Class 1

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST

Exploring Ethical Obligations: Boundaries, Confidentiality and Mandated Reporting

This course brings real-world context to ethical concerns often experienced by professionals in practice. Through an exploration of boundaries, confidentiality and mandated reporters, this course will provide a framework to contemplate ethical dilemmas and make informed decisions that insulate professionals from legal liability while protecting clients from harm. This class meets the new NEW YORK Appropriate Boundaries Training and Ethics requirements. 3 CE Credits!

(Trainer, Kathryn Krase, Ph.D., J.D., M.S.W., is the Principal Consultant at Krase Consulting and the founder of Making the Tough Call. An expert on the professional reporting of suspected child maltreatment, she has authored multiple books and articles on the subject. For over 20 years, Dr. Krase has educated students as well as mental health, medical, and legal professionals on navigating complex legal and ethical obligations. She has lectured extensively on implicit bias and the systemic challenges faced by marginalized populations. Dr. Krase has years of experience consulting with government and community based organizations to develop policy & practice standards.)

3 Hours

Class 2

1:45 PM - 4:45 PM EST

Unmasking Invisible Abuse: IPV and Coercive Control

Most mental health clinicians are familiar with the concepts of Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). As mandated reporters, clinicians are trained to recognize signs of abuse in children and may even acquire some training on signs of IPV. Quite often the signs of physical abuse are clear and obvious – bruises, burns, and even broken bones are what raises alarm bells. What is less often clearly defined is the concept of coercion although the idea is often alluded to. An example of this might be to ensure a client is in a safe and private space when telehealth sessions are being conducted to allow for clients to speak freely without others interfering and reducing the likelihood of coercion and increasing the ability of the client to speak honestly.

This brief course is an introduction to the concept of coercive control, which is much more insidious than physical abuse as coercive control leaves no physical signs and is even less likely to be believed by law enforcement and the legal system. Having a better understanding of coercive control can allow a clinician to become aware of how coercive control works, interpersonal factors involved, and how to support a client who may be experiencing the phenomenon.

(Trainer - Dr. Laura Spencer is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician with over 20 years’ experience working in the behavioral health field. Dr. Spencer has worked with individuals, families and couples, navigating many types of difficulties, from serious emotional disturbances to typical life changes. In addition to clinical practice and supervision, Dr. Spencer has taught graduate level classes in Counseling and Psychology at SUNY at Buffalo and conducted research on what works in parenting.)

3 Hours

Class 3

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST

Bridging the Divide: Practical Tools for Mental Health Practitioners in Polarized Times

We live in deeply polarized times. The anger, fear, and hopelessness we see in the world inevitably show up with our clients--and in our own families and friendships. As mental health professionals, we are not immune.

This three-hour interactive training is designed for practitioners fed up with the division and ready to find a way forward. Through clinical examples, video demonstrations, interviews, and small-group sharing, participants will:

• Understand how polarization affects therapists personally and professionally
• Learn strategies to reduce reactivity and foster constructive dialogue
• Build skills to help clients, families, and communities bridge divides
• Connect with peers in a supportive, non-isolating environment

More than a workshop, this training strengthens your practice and your role as a “citizen therapist” navigating polarized times with confidence.

(Trainer - Cheryl Dolinger Brown, LCSW has been practicing as a psychotherapist in New York City for forty years with individuals, couples and groups in addition to presenting workshops/webinars and supervising therapists. She has trained in Imago Relationship Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, PACT, Doherty Approach including Discernment Counseling and The Tapping Method.)

3 Hours