Description
The physician-patient relationship is the cornerstone of psychiatric practice, and its goal is to promote patient health and well-being, embodying the key ethical considerations of respect for persons, fairness or equity, and beneficence. This is no ordinary relationship however, as the power differential between a physician and a patient, as well as the patient's dependency on the physician for help managing their healthcare needs place the patient in a vulnerable position.
Strict therapeutic boundaries are therefore required to ensure that the psychiatrist does not take advantage of or exploit a patient and to ensure that there is no appearance of impropriety in the psychiatrist-patient relationship. While not all boundary crossings are harmful, the risk of harm is so high that the psychiatrist must be alert to all boundary crossings. It is the obligation of the psychiatrist and not the patient to protect the boundary as its violation may cause harm to the patient.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.
This presentation was recorded on May 27, 2026.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of the activity, participants will:
Differentiate between harmful and non harmful boundary crossings
Apply and automate practices to prevent harmful boundary crossings
Implement strict guidelines for interacting with patients outside of routine practices
Outline
- Foundation of the Therapeutic Alliance
- Deciphering crossings and Violations
- Proactive Prevention and Red Flags
- Navigating Non-Routine Interactions
Target Audience
Resident or Fellow, Medical Student, Physician Assistant, Nurse, Psychiatric Technician, Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, Social Worker, Student (Non-Medical), Peer Specialist, Administrator, Legal/Policy Professional, Researcher
Instructional Level:
Introductory
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
Program Release Date: May 27, 2026
Program End Date: May 27, 2026
Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board
After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.
How to Earn Credit
After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Faculty:
- Charles Dike, MD is a Professor of Psychiatry and Deputy Chair for State Affairs at Yale School of Medicine, where he also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Mental Health Center. He is a prominent expert in forensic psychiatry and ethics, having served as the President of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law and Chair of the American Psychiatric Association Ethics Committee. His work focuses on the intersection of law, public mental health administration, and the ethical delivery of clinical care. Dr. Dike has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Program Planners:
- John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires JavaScript and session cookies to be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
Windows PC:
Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |
Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance