IAAP 2025 Spring Conference
Earn up to 6.0 CEUs
Thursday, April 24, 2025

TOPIC: Ethics & Addiction
1) Ethics in the Movies
2) Ethics of Professional Boundaries and the Client Relationship
Presented by: Dr. Frances Patterson, PhD, LADAC II, MAC, DAC, QCS

Tentative Schedule:

• 8:15-8:45 am: Registration
• 8:45-11:45 am: Morning Session (w/ half time break)
• 11:45-1:00 pm: Lunch & Membership Update (Onsite lunch option)
• 1:00-4:30 pm: Afternoon Session (w/ half time break)

Morning Session
Ethics in the Movies

Movies and TV program soften include counseling or therapy scenes depicting counselor behaviors with clients. More often than not, the behaviors are ethically questionable. Untrained or unaware viewers may think that these behaviors are acceptable in the professional world. We, as counselors, need to be able to explain to clients why ethically sound practice is not what they see in the media. This session will explore some of these media examples through discussion and thought-provoking questions. The NAADAC Code of Ethics will be referenced as a guide to help participants explore their own ethical compass.

Afternoon Session
Ethics of Professional Boundaries and the Client Relationship

Even when neither party seeks to intentionally violate the patient-provider relationship, ill-defined ethical guidelines can still create confusion and communication issues. In this presentation, Dr. Patterson will identify the most commonly misunderstood and violated ethical boundaries within the therapeutic relationship. Participants will discuss the impact of personal values and the professional decisions they make on the provider’s perceptions and behavior in the therapy setting. This presentation will also model the appropriate responses to difficult scenarios, including values clarification. Through didactic, discussion, and multimedia methods, Dr. Patterson will empower participants to establish clear ethical boundaries across various client populations for improved the therapeutic relationship and client outcomes.