Suicide Prevention in Alaska

This CE-approved training examines the ethical and clinical considerations of counselor self-disclosure in counseling and psychotherapy. Participants will explore various forms of self-disclosure, including immediate, personal, recovery-related, client-initiated, unavoidable, accidental, and digital-age disclosures. The course reviews ethical guidance from major professional organizations and provides practical decision-making tools to help clinicians navigate disclosure thoughtfully and ethically. Through case examples, ethical analysis, and clinical application exercises, participants will learn how to evaluate when self-disclosure may enhance treatment and when it may create risk. Special attention is given to substance use treatment, mandated services, trauma work, multicultural considerations, and digital professionalism. Topics include: • Types of counselor self-disclosure • Ethical standards across major behavioral health disciplines • Benefits and risks of self-disclosure • The WAIT–BRIEF–RETURN decision-making framework • Self-disclosure in substance use treatment • Mandated and court-involved settings • Trauma-informed and culturally responsive considerations • Documentation and risk management practices • Repairing misattuned or excessive disclosure