Ethics & Boundaries in School Psychology

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In the complex ecosystem of New York schools, school psychologists rarely wear just one hat. Whether serving as a student advocate, a CSE/504 Chairperson, an MTSS coordinator, or a de facto administrator, the pressure to balan...Read morece competing roles creates significant ethical "friction." This 1.5-hour intermediate-level session explores the critical distinction between boundary crossings and boundary violations, with a specific focus on how well-intentioned therapeutic alliances can inadvertently slip into ethical "grey zones".
Drawing on NASP (2020) and APA ethical standards, as well as recent research on wellness as an ethical mandate, this presentation addresses the "inevitable" nature of multiple relationships in school-based and rural practices. Participants will examine the potential for harm to students and families when boundaries are mismanaged and learn to identify "imminent risk" signs in their professional interactions. The session concludes with a practical application of the NASP Ethical Problem-Solving Worksheet, utilizing case studies to navigate quasi-administrative responsibilities, documentation requirements, and the necessity of clinical supervision. Less...

Learning Objectives

Identify three specific ethical tensions inherent in "dual-role" positions, such as the school psychologist serving as a CSE/504 Chairperson.
Distinguish between boundary crossings and boundary violations and describe two potential harms each can cause to students, families, or staff.
State three warning signs of "clinical drift" where a therapeutic alliance begins to overstep professional boundaries.
Demonstrate the application of a structured ethical problem-solving model to navigate one unavoidable multiple-role case study.
List two strategic documentation practices and articulate the necessity of clinical supervision for high-risk ethical scenarios.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including School Psychologists, Licensed Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's. In addition educational professionals such as teachers, administrators, and school based therapists may benefit from the information presented in this session.

Learning Levels

All Levels

Friday, March 20, 2026

Live Interactive Webinar

04:00 PM EDT - 05:30 PM EDT

EARN 1.5 CE Credit Hours
Click Here to Register

About the speakers

Robin Murray, PsyD

NYASP Ethics & Professional Practices Co-Chair

Dr. Murray has been a School Psychologist for over thirty years. Dr. Murray currently works as a consultant for the Baldwin School District and as a per diem evaluator for AHRC NYC. She is a graduate of Morris Brown College, Yeshiva University, and Queens College. She serves as Co-Chair of the Ethics and Professional Practices Committee for NYASP.

Jessica Hussar Boyle, PsyD, NCSP

NYASP CPD Co-Chair

Jessica M. Hussar Boyle, PsyD, NCSP, is a New York State Licensed Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and NYS Permanently Certified School Psychologist with extensive experience serving children and families in both rural and urban settings. She is the owner of Confluence Children and Family Psychology, PLLC, where she provides psychological services with a focus on neurodevelopmental assessment. Dr. Hussar Boyle has over a decade of experience in public schools, currently working as a school psychologist at the elementary level in a Greater Binghamton NY school district, and she previously served in multiple school-based roles including CSE/504 Chairperson.

In addition to her clinical and school-based work, Dr. Hussar Boyle was an adjunct instructor at Binghamton University and SUNY Broome Community College, where she taught courses in general psychology and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. She has contributed extensively to professional scholarship through publications, presentations, and her leadership as the Rural Initiatives Chairperson and CPD Co-Chairperson for the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP). Her research interests and advocacy center on improving access to diagnostic services in underserved rural communities and empowering school psychologists to fully utilize their professional scope.

Agenda

Total Duration: 90 Minutes (No Breaks)

0:00 – 0:15 | Introduction & The Multi-Role Reality
Navigating the "many hats" of NY school psychologists: CSE/504 Chair, MTSS lead, and quasi-administrator roles.

0:15 – 0:30 | Ethical Frameworks & Definitions
Distinguishing boundary crossings from violations using NASP (2020) and APA standards; identifying potential harm to stakeholders.

0:30 – 0:45 | The Slippery Slope of the Therapeutic Alliance
How clinical drift occurs without deliberate intent; self-reflection questions to recognize imminent boundary risks.

0:45 – 1:00 | Unavoidable Multiple Relationships
Managing ethics in rural or small-community settings; strategies for risk mitigation when dual roles are necessary.

1:00 – 1:20 | Practical Application: Ethical Problem-Solving
Interactive case study analysis utilizing the NASP Ethical Problem-Solving Worksheet.

1:20 – 1:30 | Professional Safeguards & Conclusion
The necessity of supervision, the role of documentation in ethical practice, and final Q&A.

CE Information - Earn 1.5 CE Credit Hours including

1.5 NASP: Legal, ethical, and professional practices Hour

1.5 NASP Category A: Attending Workshops or In-Service Training Hour

1.5 NYSED: Professional Ethics Standard Hour

1.5 NYSED: Appropriate Boundaries Hour

CE Approvals

Joint Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems 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.

American Psychological Association

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.

National Association of School Psychologists

NYASP is approved by NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) to offer continuing education for school psychologists. NYASP maintains responsibility for the program. NASP Approved Provider # 1021

New York Association of School Psychologists

Any sessions that are not NASP CPD sessions are available for New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP) continuing education hours.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology

CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0016.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work

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New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors

CE Learning Systems, LLC 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.

New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy

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New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy

CE Learning Systems dba CE-Credit.com & AddictionCounselorCE.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.

New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts

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CE Process Info

Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

Complete evaluation forms for the event
Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ce-go.com".

If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer, Jessica Hussar Boyle at CPD@nyasp.org.

Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case those emails get "stuck". We'd also suggest "Allowlisting" support@ce-go.com. This tells your email client that you know this sender and trust them, which will keep emails from this contact at the top of your inbox and out of the junk folder.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
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 REVIEWER
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

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