

Ethics: Professional Boundaries
Description
This course meets all the NCBTMB Ethics requirements for renewal. Recognize "red flags" that can indicate ethical decision points. Learn how to create a safe and consistent therapeutic environment and minimize problems related to client transference.
Back to top Enroll NowEnrollment Options
Enroll Risk-Free! Examine our courses for up to 90 days and if you're not 100% satisfied by the quality or our service, your full tuition cost will be cheerfully refunded. Learn more about our guarantee.
| Choose an enrollment type: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Materials Shipped and Test Online | Contents: Text shipped to you. Online multiple-choice test. | $75 | |
| OR | |||
| Materials and Test Shipped to You | Contents: Manual and workbook with multiple-choice test shipped to you. | $75 | |
Content Outline
| Chapter 1: The Educated Heart | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 2: Boundaries: Protective Circles | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 3: Client/Practitioner Dynamics: The Power Imbalance | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 4: Framework: Nuts and Bolts | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 5: Ethics: From Theory to Practice | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 6: Sexual Issues: Protecting Our Clients | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 7: Sexual Issues: Protecting Ourselves | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 8: Getting Comfortable with Money | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 9: Dual Relationships: Wearing Many Hats | 0.5 hour |
| Chapter 10: The Case for Supervision and Other Forms of Self-Care | 0.5 hour |
| Discussion Questions | 0.5 hour |
| Appendix | |
| Open-Book Test and Course Evaluation Form | 0.5 hour |
Testimonials
"This course made studying "ethics" a delight rather than a chore. I loved and very much appreciated "the Educated Heart". I will tell friends who are therapists or bodyworkers about it! It?s a great CE course."Gina D Carrigan-Piper, NCTMB, Newburgh, IN
"I have taken other professional courses on ethics, and never found anyone so interesting as this one. In the past I would skim through to find the answers but this time I found myself reading the whole book 1st and then going back for the answers. I want my other colleagues to read it also. thank you."Diane Marie Grassgreen, NCMT, Neptune, NJ
This was a straight forward course that was helpful in refreshing my knowledge of ethics and boundaries.Dawn Hannon CMT, Racine, Wisconsin
The course is clear, concise, and covers a wide variety of ethical issues.Caryn Clark, LMT Mirror Lake, NH
I think this book is easy to read and understand. The cartoons made it enjoyable. It covered many aspects of the boundries necessary in a practioner/client relationship. I liked the open book test format, it helped me look for details as I read. I will buy other courses from your company. Thank youBeverly Klapperich
Very good course. affordable, great course book. makes ethics clear and understandableAnne K Davis LMT Clinton, CT
I enjoyed how the booked gave great examples.Jamie Schaffer, Pahrump, NV
The book was so informative and positive about the subject being presented.Janet L. Fox, CMT - Carrollton, VA
It was very informative, it taught me many things I did not know.Jedadia Ketchabaw LMT
Important boudaries for massage therapist to establish in their practice are clearily layed out in this course.Jennifer Stronse, CMT, San Diego, CA
If you are unsure of anything ethically speaking about your massage or any kind of therapeutic practice, read this book and it will explain the difference between right and wrong.John A.Coombs, CMT About Faces Day Spa and Salon, Timonium, MD
Thorough and easy to read with up to date information.Kathyrn B. Fidati, PT, CMT Life Serere Manual Therapy Touson, M
I think it was clear, informative and interesting enough for those of us that have been doing this for awhile.Lisa Meer-Lewis, CMT
A must have course for all body workers. This will change how I practice and has given me more maturity as a Massage Therapist.M. Luciano, MT, Santa Fe, New Mexico
I thought this course was most thorough & brought in things that are not often thought aboutNereid Hayden NCLMBT
well structured and interesting materialnikki castro hhp
I learned a lot of valuable information from this course. Thank you.Norm Hall, LMT Healthy Connections
I enjoy all the courses I've taken from Health Positive. Your courses are professional and very thorough.Rita Cusack, LMT, Huntsville, AL
"Excellent book/course. Although I've been in practice for almost twenty years, this course had me examine my ethics practice in an engaging way and explore some of the subtleties of dual relationships in a different light."Roberta Roll, Somatic therapist and educator, Copake, NY
Very straightforward ethics course and a great reminder as to how we should be acting.Robin Markowski, CMT
"I thought I didn't need another ethics course, but this book was wonderful and gave me much great insight. Perfect text book!"Rosemarie Sherman, LMT, Ghent, NY
I would like to say that I have learned a great deal in reading the book "The Educated Heart". I now have a clearer and more detailed understanding of transference, counter transference.Sally Luedeke, Healing Hands Massage - VT 05482
Well written and straight forward. Even thou I've been in practice for 14 years I found the information a very good refresher.Sarah J. Smith, LMT
I read this book years ago before I used it for CEU\'s and loved it! I teach at a massage school and encourage all the students to read this book and feel that it should be mandatory reading.Suzanne Penney LMT Wrentham, MA
Learning Objectives
- Identify at least three ways for health professionals to create a safe and consistent therapeutic environment.
- Define the terms "transference," "countertransference," "confidentiality," and "dual relationship."
- Describe at least three ways to minimize problems related to client transference.
- Recognize "red flags" that can often indicate an ethical decision point.
Sample Text
"One sign that clients have promoted us to an elevated status is that they rarely express their unhappiness with something we're doing, and they often agree to something they don't really want to do. They may tell us, for instance, that they are fine lying in a position that is actually making their neck hurt. They often don't speak up when we make them uncomfortable, such as when we've set the room temperature too hot, we're talking too much, or even when they think we've crossed sexual boundaries. If we make them too uncomfortable, they simply don't come back, sometimes without being conscious of the reason. Or they might remain as clients but become what we call "difficult" clients.
The sense of powerlessness that usually goes with being a client is especially noticeable when the client is also a peer. I hear many stories from even seasoned practitioners who have had trouble speaking up when getting work on themselves. You would think that, as professionals, we would have no trouble asserting ourselves, but because of the power of the transference, because of what happens when we are on the table, we may be as speechless as anyone else. If we feel powerless to question our colleagues, how must our clients feel?" (The Educated Heart: Professional Guidelines for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers and Movement Teachers by Nina McIntoch, 1999, p. 53)
Back to top Enroll NowSample Test Question
Which of the following statements is an example of transference?
- a client easily expresses unhappiness with something the practitioner is doing
- a client asserts herself about her readiness to release pain
- a client agrees to something he doesn't really want to do
- a client speaks up when the room temperature is too hot

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