3-Hour Workshop: The Ethics of Money, Fees and Financial Boundaries in Psychotherapy Practice
- Speaker:
- Dawn Friedman, MSEd, LPCC-S, LPC
- Duration:
- 3.25 Hours
- Product Code:
- LWC150813
- Brochure Code:
- PWZ95946
- Media Type:
- Live Webinar
Tags: APA
Description
- Healer vs. Merchant: Managing self-judgment around fees
- Grey Areas: Bartering, gifts, and boundary considerations
- Fee for Service: Ethical realities and clinician responsibilities
- Upcoding: Risks of diagnosing for insurance coverage
- Non Payment: Abandonment vs. appropriate termination
We’re trained to navigate complex trauma and deep emotional wounds.
But when it comes to money? We’re often ill-equipped, uncomfortable and anxious when discussion fees, insurance upcoding, or the ethics of private pay.
Reality is, money is always going to be part of the equation in our work. And your lack of comfort with it, the fear of judgment or practical budgetary demands could threaten to influence your clinical decisions.
That’s why we created this 3-hour training to help you navigate financial conversations with clarity, uphold ethical standards, and stay aligned with your clinical purpose – even when money enters the room.
From the ethics of “holding on to” clients for financial stability to the high-stakes decisions around collections, fee setting, and non-payment discharges …
… you’ll learn to untangle the emotional, systemic, and ethical pressures that shape money decisions in therapy – and how to respond.
Register now!
Credit
Speaker
Dawn Friedman, MSEd, LPCC-S, LPC Related seminars and products
Dawn Friedman, MSEd, LPCC-S, LPC, is an independently licensed counselor and clinical supervisor with over 30 years of experience working with children, families, and adults. Licensed as an LPCC-S in Ohio and an LPC in Pennsylvania, she brings a multi-state perspective to the complex ethical landscapes of modern private practice. As the owner of Building Family Counseling and Open Book Parenting, she has specialized in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and complex family dynamics, including adoption and attachment-related challenges.
A seasoned educator and speaker, Ms. Friedman served as an adjunct instructor at The Ohio State University, where she honed strategies for classroom management and learning evaluation. She has trained thousands of professionals – including counselors, social workers, and early childhood educators – on high stakes clinical topics. Her portfolio of professional presentations includes the Ohio Counseling Association and the All-Ohio Counselors Conference, with a dedicated focus on the ethics of power, privilege, and dual relationships.
Ms. Friedman is a prolific writer whose work has appeared in national publications such as Yoga Journal, Salon, and Parenting. With a career spanning community mental health, private practice, and higher education, Ms. Friedman utilizes her supervisory expertise to help practitioners navigate the intersection of professional standards and real-world clinical practice.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dawn Friedman is the owner of Open Book Parenting and Building Family Counseling. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dawn Friedman has no relevant financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access Period for Live WebcastYou will have access for 90 days after the program for review. For live CE credit, you must watch the live webcast in its entirety at its scheduled time and complete the CE quiz and evaluation within one week. Please note that this requirement may vary by credit type. Please see detailed credit information for specific requirements for each credit type.
Webcast Schedule
Please note: There will be a 15-minute break mid-afternoon. Actual break start times are at the discretion of the speaker. A more detailed schedule is available upon request.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info
Objectives
- Analyze the impact of therapist financial countertransference and personal money history on fee-setting and ethical decision-making.
- Evaluate the clinical and ethical implications of “grey area” transactions, including bartering, gift-giving, and clients requesting to pay above-market rates.
- Apply an ethical framework for identifying, disclosing, and managing financial conflicts of interest in clinical practice to protect client welfare.
Outline
The Taboo of the Transaction: Psychological & Cultural Foundations
- The “Healer vs. Merchant” conflict and professional self-judgment
- Cross-cultural understandings of debt, “fair” exchange, and payment
- The ethics of gifts and bartering: Analyzing ACA, NASW, and AAMFT standards
- Research, risks and limitations
Boundaries, Fees, and Professional Judgment
- The “Private Pay” debate: Addressing professional judgment and social justice
- Ethics of sliding scales and pro bono work: Avoiding “tiered” quality of care
- Navigating fee-for-service realities and clinical resentment
Conflicts of Interest and Revenue Expansion
- The ethics of “holding”: When therapist financial need conflicts with client progress
- The Multi-Hyphenate Clinician: Selling supplemental resources (books/courses) to clients
- Insurance demands: The ethics of “upcoding” or diagnosing for coverage (e.g., individual diagnosis for couples work)
When the Transaction Fails: Collections and Termination
- Ethics of non-payment: “Abandonment” vs. “Termination for Non-Payment”
- The Ethics of Collections: Risk-benefit analysis and the “Harm vs. Loss” ratio
- Digital Money: Privacy and HIPAA implications of modern payment apps
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Psychologists
- Case Managers
- Addiction Counselors
Reviews
Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to: PO Box 1000, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1000 or call 1-800-844-8260.
ADA Needs
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.
PESI Mobile App
Access CE trainings on your phone or tablet through our free mobile app. Choose video or audio-only versions of online courses from the world’s best instructors, and complete your CE requirements anywhere, anytime, at your own pace.
Please wait ...