The Ethics & Risk Of Risk Management: Towards Ethical Risk Management Practices

Course overview

This intermediate-level course critically examines the concept of risk management in psychotherapy. The Ethics and Risk of Risk Management Therapists have been frightened by risk management experts, attorneys and insurance companies to never touch a client, to limit self-disclosure and gifts, to avoid bartering, making home visits, leaving the office with clients and, by all means, to stay away from any form of dual relationships. The course helps therapists differentiate between boundary crossing and boundary violation, understand the origin of and the forces behind risk management practices and realistically look at the level of risk that therapists are facing in their line of work. While minimizing risk is important, the course is concerned with risk management practices that are carried out at the expense of clients' welfare and of therapeutic effectiveness. Finally, the course reviews the ethical and legal considerations regarding risk management and proposes ethical ways to minimize risk to therapists without compromising their clinical integrity.