This workshop addresses therapist responsibility with regard to ethical practice and cultural competency ensuring patient welfare in all aspects of practice.  Participants will learn about  (1) Recognizing and properly handling counter transference issues,  (2) The three types of self disclosure and their effects on the therapy relationship, (3) Recognizing the importance of therapist self care (4) Handling counter-transference, therapist self disclosure and therapist self care to improve the therapeutic alliance and increase therapist effectiveness. Literature updates, along with relevant Codes of Ethics and current expert opinion will be included in all areas of discussion. This program reviews the current research findings and knowledge that inform ethical and legal practice.

Part 1:

• Definition of counter-transference
• Three types of counter-transference
• Handling negative feelings about clients
• Clinical impact of unresolved counter-transference
• Resulting problems of unresolved counter-transference
• Therapist gaining awareness of counter-transference
• Therapist impairment in accordance with the ADA
• Use of terminology other than “Impairment” which is protected by the ADA laws
• Difference between “distress” and “impairment”

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn to recognize and handle the three types of counter transference and properly deal with personal reactions to clients
• Participants will be able to recognize and become aware of the three types of therapist self disclosure and how each is used in therapy sessions and how clients view therapist self disclosure by their therapists
• Participants will recognize the importance of, and properly utilize self care techniques with regard to being a psychotherapist and to name three types of self care techniques