Ethics and Boundaries in Psychotherapy is a new 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course intended to give psychotherapists the tools they need to resolve ethical and boundary issues and dilemmas that may be encountered in their everyday professional practice.
The psychotherapeutic process itself is all about boundaries – boundaries that join therapist and client, and boundaries that separate them; boundaries that define what is to be part of therapy and what is not; boundaries that the client may have compromised and must reinstate. It is this latter point that makes the issue of boundaries in psychotherapy one of the fundamental agendas for any therapeutic process: the fact that many clients find themselves in adverse situations they themselves have created by failing to establish effective boundaries. The ethics component is the therapist’s roadmap for providing assurance that therapeutic boundaries will be established and maintained throughout the client’s therapy experience.
Topics discussed include common ethics violations, boundary violations versus crossings, multiple/dual relationships, sexual boundary violations, erotic transference, disclosure, domains of boundary guidelines, confidentiality, privileged communication, HIPAA privacy rule, informed consent, ethics codes that apply to dangerous clients, ethics and cultural humility, ethics and boundaries in a digital age (including texting, Googling, telehealth, and AI), and steps in the ethical decision-making process.
- This course satisfies the ethics and boundaries requirement for license renewal of Florida counselors, social workers, and MFTs.
- It also includes teachings from the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics to meet the ethics requirement of West Virginia counselors.
Course #31-61 | 2026 | 20 posttest questions
- CE Credit: 3 Hours
- Target Audience: Psychologists | Counselors | Social Workers | Marriage & Family Therapists
- Learning Level: Intermediate
- Course Type: Online
Click here to learn more about Ethics and Boundaries in Psychotherapy >
Course Directions
This course is text-based (reading), and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course materials). Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, three chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation. Contact us with any questions – we are here to help!
CE Information
Counseling
Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Professional Counselors; the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors; the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice; 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-0135 – Note: New York counselors will receive 3 continuing education credits for completing this self-study course); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (#193); the Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors; the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Marriage and Family Therapy
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Marriage & Family Therapy; the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice; 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-0100 – Note: New York MFTs will receive 3 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#193); the Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Psychology
Professional Development Resources, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Florida Board of Psychology; the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Psychology; the Michigan Board of Psychology; the New Hampshire Board of Psychologists; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of self-study continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145); the North Carolina Psychology Board; the North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners; the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology; the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
School Psychology
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Florida Board of Psychology and Office of School Psychology; the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Psychology; the Michigan Board of Psychology; the New Hampshire Board of Psychologists; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of self-study continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145); the North Carolina Psychology Board; the North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners; the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology; the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Social Work
Professional Development Resources, #1046, 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: 6/12/2025 – 6/12/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credits. ACE format: Reading-based asynchronous distance learning.
Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Social Workers; the Michigan Board of Social Work; the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664 – Note: New York social workers will receive 3 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board; the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners; the Tennessee Board of Social Workers; the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
About the Authors
Michael Wiederman, PhD, is a psychologist and serves as the Director of Continuing Education (CE) for Professional Development Resources. He was a tenured clinical psychology professor for 20 years, teaching a wide range of courses and publishing more than 250 articles, chapters, and books. Over the past 30 years Michael delivered more than 4,000 class sessions and presentations.
In 2015, Michael left his tenured faculty position to provide professional development as the inaugural Director of Faculty Development at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. There he created and executed workshops and longitudinal leadership development programs, provided individual coaching and interventions for teams, and taught the popular course Leadership in Medicine. From 2020 to 2022 Michael served as the inaugural Director of Leadership and Professional Development in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he continues to hold a graduate faculty appointment.
Michael has written a blog for Psychology Todaysince 2022 and continues to offer workshops and coaching through his company Mindful Professional Development.
Leo Christie, PhD, was a Florida-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Florida State University. Past President of the Florida Council on Family Relations, Dr. Christie has more than 20 years’ experience in private practice with a specialty in child behavior disorders and as an instructor for over 500 live continuing education seminars for healthcare professionals. He is the founder of Professional Development Resources; a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to deliver continuing education credit courses to healthcare professionals throughout the United States.
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, and Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and State Medical Board for Occupational Therapy; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, Board of Psychology, Office of School Psychology, Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council; the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians and Licensed Nutritionists, Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs, State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, and State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work, and Board of Healing Arts for Occupational Therapy; the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners for Occupational Therapy; the Michigan Board of Occupational Therapy, Board of Psychology, Board of Speech-Language Pathology, and Board of Social Work; the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors, the Bureau of Professional Licensure for Occupational Therapists, and Dietitians; the New Hampshire Board of Licensed Dietitians, Board of Mental Health Practice, Board of Psychologists, and Occupational Therapy Governing Board; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers (#SW-0664); the North Carolina Psychology Board; the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners, State Board of Occupational Practice, and State Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board and Speech and Hearing Professionals Board; the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision for Occupational Therapy; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (#193), Board of Examiners in Psychology, Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Board of Social Work Examiners; the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology, Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists, Board of Occupational Therapy, and Board of Social Workers; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114), State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678), State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling and Board of Social Work; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
PDR offers over 100 accredited online CE courses for healthcare professionals.
Target Audience: Psychologists, School Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists (MFTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), and Teachers
Enjoy 20% off all online continuing education (CE/CEU) courses @pdresources.org! Click here for details.