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Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Couples Therapy - 9/23/2026

60

Course Overview
This introductory-level course is intended for counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and social workers engaged in relational or couples therapy. The course presents the ethical challenges unique to couples therapy, including managing confidentiality, communication expectations, and legal and insurance-related concerns. Participants will explore how to maintain professional boundaries while responding flexibly to client needs, recognize relational risk factors that may make couples therapy contraindicated, and implement culturally responsive strategies for diverse couples. Practical tools, ethical frameworks, and a clinical case example are provided to enhance clinical decision making and relational sensitivity.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

  • Identify ethical challenges unique to couples therapy, including managing confidentiality and diversity in coupleships.
  • Apply relationally sensitive strategies to maintain professional boundaries with distressed couples.
  • Examine clinical scenarios in which couples therapy may be contraindicated due to relational risk factors.
  • Implement communication strategies that uphold transparency, safety, and therapeutic alliance.
  • Navigate legal and insurance considerations relevant to billing and documentation in couples therapy.

About the Author/Presenter 
Michal Goldman, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in relational therapy and therapist development. She is passionate about helping clinicians cultivate secure, ethical boundaries and deepen their self-of-therapist awareness to enhance their work with couples. Michal holds extensive training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and discernment counseling, with a focus on supporting couples through complex relational challenges. In addition to her clinical work, she writes a biweekly mental health column for a local newspaper, where she shares insights on relational health and ethical practice. Her teaching emphasizes compassionate care, cultural humility, and clinically sound decision making in complex therapeutic settings.


Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Counselor, Psychology, Social Work

If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us