and therapeutic alliance.

5. Navigate legal and insurance considerations relevant to billing and documentation in couples therapy.

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

Maintaining ethical boundaries in couples therapy requires more than general ethical competence. It also demands a relationally attuned, culturally responsive approach that respects both individual and systemic factors. By developing clarity around confidentiality, communication expectations, legal considerations, and relational risk factors, providers can more confidently navigate the complex dynamics inherent in couples work. This course offers foundational tools and reflective strategies to strengthen ethical decision making, reduce clinical risk, and enhance the therapeutic alliance. Continuing to deepen understanding in these areas supports professional integrity, client safety, and positive relational outcomes.

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. American Psychological Association. Violence and the Family: Report of the APA Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 1996.

2. Davis SD, Gonzalez V, Sahibzada S. Therapeutic alliance in couple and family therapy. In: Lebow J, Chambers A, Breunlin D (eds). Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. New York, NY: Springer; 2019: 2924-2929.

3. Escudero V, Heatherington L, Diamond GM. The therapeutic alliance in couple and family therapy. Psychotherapy. 2011;48(1):25-33.

4. Gurman AS. Clinical Casebook of Couple Therapy. New York, NY: Guilford; 2010.

5. Johnson SM, Furrow JL, Bradley B, et al. Becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist: The Workbook. New York, NY: Routledge; 2022.

6. Jordan AE, Meara NM. Ethical issues in couple and family therapy. In: McDaniel SH, Hepworth J, Doherty WJ (eds). Medical Family Therapy and Integrated Care. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2018:193-212.

7. Lebow JL. Couple and Family Therapy: An Integrative Map of the Territory. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2020.

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