Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders

Abstract
This workshop will encourage participants to explore their own perspectives and struggles with ethics in therapy for clients who are chronically traumatized. We will address a broad array of issues through examining our own cases and challenges. In addition, we will spend time exploring our countertransference pushes and pulls that affect how we treat clients, ranging from positive impressions (e.g., being enthralled with a client’s creativity, courage, or intellect) to negative feelings (e.g., of frustration at lack of progress, fear of aggressive clients, a sense of incompetence with clients we do not help) about our clients. Finally, controversies and challenges in the overall trauma field will be explored with a focus on how these can impact our ethical practices with traumatized clients. For example, how much should we stabilize a given client before we work on traumatic memories? Are there clients who may not benefit from trauma work? What boundaries can be flexed and why and when, and what boundaries should remain firm, and does this differ with individual clients? How can we be compassionate without being care-taking or rescuing, ensuring we are encouraging clients to take responsibility for their own lives, for better and worse? How can we recognize a tendency to rescue in ourselves, when we are “supposed” to be “helpers and healers.” When can a focus on attachment become a hindrance? Is there a downside – for clients and therapists - to focusing so much on trauma? How do we integrate the plethora of new modalities in a reasonable practice? How do therapists deal with the many pressures of endless trainings and certifications, and are there implications for treatment? What are ethical guidelines to treatment clients with multiple comorbitities and a low treatment trajectory? When do we decide to move to ego supportive therapy rather then exploratory psychotherapy? These and other issues will be highlighted in our discussion.

This presentation was originally presented as a live conference session in April 2024.

Target Audience

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Discuss case examples of ethical dilemmas and challenges in order to further improve ethical practices
  • Examine and discuss their own countertransference tendencies that positively and negatively affect their ethical treatment of clients
  • Identify controversies and challenges in the trauma field that can impact ethical practice
  • List reasons for boundary flexibility and reasons to not flex certain boundaries
  • Identify circumstances in which ego supportive therapy (at least temporarily if not enduring) is appropriate for a given client rather than exploratory therapy
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, 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: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
10/01/2025
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$0.00
Part of: 
Foundations of Care: Effective Treatment for Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders Package
Rating: 
0

Kathy Steele, MN, CS
Kathy Steele, MN, CS has been in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia since 1985. She is also an Adjunct Faculty at Emory University. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors in Nursing in 1978 and from Emory University with a Masters in Psych/Mental Health Nursing in 1983. She worked at Grady Memorial Hospital for several years in her early career in psychiatric triage as well as outpatient work with severely mentally ill clients, with a focus on schizophrenia. From 1991-1995 she was Clinical Director of an inpatient program for trauma and dissociation at CPC Parkwood Hospital in Atlanta. Subsequently, she was Clinical Director for a nonprofit low cost psychotherapy clinic in Atlanta, Metropolitan Counseling Services, from 1995-2016. Kathy is a Fellow and a past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), and also served two terms on the Board of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Since 2008 she has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. She is the recipient of several awards for her clinical and published works, including the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cornelia Wilbur Award, and the Pierre Janet Writing Award from ISSTD. She received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Emory University in 2006. She has authored numerous publications in the field of trauma and dissociation, including three books, and many book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. She is sought as a consultant and supervisor, and as an international lecturer on topics related to trauma, dissociation, attachment, and psychotherapy.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, 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: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

"Your Price" above reflects your price based on your membership status. In the checkout process you will be asked to specify your career level and may be eligible for further discounts based on your selection.

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code. 

All purchases of recorded content are final.

For additional webinar policies including completion requirements, filing grievances, requesting a disability accommodation, and awarding of certificates of credits, please visit our Webinar Policies page.