Date: November 8, 2025

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Clinical Professional Relationships

This course will address legal and ethical issues and dilemmas with regard to professional relationships with clients and others. Topics include (1) dual/multiple relationships and boundaries with clients; (2) professional supervision and consultation relationships; (3) therapist professional values; (4) the four elements holding therapists accountable for their professional behavior; and (5) proper termination and preventing patient abandonment. Literature updates, along with relevant Codes of Ethics and current expert opinion will be included in all areas of discussion.


This class meets the law and ethics requirement for California Psychologists, LMFTs, LCSWs, LEPs and LPCCs, as well as the ethics and professional boundaries course requirement for New York, and the ethics course requirement for Pennsylvania and other states.

Format

Live Webinar

Credits

6.0

Instructor

Pamela Harmell Ph.D.

Price

$ 199

WEBINAR objectives

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Clinical Professional Relationships

  • List the four different elements holding therapists accountable for their work as professionals
  • Describe how to handle conflicting values related to clients and the ethics code
  • Identify the four elements of a proper termination
  • Describe the importance of handling therapist counter transference with regard to professional relationships

Instructor

Pamela Harmell Ph.D.

Pamela Harmell Ph.D. is a national lecturer specializing in legal and ethical issues in clinical practice. She is a Professor at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and has written extensively in professional publications on ethical practice and has formally studied law. She is a past President of the Board of Psychology. Dr. Harmell is the former Chair of the California State Ethics Committee and is the current Co-Chair of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Ethics Committee.

About this webinar

The webinar is a live, interactive class. You will view the webinar in real time from your home or office on a computer, tablet (e.g., iPad) or phone. You will be able see the speaker and the slides, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and respond to polls. You will have access to the handouts, which you can view on your computer or download and print.

You will need to show up on time to receive credit, just like at an in-person class, but you can wear whatever you’d like! The class will run from 10am to 1:15pm Pacific Time. There will be a morning and afternoon break and a break for lunch. At the end of the class you will need to take a post-test and receive a score of 75% or above to pass. You have up to three attempts to pass the post-test. Most people pass on their first attempt. After two attempts to pass the post-test you will need to contact our office and you will be provided with one more attempt to pass the post-test. The post-test will only be available at the end of the class. Once you pass the post-test, you will complete an evaluation online and then you will receive your Certificate of Attendance online, which you can view and print.

Cancellation policy

There is a $35.00 processing fee, per seminar, for refunds requested by the Wednesday prior to the weekend of the webinar. After that time, there will be no refunds. If a course must be cancelled due to an unforeseen event (e.g., natural disaster, instructor illness), the webinar will be rescheduled. Participants will be credited to take the rescheduled course or another PPS webinar. No refunds will be given.

Live Webinar FAQs

If two or more people sign-up for the same class, are there any discounts?

No, there are currently no discounts if two or more people sign up for the webinar.

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

There is a $35.00 processing fee, per live webinar, for refunds requested at least 48 hours before the live webinar. After that time there will be no refunds, but credit will be given for a future live webinar.

If we at PPS need to cancel a class at the last minute due to an unforeseen event (e.g., natural disaster, instructor illness), the webinar will be rescheduled. You will be credited to take the rescheduled course or another PPS webinar. No refunds will be given.

If we at PPS need to cancel a class due to low enrollment, your registration fee will be refunded in full or you can take another PPS class.