S26-501 Drawing the Line: Navigating Ethics & Boundaries in School-Based Therapy with Youth
Total Credits: 3 Ethic CEs
- Bundle(s):
- Spring 2026 Ethics Workshops
- Categories:
- 100 Children & Adolescents | 500 Ethics | New
- Instructor:
- Kristian Owens, LCSW-C
- Course Levels:
- Intermediate
- Duration:
- 3 Hours 15 Minutes
- Target Audience:
- Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Description
School therapists walk a fine line between advocacy, confidentiality, and collaboration. When working with children and teens, the stakes are high, and ethical gray areas are common—especially in school settings where multiple systems intersect. This experiential workshop invites school social workers and mental health therapists to explore the nuances of ethical decision-making with youth, with a special focus on confidentiality, mandated reporting, dual relationships, informed consent, and cultural humility. Through case studies, interactive discussion, and reflective activities, participants will strengthen their ability to uphold professional values while centering the voices and developmental needs of the young people they serve.
This workshop is in accordance with and compliance with the NASW Standards with a focus on service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence and social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, to the broader society.
This workshop meets the Ethics CE license renewal requirements for Maryland and the District of Columbia. The workshop is in compliance with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5) and with the District of Columbia Board of Social Work 17-70-7008.4.
Instructor
Kristian Owens, LCSW-C Related Seminars and Products
Therapy
Kristian Owens is a licensed clinical social worker/supervisor and experienced educator with over a decade of experience supporting individuals and families. She specializes in trauma-informed care, culturally responsive counseling, and integrative approaches. As the founder of Resilient Child Therapy Institute, LLC in Largo, Maryland, Kristian leads continuing education workshops that blend evidence-based strategies, real-world case examples, and interactive methods. Her engaging, inclusive teaching style equips clinicians with practical tools and confidence to apply what they learn in the field.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
8:50 am - 9:00 am Log on
9:00 am - 9:15 am Welcome & Reflective Exercise
9:15 am - 9:45 am Understanding Dual Agency & Overlapping Systems
9:45 am - 10:30 am Core Ethical Principles in Practice
10:30 am - 10:45 am BREAK
10:45 am - 11:15 am The Ethical Decision-Making Process: The Person in the Process
11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Case Scenarios, Group Discussion, Integrating Reflection/Ethical Practice
12:15 pm Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
-
Identify and apply NASW ethical standards related to confidentiality, boundaries, and informed consent in school-based settings with minors.
-
Examine common ethical dilemmas through culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate frameworks, with attention to power dynamics and student autonomy.
-
Develop a practical decision-making toolkit to navigate complex scenarios involving families, school staff, and external agencies while prioritizing the best interests of the child.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Barsky, A. E. (2019). Ethics and values in social work: An integrated approach for a comprehensive curriculum (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics
Maryland Department of Health. (n.d.). COMAR 10.42.03 Code of Ethics (Board of Social Work Examiners). Retrieved from https://health.maryland.gov/bswe/Documents/Regs/10.42.03CodeofEthics.pdf
Mattison, Marian. (2000). Ethical Decision Making: The Person in the Process. Social work. 45.201-12. 10.1093/sw/45.3.201.
Raines, James & Dibble, Nic. (2021). Ethical Decision-Making in School Mental Health. 10.1093/oso/9780197506820.001.0001
Reyneke, Roelf. (2020). The legal and ethical obligations of school social workers. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk , 56(2), 157-174. https://doi.org/10.15270/52-2-818
Wiggins, Marsha & Williams, Carmen. (2005). A Model of Ethical Decision Making From a Multicultural Perspective. Counseling and Values. 49. 10.1002/j.2161-007X.2005.tb01020.x
Course Completion & CE Information
Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement
The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 3 Category I Continuing Education Units for Ethics. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education.
ASWB Information
University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education, #1611, 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: 2/11/2024-2/11/2027.
To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance.
Certificate Access
To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.
Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate.
In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate.
Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.
Evaluation
Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.
After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Live Interactive Webinar Platforms
LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS
The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.
System Requirements:
- Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
- Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.
Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.
- Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.
**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.
Course Interaction Requirements:
To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.
Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.
Webinar Policies & FAQs
Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs
https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129
Code of Conduct
The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics. This policy is to ensure that the training environment for social work professionals remains respectful, productive, and conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning process, disrupts the training experience for others, or undermines the integrity of the program will not be tolerated.
Expectations for Participant Engagement:
In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics and the University of Maryland Baltimore Code of Conduct, participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, which includes respecting confidentiality, maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone, and contributing positively to the group dynamic. Disclosures made during the training (e.g., case studies or personal reflections) must be handled with care and in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.
All participants in the training program are expected to:
- Engage actively in the learning process and show respect for the opinions and contributions of others.
- Demonstrate professionalism in both attitude and behavior, maintaining respect for instructors, peers, and the training environment.
- Maintain open communication by expressing concerns or disagreements constructively and respectfully.
- Follow the guidelines and expectations provided by instructors and facilitators.
- Support a collaborative learning environment where all participants feel valued and safe to contribute.
Instructors and CPE staff reserve the right to dismiss participants who do not adhere to ethical/professional principles and standards. If removed, CEs will be adjusted to reflect the time attended, unless otherwise specified.
ADA Accommodations
To request ADA accommodations:
Please email our office at least four (4) weeks before the workshop. Late requests may not be accommodated.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On 02/18/26, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.** To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop.
For more information, please read the general policies on our website.