65th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 23

Early Bird Open Sessions

7:15-8:15 A.M.

Session 226

The Therapist's Professional Will: Ethical and Clinical Benefits of Planning for Expected and Unexpected Absences

Chair:

Ann E. Steiner, Ph.D., MFT, CGP, FAGPA, Associate Clinical Professor, UCSF Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, San Francisco, California
 

Illnesses and other sudden emergencies happen to us all. Now is the time to plan for minor or serious illness, retirement, relocation and death, including who will contact your group members if you cannot. This overview introduces ways to minimize the negative impact on your clients, your colleagues and yourself. Law and ethics credit available.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1 Describe common effects on group members when the leader cancels or is ill.
2 Describe three ethical benefits of preparing a Therapists’ Professional Will.
3.Describe ways to protect group members confidentiality when using an Emergency Response Team of selected clinicians.
4 Describe how to minimize the trauma and abandonment of the patient, frequently caused by canceling, transferring or terminating groups without adequate preparation.
 

Course References:

1. Fieldsteel, N. When the Therapist Says Goodbye International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 55 (2) 245-279.
2. Rauch, E. (1998) A One Session Memorial Group Following the Death of a Therapist, International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 48 (1) p 99-104.
3. Steiner, A. (2004) “The Therapist Protection Plan: Preparing for Expected and Unexpected Absences from Practice” The California Therapist, July/September.
4. Weiner, M. F. (1978) Therapist Disclosure: The Use of Self in Psychotherapy. Butterworths: London.