Self-Disclosure in Social Work Practice: Boundaries, Ethics, and Professional Judgement

Hosted by UT College of Social Work

Join the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Social Work for an interactive ethics presentation exploring boundaries, self-disclosure, and professional judgment in social work practice. Participants will examine the continuum of self-disclosure in clinical social work, including how thoughtful and intentional disclosure can affect therapeutic relationships, power dynamics, perceived fairness, countertransference, and potential bias. Through practical examples and a clinical case, participants will consider when boundary flexibility may enhance therapeutic relationships and when it may contribute to favoritism, impaired professional judgment, or ethical concerns. The presentation will also briefly examine boundaries and self-disclosure in macro social work practice, including conflicts of interest, advocacy, resource allocation, and professional role clarity.

Learning Objectives

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

• Identify ethical considerations related to professional boundaries, particularly self-disclosure, dual relationships, confidentiality, and therapeutic relationships in clinical social work practice.
• Analyze how boundary decisions, countertransference, perceived fairness, and personal affinity can influence professional judgment and contribute to bias or differential treatment of clients.
• Apply an ethical decision-making framework to complex boundary and self-disclosure situations in social work practice, including the use of consultation, documentation, and role clarification.

This event has been approved for 3.0 CEUs by NASW-TN.

Click here to register.