Clinical Practice, Sex and Ethics: Beyond "Thou Shalt Not"
Presented by Braden Berkey, PsyD, CSE
Friday, November 1, 2024
9-11am PT / 11am-1pm CT / 12-2pm ET
Event held online via Zoom, link to access provided upon registration.
Sex is central to health and wellbeing; yet healthcare providers rarely receive any training or supervision on addressing sex and sexuality issues in therapy and within clinical relationships. Without knowledge and guidance, they often avoid exploring these issues in the ways that they would any other major component of development and health. Typically, one message is conveyed in their education: “Don’t have sex with your clients.” But sexual ethics in psychotherapy is much more complex than this mandate.
Because sexual behaviors, attractions, and fantasies can’t be separated from the development and validation to ascribed and constructed identities, this seminar will explore the professional dictates clinicians introject then explore and challenge barriers to ethically integrating sexual issues into practice.
Participants will review the limits of professional ethics codes in addressing sexual issues in treatment relationships, discuss sexual issues that may arise in therapy sessions, and be provided with resources needed to ethically address sexual issues and sexuality in therapy.
Zoom link will be available on course page in “My Courses” upon event registration.
This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 2.0 CEs for Psychologists, 2.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 2.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, or 2.0 AASECT CEs for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.
Sex is central to health and wellbeing; yet healthcare providers rarely receive any training or supervision on addressing sex and sexuality issues in therapy and within clinical relationships. Without knowledge and guidance, they often avoid exploring these issues in the ways that they would any other major component of development and health. Typically, one message is conveyed in their education: “Don’t have sex with your clients.” But sexual ethics in psychotherapy is much more complex than this mandate.
Because sexual behaviors, attractions, and fantasies can’t be separated from the development and validation to ascribed and constructed identities, this seminar will explore the professional dictates clinicians introject then explore and challenge barriers to ethically integrating sexual issues into practice.
Participants will review the limits of professional ethics codes in addressing sexual issues in treatment relationships, discuss sexual issues that may arise in therapy sessions, and be provided with resources needed to ethically address sexual issues and sexuality in therapy.
After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:
- Explain the limits of professional ethics codes in addressing sexual issues in treatment relationships.
- Better identify and acknowledge sexual issues in therapy.
- Identify resources needed to ethically address sexual issues.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.2: Program content focuses on ethical, legal, statutory or regulatory policies, guidelines, and standards that influence psychological practice, education, or research.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
This program meets AASECT Core Knowledge Area for:
A – Ethics and ethical behavior.
C – Socio-cultural factors (e.g. ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socio-economic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
O – Professional communication skills.
General Admission: $30
The Chicago School Faculty/Staff/Alumni/Site Supervisors: $20*
The Chicago School Students: $15*
(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Braden Berkey, PsyD, CSE; Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Associate Professor
Braden Berkey, Psy.D., CSE completed his doctoral work in clinical psychology at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is a licensed clinical psychologist who has held positions in private practice, university counseling, managed care and community health care settings. His professional practice has focused on sexual minority and sexual health issues. Dr. Berkey served as the Director of Behavioral Health & Social Services at Howard Brown Health and he created he Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Institute (SOGI) at Center on Halsted to expand access to LGBTQ culturally competent mental health clinicians. He has been an associate professor in the Clinical PsyD program at The Chicago School since 2008 where his coursework has focused on professional ethics, clinical practice, diversity training and human sexuality. Braden is a member of the American Association of Sex Educator, Counselors and Therapists
(AASECT), and he holds a certification as a sexuality educator.
American Counseling Association (2014). ACA code of ethics. Retrieved October 10, 2024 from https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
American Psychological Association. (2023). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved October 10, 2024 from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
National Association of Social Workers (2021). Code of ethics. Retrieved October 10, 2024 from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Target Audience: Mental healthcare providers and educators
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 2.0 CE credits. The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved as an AASECT Provider of continuing education credits. Provider number 23-519-CW. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact [email protected].
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.