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Description
The Pleaser in the Chair: Navigating Ethics & Boundaries as a Therapist with People-Pleasing Tendencies
This engaging and self-reflective 3-hour CEU training is designed for mental health professionals who struggle with over-accommodation, avoidance of conflict, or difficulty saying "no" in the therapeutic relationship. Grounded in ethical codes (e.g., NASW, APA), interpersonal neurobiology, and countertransference theory, this course will help clinicians identify how their own people-pleasing patterns may affect client care, professional integrity, and boundary clarity.
Through experiential exercises, real-world vignettes, and practical tools, therapists will learn to uphold ethical standards while maintaining self-awareness and self-compassion.
About the Presenter:
Rebecca Canzonieri, LCSW-C, LICSW is a clinical social worker with nearly a decade of experience specializing in women’s mental health and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Drawing from both specialized training and personal experience, she brings deep expertise and passion to supporting individuals navigating these often-overlooked challenges. Rebecca currently maintains a private practice dedicated to perinatal mental health. Her previous clinical experience includes providing emergency psychiatric services in the emergency department, supporting stabilization on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and delivering outpatient care through a hospital setting. In these roles, she provided individual therapy, facilitated intensive outpatient program groups, offered employee assistance program services, and collaborated with medical practices. Licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Rebecca is dedicated to educating clinicians on the unique nature of perinatal mental health while advocating for greater awareness and systemic change to better serve this population.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common ethical dilemmas that arise from people-pleasing behavior in therapeutic practice.
- Recognize signs of boundary blurring rooted in over-identification or avoidance of conflict.
- Explore the role of countertransference and attachment styles in ethical decision-making.
- Apply frameworks for ethical self-reflection and corrective action when boundaries are compromised.
- Utilize practical strategies for setting compassionate and clear boundaries with clients, colleagues, and systems.
Agenda:
0:00 – 0:15 (15 min)
Welcome & Overview
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Introduction to people-pleasing as a professional liability
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CE requirements and objectives
0:15 – 0:50 (35 min)
Module 1: The People-Pleasing Therapist – Origins & Impacts
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Understanding the roots: childhood roles, attachment dynamics, fawn response
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How people-pleasing shows up in clinical work
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Ethical red flags: overextending, unclear fees/scheduling, blurred boundaries
0:50 – 1:30 (40 min)
Module 2: Ethics in Action – Codes, Conflicts & Countertransference
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Review of relevant ethical codes (e.g., NASW, ACA, APA)
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Case vignettes: dual relationships, gift giving, over-availability, client over-dependence
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The role of guilt, fear, and self-worth in therapist behavior
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Interactive Activity: Mapping your own ethical “triggers”
1:30 – 1:40 (10 min)
Break
1:40 – 2:20 (40 min)
Module 3: Reclaiming Boundaries with Compassion
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Boundaries as a trauma-informed and ethical necessity
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Scripts and strategies for saying no, setting limits, and repairing ruptures
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Supporting client disappointment and managing your internal discomfort
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Practice Exercise: Boundary setting role-plays (client cancellations, fee discussions, session limits)
2:20 – 2:50 (30 min)
Module 4: Rewriting the Pleaser Narrative
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed view of the pleaser part
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Journaling and guided reflection: Who are you protecting? What are you afraid will happen?
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Cultivating the therapist's self: Boundaried, ethical, attuned
2:50 – 3:00 (10 min)
Wrap-Up & Post-Test
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Final reflections, Q&A
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Knowledge check for CE credit
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Resource packet: reflection worksheet, ethical decision-making tools, boundary-setting scripts
Accreditation - This Webinar Offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
- CE You LLC, #1573, 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: 3/27/2024 - 3/27/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3 continuing education credits.
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program. - CE You LLC 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-0437
- Therapist Express 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 creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
- Therapist Express 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-0129.
- Therapist Express 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-0325.
- Therapist Express 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-0275.
This presentation is open to:
- Behavior Analysts
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
This online class is offered at an intermediate level, and is beneficial for an intermediate level clinician:
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Additional information
- Refunds: Registrants who are unable to attend a CeYou! Plus! seminar or live webinars may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform CeYou! Plus! ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting 607-249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.
- Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
- Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly.
- The grievance policy for trainings provided by CeYou! Plus! is available here
- Satisfactory Completion: Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion in your account or by clicking here
- Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- System Requirements: Any device (such as a computer, tablet, or phone), Dual-Core 2 GHz or higher processor, and at least 4 GB of RAM capable of running a Zoom session, along with a stable internet connection.
- Although early registration is recommended for this class in order to ensure the best experience, attendees may register and join until the start of the program