Ethical Issues in Behavioral Healthcare Services
Workshop Description
Service provision in the behavioral healthcare field has become increasingly complicated
given the issues of cost-containment, limitations in client choice, resource allocation, and
most importantly, intrusion into the client/therapist relationship via authorization for care
and utilization reviews. These trends press the conscientious therapist to maintain the
traditional ethical boundaries of care while adjusting to situations created in a “managed
care” work environment. This short course of instruction is designed in two separate
components to provide a framework for ethical practice in a variety of settings and
surface those areas needing further thought and study.
PART I: Transdisciplinary Foundations in Ethical Behavioral Healthcare Practice
Part I: Learning Objectives:
By the end of this short course of instruction participants should be able to:
1) Define ethics in terms of its component parts across the various human service
disciplines; values, beliefs, duties, & rules;
2) Identify one area needing further study and thought in regards to ethical practice in
the participant’s chosen field;
3) Develop a personal approach to ethical decision-making in behavioral
health care practice that recognizes issues unique to the participant’s
professional field (i.e. social work, psychology, rehab counseling, etc.).
PART II: Critical Issues in Substance Abuse Services
Part II: Learning Objectives:
By the end of this short course of instruction participants should be able to:
1) Understand the evolution of ethical issues in the addictions field from a
historical perspective;
2) Understand the process for becoming “ethically sensitive” and resources
to help the developing therapist/counselor;
3) Identify at least one area needing further study, growth, and development
regarding ethical services to clients with substance-related issues.
Target Audience
Rehab Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Addiction Counselors, Licensed
Professional Counselors are targeted but other health and human service professionals
with interest in this topic will benefit from attendance from the morning session (Part I).
The afternoon session (Part II) will focus on issues specific to working with clients in
substance abuse service settings.
Credit
6.0 hours
Methodology
a) Lecture , Question & Answer
b) Large & Small Discussion
c) Participant Handouts
d) Audiovisual Presentations
Proposed Agenda
This training will allow practitioners seeking recertification/renewal credit a morning
session (Part I) and those seeking initial certification specific to Substance Abuse a full
day (Parts I & II) of training for a total of 6 contact hours of training. Participants may
attend the morning session (3 hours), the afternoon session (3 hours), or the full day (6
hours) relevant to initial ethics training, renewal or recertification training. Certificates
awarded will specify actual contact hours in Part I, Part II, or full day attendance
categories.
PART I: Transdisciplinary Foundations for Ethical Practice – 3 hours
09:00 – 09:15am
Introductions, Review of the Agenda & Expectations
09:15 – 10:30am
Behavioral Health Care & Ethical Practice
10:30 – 10:45am
Scheduled Break (15 mins.)
10:45 – 11:45am
Defining Ethics in the Helping Professions
11:45 – 12:05pm
Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
12:05 – 12:15pm
Summary, Evaluations & Wrap-up
(LUNCH 12:15 – 01:15)
PART II: Critical Issues in Substance Abuse Services – 3 hours
01:15 – 01:30pm
Introductions, Review of the Agenda & Expectations
01:30 – 02:15pm
Historical Evolution of Ethics in Addictions Services
02:45 – 03:00pm
Scheduled Break (15 mins.)
03:00 – 04:20pm
Critical Issues, Emerging Trends, Ethical Dilemmas
04:20 – 04:30pm
Summary, Evaluations & Wrap-up
Equipment Needed:
1) Laptop Computer
2) LCD Projector
3) Dry Erase/Blackboard (Optional)
4) Participant Handouts
Faculty
L. Worth Bolton, ACSW, LCAS, CCS, is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist,
and a Certified Clinical Supervisor with over 25 years experience in the behavioral
healthcare field. He has worked with adolescents and adults in inpatient, outpatient,
residential, and institutional settings as a primary therapist, clinical director program
director, and administrator. Worth is past chair and member of the N.C. Foundation for
Alcohol & Drug Studies and the N.C. Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board. He
is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Behavioral Health Care Resource
Program at the UNC-CH School of Social Work and coordinates the Certificate of
Substance Abuse Studies.