Description & Objectives

Continuing Education Hours: 1 CE for LPC, SW, LMFT, and Psychologists - NBCC Approved

Description: As technology becomes increasingly integrated into the delivery of mental healthcare, the potential for cyberharassment and cyberstalking targeting clinicians has grown significantly. While often regarded as an unfortunate occupational hazard, this issue remains largely underdiscussed within the field, leaving many professionals unprepared to navigate its impact. Research indicates that approximately one-third of stalking victims are mental healthcare providers (Mastronardi, 2013), and yet, centralized guidance and support resources are notably lacking. This course consolidates current knowledge, practical tools, and proactive safety strategies into a single, accessible resource. Participants will gain awareness of digital safety measures, understand risk factors associated with online exposure, and learn actionable steps for pursuing appropriate legal and ethical interventions when necessary. The goal of this course is to empower clinicians with the confidence, knowledge, and preventive practices needed to safeguard themselves while maintaining the integrity and compassion essential to therapeutic work.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Discuss the use and impact of data brokering on providers' privacy, while identifying at least 2 resources to help protect online data.  
  • Describe the five types of stalkers and identify the two most prominent types prevalent in healthcare stalking and harassment cases, including citing statistics of such cases.
  • Create and or revise intake forms to clearly include and acknowledge boundaries pertaining to the use of technology in or in relation to sessions (e.g. AI usage by client or provider, one-party consent states and recording of sessions, etc).

Instructor

S. Reynolds

“S. Reynolds” (name changed for safety) is a certified trauma-informed psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of personality disorders, complex trauma, anxiety, and relational dynamics. Her approach draws from integrative, evidence-based modalities, including IFS-informed EMDR, DBT, transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP), existential, and attachment-based therapies. She has experience working in nonprofit and higher levels of care, including partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and residential treatment (RTC) settings. In addition to her clinical work, she is a long-time yoga practitioner and holds a 200-hour registered yoga teacher certification, along with additional training in Ayurveda, nutrition, and trauma-informed yoga. She incorporates these practices to support whole-person healing, resilience, and empowerment. The presenter is using a pseudonym for safety and privacy.