Balancing Care and Ethics: The Art of Setting Boundaries in Clinical Practice
Presented by
Dreya Blume, LCSWThis introductory training explores the ethical and practical aspects of boundary-setting in therapy, offering tools and strategies to create clear, respectful, and effective boundaries.
Overview
Recorded: December, 2025 1.5 Ethics & Law CEs (meets the new Professional Roles & Boundaries requirement in WA state)
Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries is one of the most crucial—and challenging—aspects of clinical practice. Too often, therapists struggle to find the balance between being compassionate and maintaining professional boundaries that protect both the therapist and the client. This introductory training explores the ethical and practical aspects of boundary-setting in therapy, offering tools and strategies to create clear, respectful, and effective boundaries. We will examine common boundary challenges, such as dual relationships, self-disclosure, and emotional entanglement, and learn how to navigate them with confidence and care. Through case discussions and real-world examples, you will gain the skills to protect the integrity of the therapeutic relationship while promoting trust, safety, and respect.
OBJECTIVES:
Develop an understanding of the ethical, legal, and practical aspects of boundary-setting in clinical practice. Learn strategies for maintaining professional boundaries while fostering a compassionate and supportive therapeutic relationship. Identify common boundary violations and challenges, and explore effective ways to address them with clients. Practice setting and maintaining boundaries through self-reflection and case-based discussions to ensure a safe, respectful therapeutic environment.
About the Presenter
Dreya Blume (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, author, and educator. Dreya began working in the mental health field in 2004 in southwest Virginia, where she spent almost two decades serving the local transgender community as a gender therapist. She recently moved to Durham, NC, where she focuses on offering continuing education training to therapists and coaching for private practice clinicians who want to expand their business uniquely. Dreya loves to write and is the author of several books, including, “The Tarot Activity Book: A Collection of Creative and Therapeutic Ideas for the Cards,” “Journaling the Tarot,” “Everyone Has a Story: Using the Hero’s Journey and Narrative Therapy to Reframe the Struggle of Mental Illness,” and “Tarot for Transformation: Using the Major Arcana to Discover Your Best Self and Create a Life Worth Living.” All of Dreya’s books (under her former name, Andy Matzner) are available here: https://dreyablume.com/books. Dreya is also passionate about teaching. Before becoming a mental health clinician, she spent many years teaching English as a Second Language in places such as Japan, Australia, Thailand, and Hawaii. Once in Virginia, Dreya worked as an adjunct professor for almost twenty years at Hollins University, teaching gender studies and sociology in their Master of Liberal Studies program. In addition, she spent twelve years teaching future social workers in the human services program at Virginia Western Community College. Learn more about Dreya on her website: https://dreyablume.com/.