The Ethics of Digital Identity: Boundaries, Documentation, and AI CE Program

In today’s digitally saturated world, mental health professionals must navigate a complex web of online presence, evolving technologies, and ethical decision-making. From Instagram profiles and Google search results to AI-assisted note-taking and documentation tools, therapists are increasingly visible—and increasingly vulnerable to ethical challenges related to identity, boundaries, and professional integrity.

This training explores the ethical dimensions of digital identity with a clear, grounded, and trauma-aware lens. Participants will examine how therapist self-disclosure, social media use, and digital footprints intersect with clinical roles and client perception. You'll also consider how AI and other emerging tools are reshaping not just how we work—but how we are seen. Together, we’ll explore what it means to maintain relational safety, informed consent, and clarity of boundaries in a world where the lines between personal and professional are increasingly blurred.

Through interactive case studies, reflective prompts, and practical tools, clinicians will learn to apply ethical decision-making models to real-life dilemmas involving digital platforms, therapist visibility, and the use of artificial intelligence in therapy. This course offers a space to reflect on your digital boundaries, explore how your online presence impacts client trust and therapeutic alliance, and develop personalized strategies for ethical engagement with technology.

Whether you're active online or quietly navigating behind the scenes, this training will help you step into your digital presence with intention, transparency, and care—for yourself, your clients, and the profession.

Participants will receive 3 ethics CEs following their completion of the program.

Testimonials from past participants:

Kristin did a wonderful job elaborating on all of that while holding space for empowering people to keep informed about this. I learned a lot today and thought Kristin was very engaging, informed, ethical, and thoughtful.

Overall, the presenter did an excellent job illuminating an emerging technology that is a huge blind spot for me.

The instructor was knowledgeable and nonjudgmental when presenting information.

Kristin Whiting-Davis is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW) with over two decades of experience across a wide range of settings, including child welfare, community mental health, hospital systems, large healthcare organizations, and private practice. She holds a master’s degree in social work and is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Kristin is also a board-certified social work supervisor and certified in mindfulness facilitation. She has developed and delivered continuing education trainings that integrate trauma-informed approaches, adult learning principles, and experiential engagement tailored to mental health professionals.

Additional Program Information:

Target audience: social workers and counselors

Content level: all levels

Learning objectives:

1. Analyze digital identity and ethical implications of therapist self-disclosure online

2. Apply boundary-setting frameworks to address ethical challenges in digital and virtual spaces

3. Evaluate the impact of AI and digital technologies on therapist identity, visibility, and boundaries. Implement an ethical decision-making model for digital practice scenarios

4. Implement an ethical decision-making model for digital practice scenarios

Outline and Agenda:

12:30 – 12:45 PM | Welcome and Orientation

12:45 – 1:25 PM | Objective 1: Digital Identity and Online Self-Disclosure

1:25 – 2:05 PM | Objective 2: Boundaries in Digital and Virtual Practice

2:05 – 2:20 PM | Break — 15 minutes

2:20 – 3:00 PM | Objective 3: AI and Digital Technologies in Clinical Work

3:00 – 3:35 PM | Objective 4: Ethical Decision-Making for Digital Practice

3:35 – 3:45 PM | Summary and Closing

Course interaction and system requirements:

This live webinar hosted on Zoom is fully interactive. Attendees may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation (using their microphones and/or the chat option). System requirements for Zoom can be viewed at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-requirements-for-PC-and-Mac.

Fee and registration:

Cost is $80 for 3 CE credits/hours. Refunds are available for up to seven days prior to the program (this may not include TicketTailor fees). After that, we offer credit that can be applied to a future program. Registration is open until the course is full. In some cases, we will enable a wait list option once the course is full.

Course completion and CE info:

To receive CE credit/hours, participants must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire program and complete an online evaluation at the end of the program. If you are licensed in Illinois, an additional exam must be requested and completed in order to receive credit for the program.

Certificates will be emailed out within 7 business days following receipt of evaluation.

CE credit is currently available for social workers in all 50 states. Our credits are also accepted for counselors in 49 states (excluding New York). All other professionals (including psychologists and marriage and family therapists) must confirm CE approval with their state board.

Bright Ideas Continuing Education, provider # 1757, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/19/2024-11/19/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credits.

Bright Ideas Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7705. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Bright Ideas Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Bright Ideas Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0781.

​Bright Ideas Continuing Education is also authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to provide social work continuing education.

If you have any questions, concerns or special accommodation requests, please contact us at 410-575-3870 or info@brightideasceus.com.