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When Clients Record Sessions Without Consent (2 CEU's)
HIGH-RISK & CLINICAL EDGE CASES
When Clients Record Sessions Without Consent – 2 CEUs
Overview:
The increasing accessibility of smartphones, wearable technology, and digital recording devices has created new ethical and clinical challenges within psychotherapy. Therapists may discover that a client has secretly recorded a session, intends to share session content online, or has documented therapeutic interactions without prior discussion or consent. These situations often provoke strong emotional reactions from clinicians, including feelings of betrayal, anxiety, anger, mistrust, and concerns regarding privacy, legal exposure, professional boundaries, and therapeutic safety. At the same time, therapists must determine how to respond in ways that preserve professionalism, protect ethical responsibilities, and thoughtfully evaluate the impact on the therapeutic relationship.
In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, participants will examine practical and ethically grounded approaches for managing situations in which clients record therapy sessions without consent. Attendees will explore the legal and ethical complexities surrounding recording practices, including considerations related to informed consent, confidentiality, state recording laws, social media sharing, documentation, and professional liability concerns. The course will address possible motivations behind client recording behaviors, including memory support, anxiety reduction, mistrust, trauma histories, reassurance-seeking, or interpersonal dynamics affecting treatment. Participants will learn strategies for addressing the issue directly while minimizing unnecessary rupture, repairing therapeutic trust when appropriate, evaluating continuation of care, and developing clear policies regarding recordings within informed consent procedures. Through case examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for navigating one of modern psychotherapy’s increasingly common and emotionally charged ethical challenges.
Objectives:
Identify legal, ethical, and clinical considerations associated with clients recording therapy sessions without clinician consent.
Examine potential motivations and relational dynamics that contribute to client recording behaviors.
Apply practical communication, documentation, and boundary-setting strategies when addressing unauthorized recordings in therapy.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with an overview of ethical and clinical considerations related to unauthorized client recordings of therapy sessions. Participants will learn practical strategies for responding to these situations and strengthening informed consent practices. This training does not provide legal advice or jurisdiction-specific interpretation of recording laws, which vary significantly by state. Participants are responsible for applying course material in accordance with professional ethics, legal requirements, and consultation recommendations when appropriate.
Financial and Commercial Disclosure
The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to ethical frameworks, interventions, legal concepts, or resources are included solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.
Refund Policy – Live CE Trainings (Virtual & In-Person)
All registrations for live CE trainings are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, participants agree to these terms. Cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the scheduled training date are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee, or participants may elect to receive a full credit toward a future training. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled training are non-refundable; however, registrations may be transferred to another eligible training or another attendee with prior written approval. Participants who fail to attend a scheduled live training, do not complete attendance requirements, or fail to satisfy course participation requirements are not eligible for refunds or CEUs. If a training is canceled or rescheduled by the provider, registrants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another training. Refunds will not be issued if participants are unable to earn CEUs due to incomplete attendance, failure to complete required evaluations, or licensing board eligibility restrictions.
HIGH-RISK & CLINICAL EDGE CASES
When Clients Record Sessions Without Consent – 2 CEUs
Overview:
The increasing accessibility of smartphones, wearable technology, and digital recording devices has created new ethical and clinical challenges within psychotherapy. Therapists may discover that a client has secretly recorded a session, intends to share session content online, or has documented therapeutic interactions without prior discussion or consent. These situations often provoke strong emotional reactions from clinicians, including feelings of betrayal, anxiety, anger, mistrust, and concerns regarding privacy, legal exposure, professional boundaries, and therapeutic safety. At the same time, therapists must determine how to respond in ways that preserve professionalism, protect ethical responsibilities, and thoughtfully evaluate the impact on the therapeutic relationship.
In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, participants will examine practical and ethically grounded approaches for managing situations in which clients record therapy sessions without consent. Attendees will explore the legal and ethical complexities surrounding recording practices, including considerations related to informed consent, confidentiality, state recording laws, social media sharing, documentation, and professional liability concerns. The course will address possible motivations behind client recording behaviors, including memory support, anxiety reduction, mistrust, trauma histories, reassurance-seeking, or interpersonal dynamics affecting treatment. Participants will learn strategies for addressing the issue directly while minimizing unnecessary rupture, repairing therapeutic trust when appropriate, evaluating continuation of care, and developing clear policies regarding recordings within informed consent procedures. Through case examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for navigating one of modern psychotherapy’s increasingly common and emotionally charged ethical challenges.
Objectives:
Identify legal, ethical, and clinical considerations associated with clients recording therapy sessions without clinician consent.
Examine potential motivations and relational dynamics that contribute to client recording behaviors.
Apply practical communication, documentation, and boundary-setting strategies when addressing unauthorized recordings in therapy.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with an overview of ethical and clinical considerations related to unauthorized client recordings of therapy sessions. Participants will learn practical strategies for responding to these situations and strengthening informed consent practices. This training does not provide legal advice or jurisdiction-specific interpretation of recording laws, which vary significantly by state. Participants are responsible for applying course material in accordance with professional ethics, legal requirements, and consultation recommendations when appropriate.
Financial and Commercial Disclosure
The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to ethical frameworks, interventions, legal concepts, or resources are included solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.
Refund Policy – Live CE Trainings (Virtual & In-Person)
All registrations for live CE trainings are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, participants agree to these terms. Cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the scheduled training date are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee, or participants may elect to receive a full credit toward a future training. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled training are non-refundable; however, registrations may be transferred to another eligible training or another attendee with prior written approval. Participants who fail to attend a scheduled live training, do not complete attendance requirements, or fail to satisfy course participation requirements are not eligible for refunds or CEUs. If a training is canceled or rescheduled by the provider, registrants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another training. Refunds will not be issued if participants are unable to earn CEUs due to incomplete attendance, failure to complete required evaluations, or licensing board eligibility restrictions.