Course Description:
Sexual harassment, sexual assault, and boundary violations in the healthcare workplace violate core ethical principles shared across health professions (Bail, 2021). These issues can have serious consequences for clients, colleagues, and bystanders, including professional, cultural, social, systemic, and mental health impacts(Abdulla, et al., 2023).
This presentation provides clear definitions and examples of workplace sexual harassment, reviews relevant laws and professional ethical codes, and outlines workplace expectations, including the rights of healthcare workers, employer responsibilities, reporting options, and available remedies for victims. It also addresses sexual boundary violations (Steinberg et al., 2021) specific to mental health settings and their impact on patients, clients, and supervisees, along with contributing factors to these ethical breaches(Steinberg& Albert, 2021).
Case studies and legal context are used to help participants understand how to identify, respond to, and prevent sexual misconduct in professional practice.
Abdulla, A. M., Lin, T. W., & Rospenda, K. M. (2023). Workplace harassment and health: A long-term
follow-up. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 65(11), 899–904.
https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002915
Steinberg, A. L., Alpert, J. L., & Courtois, C. A. (Eds.). (2021). Sexual boundary violations in
psychotherapy: Facing therapist indiscretions, transgressions, and misconduct. American Psychological Association.
Steinberg, A. L., & Alpert, J. L. (2021). Erotic transference and countertransference in sexual boundary
violation: An interview with Andrea Celenza. In A. L. Steinberg, J. L. Alpert, & C. A. Courtois (Eds.), Sexual boundary violations in psychotherapy: Facing therapist indiscretions, transgressions, and misconduct (pp.69-90). American Psychological Association.
Varkey B. (2021). Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Medical principles and
practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre, 30(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119