Ethics and Boundaries

The Rise and Fall of Self-Disclosure

November 7, 2025, 8:30am - 12:30pm CST
March 6, 2026, 8:30am - 12:30pm CST
August 7, 2026, 8:30am - 12:30pm CST
Virtual via Zoom
Continuing Education Hours: 4.0

Register

Course Description

In my 20+ years within the field of Social Work the pendulum viewpoint on self-disclosure has swayed from agency to agency and throughout the years. 

Self-disclosure - never? Sometimes? When? How? 

It all seems so gray when navigating client benefit vs risk and our own internal needs. As a social work professional in long term recovery, I have witnessed harmful self-disclosure and I have also seen the beautiful space for change it can cultivate. We will explore the when, how and why of self-disclosure and navigate the power of using our own stories in creating connections and space for positive change. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Review boundary concepts and terminology
• Examine ethical considerations with examples
• Discuss a decision-making process
• Adopt personal and professional self-disclosure decision making techniques
• Review the dynamics of dual relationships and the ethical implications
• Tips for ethical decision-making and boundary setting including risk tolerance, cultural humility, and some decision-making models

Jessica O'Neel, MSW, CSW

Jessica O’Neel comes with 20+ years of direct practice, program development, system level leadership and instructional experience within the field of social work. She has worked within the nonprofit sector, county government and taught within multiple UW Social Work Programs throughout the state of Wisconsin.  Jessica has a master’s degree in social work with a focus on mental health from the University of Wisconsin Madison. 
Using both her professional and lived experience she has a strong passion for personal, professional and system continual growth. As a person in addiction recovery and a trauma survivor her goal is to share light, hope and inspiration with the intent to grow individual and community resilience and empowerment, and improve the social welfare system.