Professional Boundaries in Mental Health Care

The purpose of this course is to educate helping mental health professionals on how to provide compassionate and competent care within the boundaries of appropriate practice. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.


Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:


1. Define professional competence.

2. Outline components of the therapeutic relationship.

3. Define empathy and describe the difference between empathy and sympathy.

4. Define transference and countertransference and discuss their implications for the mental health professional.

5. Identify the functions of professional boundaries in the therapeutic relationship and multiple relationships.

6. Discuss the guidance on giving and receiving gifts provided by professional ethics codes.

7. Discuss the legal and ethical considerations of providing distance therapy.


This 3-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.