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Ethics and Boundaries: Navigating Challenging Colleague Relationships

Ethics and boundaries topics go beyond caring for our patients and clients. Learn best practices for working cohesively with challenging teammates through this online program offering.

Key Program Information
Series Ethics and Boundaries

Caretake as a team by building strong relationships with colleagues

Training in human services fields, including social work, counseling, psychology, and nursing, may cover working with difficult or resistant clients. When it comes to getting into the workforce, we may not have the knowledge and experience to navigate working with challenging colleagues. Whether it be our own team members or collaborating partners, our ethical obligation to our clients includes collegiality among colleagues to ensure services are delivered effectively. This program considers the issue of working with difficult colleagues from a functional (vs. structural) perspective and provides guidance on facilitating collaboration when colleague relationships are strained. 

This program will be delivered through the use of pre-recorded video content, voice annotated PowerPoint slides, and discussion boards. You can view the content and participate in the discussion boards whenever it is convenient for you each week. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn to conceptualize challenging colleague relationships from a functional versus structural perspective. 
  • Learn to assess circumstances and use that information to understand how people are subject to the effects of situations. 
  • Learn to traverse difficult colleague relationships by addressing relevant features of the environment, exanimating your own cognitive biases, and understanding self‐control.
  • Learn to assert yourself effectively when dealing with difficult colleagues.

This program satisfies the Wisconsin Social Worker’s Ethics and Boundaries requirements for licensing.

workers standing around a table having a discussion

Who should attend

Social workers, counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, substance abuse counselors, school psychologists, and other human service professionals

Instructors

  • Dr. Michael Axelrod

    Michael I. Axelrod, Ph.D. is currently the director of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Human Development Center and a Professor in the Department of Psychology. His research and clinical interests involve finding solutions to common but potentially harmful child and adolescent problems. He is the author of three books and has written numerous professional papers and presented nationally on topics involving child, pediatric, and school psychology. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience providing clinical services to children, adolescents, and families, Dr. Axelrod uses his knowledge and expertise, along with a little humor, to teach practitioners ways to be more effective in everyday practice.

CEU Information

Participants will earn 4 Contact Hours upon completion of this program.

Additional CEU Information by Profession: 

Wisconsin Social Workers

Our programs qualify as continuing education offered by an accredited university. The State Board recognizes contact hours for all listed programs.

Wisconsin Substance Abuse Counselors

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services approves contact hours for programs consisting of relevant content taught by qualified presenters. Contact our office with questions about specific program approvals.

Wisconsin Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

Our programs qualify as required continuing education offered by an accredited university. The State Board recognizes contact hours for all programs.

Wisconsin Licensed Counselors

Our programs qualify as required continuing education offered by an accredited university. The State Board recognizes contact hours for all programs.

Wisconsin Educators and School Psychologists

Continuing education programs from the University of Wisconsin campuses may qualify toward your Professional Development Plan (PDP).

Other Professions

Contact your professional board or organization for specific continuing education requirements.

Disability Accommodations

UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education encourages individuals with disabilities or other special needs to participate in our programs whenever possible. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please notify us at least two weeks in advance of the program so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Contact Continuing Education at 715-836-3636 / toll-free 866-893-2423, or use the Wisconsin Relay System (711). All requests are kept confidential.

An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements.

Cancellation Policy

We understand life happens. Should you need to cancel your registration, you may substitute someone to take your place, at any time, at no cost to you. If we cancel a program, we’ll give you your money back.

If your program is 14 or more days away:
You may transfer once to any currently available program – no charge!
If you have to cancel, you will receive a refund, minus a 20% administrative fee.

If your program is less than 14 days away:
You may transfer once to any currently available program, plus a 20% transfer fee.
If you cancel, you will not receive a refund.

If you are registered and do not attend the program, you are responsible for the full fee.

Substitution, refund or transfer requests must be submitted via email or phone call to UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education.

There are currently no upcoming dates for this program. To make sure you are notified when dates are scheduled, please join our mailing list.

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