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Live Event

Exploring Ethical Considerations in Harm Reduction

Tue, Jan 27th, 2026
11:00am – 2:15pm US Eastern Time
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About the Event

Harm reduction is a general term for pragmatic interventions aimed at reducing problematic behaviors. This training will describe the key principles of harm reduction and explore fundamental ethical considerations. The value of harm reduction strategies in practice and key considerations for clinical practice will be outlined and helpful clinical resources will be shared with attendees. Explore key harm reduction perspectives such as the tree of liberation and the value of utilizing Motivational Interviewing skills. Examples of harm reduction in the areas of hoarding, substance use, and self-injury will be presented. Learners will gain valuable perspectives on harm reduction benefits and ethical considerations and have a framework for evaluating the efficacy of approaches in care.

Live Event
This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Diane Bigler

Diane Bigler

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW has over 25 years of experience in social work and mental health practice. She is a frequent national continuing education speaker and former Professor of Social Work at The University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare. Diane has been involved in the provision of clinical supervision for over 15 years and has trained hundreds of clinicians on succeeding at supervision.

Target Audience

This live interactive webinar is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, MFT's and Addiction Professionals.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Describe key principles of harm reduction and identify at least three ethical considerations.
  2. 2 Identify at least three examples of harm reduction for specific problems and populations.
  3. 3 Explain the value of harm reduction strategies in practice and key considerations for clinical practice.

Dong, K. A., & Duthie, K. M. (2024). How should risks and benefits of short-acting opioids be evaluated in the care of inpatients with OUD?. AMA Journal of Ethics, 26(7), 512-519. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2024.512

Gunnarsson, N. V., & Moberg, C. (2025). Walking a tightrope: a scoping review of the use, perceptions and experiences of harm reduction strategies in self-harm management. Discover Mental Health, 5(1), 125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00235-0

Kerman, N., Kidd, S. A., Mutschler, C., Sylvestre, J., Henwood, B. F., Oudshoorn, A., ... & Stergiopoulos, V. (2023). Managing high-risk behaviours and challenges to prevent housing loss in permanent supportive housing: a rapid review. Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1), 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00873-z

Morein-Zamir, S., & Ahluwalia, S. (2023). Hoarding disorder: evidence and best practice in primary care. The British Journal of General Practice, 73(729), 182. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp23X732513

Weleff, J. (2024). Why Harm Reduction and Equity Are Ethical Imperatives in Opioid Use Disorder Care. AMA Journal of Ethics, 26(7), 509-511. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2024.509

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW – None to report

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

Joint Accreditation (JA)

3 Psychologist CE credit hours General
3 Social Worker CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
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American Psychological Association (APA)

3 CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

3 CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credit(s).
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National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 3 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
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NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

3 CE credit hours — Ethics and Boundaries CE Broker logo 20-1353242
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
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Florida Certification Board (FCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
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Florida Board of Psychology

3 CE credit hours — Ethics CE Broker logo 20-1353242
Eligible until Dec 31st, 2036
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
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Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
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New York Education Department Board of Social Work

3 contact hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) 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. Provider #0060.
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New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008
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New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
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New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
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New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.
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Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jan 27th, 2026
Virginia Certification Board educational provider # 106
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Event Agenda

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 8:00am US Pacific Time.

11:00-11:10 I. Introduction (10 min) • Welcome and objectives overview • Define harm reduction and ethical relevance • Introduce learning objectives • Opening vignettes (4 clinical case examples) ________________________________________ 11:10-11:30 II. Conceptual Foundations of Harm Reduction (20 min) • Definition and philosophy of harm reduction • Comparison: Abstinence-Only vs. Harm Reduction o Pros and cons discussion • Harm reduction as a client-centered and strengths-based approach • Broader applications (addiction, self-injury, hoarding, hypersexuality, disease management) ________________________________________ 11:30-12:00 III. Ethical and Professional Context (30 min) • NASW Ethics and harm reduction in social work o Self-determination, competence, public health focus • Key ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice • Trauma-informed care and harm reduction (SAMHSA principles) • Cultural and structural considerations: o Intersectionality, equity, and social determinants of health ________________________________________ 12:00-12:30 IV. Practical Harm Reduction Strategies (30 min) • Real-world examples: o Needle exchange programs o Naloxone distribution o Fentanyl test strips o Safer injection and sexual practices o Hoarding and self-injury harm minimization • Video: “Harm Reduction Truths” • Group discussion: “Do You Practice Harm Reduction in Life?” ________________________________________ 12:30-12:45 BREAK 12:45-1:00 V. The Self of the Worker (15 min) • Reflecting on personal values, biases, and boundaries • Worker stances (Springer’s Framework) • Authenticity, transparency, and compassion in practice ________________________________________ 1:00-1:30 VI. Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change (30 min) • Overview of Motivational Interviewing (MI) o OARS, DARN-C(C), and Change Talk o MI conversation examples • Assessing Readiness to Change • Developing collaborative harm reduction plans • Role-play or reflection activity: therapist-client dialogue practice ________________________________________ 1:30-2:00 VII. Applied Case Studies and Discussion (30 min) • Group or breakout discussions using case vignettes • Identify harm reduction goals, ethical dilemmas, and cultural considerations • Explore resistance, readiness, and clinician responses • Supplemental Case Study: Lexi ________________________________________

2:00-2:15 VIII. Specialized Harm Reduction Applications (15 min) • Hoarding: safety, health, and comfort-based objectives • Self-Injury: safe practice guidelines, slowing process, wound care • Clinical handouts and worksheets review • Closing Q&A

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