Ethics & Boundaries: Practicing Self Care in An Era of Moral Distress

This 4-hour class meets Wisconsin requirements for ethics and professional boundaries continuing education for licensure renewal and is designed for social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists and other helping professionals. It is offered fully online via Zoom.

In today's complex and demanding human services landscape, practitioners often find themselves navigating ethical dilemmas and encountering situations that can lead to moral distress. This training provides practical tools to handle those moments with confidence and integrity. Using Kidder's Ethical Checkpoints and Wisconsin's MPSW 20 rules as guides, participants will practice how to work through tough choices that may cause moral distress. The session will include real-world examples of boundary setting, confidentiality, mandatory reporting, and self-care challenges. Course objectives will be established through a combination of interactive lectures, group discussions, and practical exercises.

Learning objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define moral distress and identify its impact on stress and burnout in human services practice.
• Recognize how the NASW Code of Ethics and Wisconsin's MPSW 20 rules apply to ethical dilemmas involving boundaries and self-care.
• Apply Kidder’s Ethical Checkpoints to work through real-world ethical conflicts, including right-versus-right choices that affect both client care and professional well-being.
• Analyze case examples to weigh competing obligations and evaluate possible actions using ethical principles and legal standards.

Audience:

Beginner to Intermediate

By participating in this class you will earn:

Instructional Hours	4
University of Wisconsin Continuing Education Units	.4
American Psychological Association - Continuing Education Credit	4
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Substance Abuse Counselors - Continuing Education Credit Hours	4
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Marriage and Family Therapists - Continuing Education Credit Hours	4
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Social Workers - Continuing Education Credit Hours	4
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Licensed Professional Counselors	4

Explanation of Continuing Education Hours