Category: Ethics, Trauma Category: Ethics, Trauma (show less) Other: Maryland Other: Maryland (show less)

MD20260518 - Sustaining the Work: Navigating Vicarious Trauma and Implementing Ethical Self-Care with Clients
Date: Monday, May 18, 2026; 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Presenter: Anne M. Garcia, LICSW, LCSW-C
Bilingual Psychotherapist
Synopsis: The 2021 NASW Code of Ethics unequivocally states that "Professional self-care is
 paramount for competent and ethical social work practice. Professional demands, challenging workplace climates, and exposure to trauma warrant that social workers maintain personal and professional health, safety, and integrity." This workshop delves into the critical role of self-care, exploring its profound ethical implications for social work professionals. We will unpack this core principle byidentifying the specific ethical issues that arise when self-care is neglected, and by
 providing concrete strategies to deepen personal and professional well-being. Participants will be guided in developing robust self-care practices essential for maintaining resilience, preventing burnout, and ultimately enhancing the best possible client outcomes. This workshop is meticulously designed in accordance with and in compliance with the NASW Standards, specifically focusing on service, dignity, and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, colleagues, practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, and to the broader society. It fully complies with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5) and meets the Ethics CE license renewal requirements for Maryland.
Specific BSWE codes discussed: 
1.04 Competence: Social workers must provide services only within their boundaries of education, training, and license, which requires maintaining personal and professional health.
1.01 Commitment to Clients: Implicitly, self-care allows practitioners to keep their primary responsibility, which is to promote the well-being of clients.
1.06 Conflicts of Interest: Self-care helps manage boundaries and avoid potential conflicts arising from impaired professional judgment.
1.09 & 1.10 Sexual Relationships/Physical Contact: Maintaining personal boundaries ensures professional ethical behavior.
1.16 Termination of Services: Social workers should take reasonable steps to avoid abandoning clients, necessitating self-care to manage their practice. 
 Learning Objectives: Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
 1. Identify & define the ethical issues which impact social work intervention and the social worker, including primary traumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout.
 2. Explore strategies for ethical practice, including the balance of compassion, satisfaction, and compassion fatigue.
 3. Identify the causes and signs of stress and obstacles to recovery.
CE: 3 Cat I in Ethics
Cost: $50.00 for members; $75 for non-members; $30 for retired members; $20 for student members
Please Note: This workshop meets the 3 credits in Ethics for the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ ethics requirement for license renewal.