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Ethical Considerations Of Balancing Beneficence and Nonmaleficence In Treating Family Estrangement

  • Wednesday, October 08, 2025
  • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
  • Online ZOOM

Registration

  • $15 per credit hour
  • $25 per credit hour
  • $40 per credit hour
  • $25 per credit hour

Presenter: Roberta Wasserman LCSW-C

CEUs: Category 1 | 3.0

This professional training addresses the growing phenomenon of family estrangement and the ethical complexities it presents in clinical practice. As more individuals seek therapeutic support for estrangement-related distress, clinicians must navigate the ethical principles of beneficence (promoting client well-being) and nonmaleficence (avoiding harm) with care and nuance. This intermediate level training explores how to ethically support clients while considering the multifaceted impact of family dynamics, potential harms, and relational outcomes. Participants will engage in a thoughtful exploration of the increasing prevalence of family estrangement and its connection to the rise in mental health services. Through a review of relevant definitions, ethical principles, and clinical case complexities, attendees will examine how to ethically balance individual and relational needs. Emphasis will be placed on applying ethical decision-making models to real-world scenarios and on evaluating risks and benefits in both individual and systemic contexts. Case examples and interactive discussion will support clinicians in identifying and addressing potential ethical dilemmas with cultural sensitivity and professional integrity.

Workshop Objectives:

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Develop an awareness and understanding of the increasing prevalence of family estrangement and its correlation with the rising utilization of therapy services. 
  2.  Understanding the Definitions of Family Estrangement and Ethical Principles in Treatment​ ​
  3. Identifying Complexities in Family Estrangement Cases and Treatment​ ​ 4. Balancing the Best Interests of the Individual and the Family while assessing potential risks and harms.

    Agenda:

    • 9:00 - 10:00 - Objective 1 and 2 
    • 10:00 - 11:00 - Objective 3 
    • 11:00 - 11:15 - Break 
    • 11:15-12:15 - Objective 4 and Q & A

    Recommended Reading:

    • Amanda. (2021). I thought I was the only one: Grandparent alienation: A global epidemic. iUniverse.​
    • Coleman, P. K. (2006). When parents hurt: Compassionate strategies when you’re facing difficult relationships with your grown children. Waterbrook Press.​ Coleman, P. K. (2020). Rules of estrangement: Why adult children cut ties and how to heal the conflict. BenBella Books.​
    • Coleman, J. (2025, April 26). Dear millennial parents: Your children may one day estrange you, too. Substack. https://joshuacoleman.substack.com/p/dear-millennial-parents-your-children.​
    • Davis, L. (2002). I thought we’d never speak again. Harper.​
    •  Davis, L. (n.d.). The burning light of two stars: A mother-daughter story.​
    • Gilbertson, T. (2020). Reconnecting with your estranged adult child. New World Library.​
    • Howard, S. (n.d.). A family therapist looks to historians for insight into estrangement. History News Network. https://www.hnn.us/article/a-family-therapist-looks-to-historians-for-insight​
    • McCoy, K. (2017). We don’t talk anymore: Healing after parents and their adult children become estranged. Sourcebooks.​
    • McGregor, S. (2017). Done with the crying: Help and healing for mothers of estranged adult children. Loving Healing Press.
    • ​ McGregor, S. (2020). Beyond done with the crying: More help and healing for mothers of estranged adult children. Loving Healing Press.​
    • Melvin, K. (2024). Navigating family estrangement: Helping adults understand and manage the challenges of family estrangement. Routledge.
    • ​ Patitis, L., Nguyen, A., Rivera, M., & Choudhury, S. (2025). Therapeutic memory reconstruction and familial perception: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Contemporary Psychology, 41(2), 115–132.​
    • Pillemer, K. (2020). Fault lines: Fractured families and how to mend them. Avery.
    • Plagens, J. (n.d.). Estranged: Finding hope when your family falls apart.​
    • Shrier, A. (2024). Bad therapy. Sentinel.​
    • Texeira, S. (2023). The strange gift of estrangement.​
    • Wildey, S. A. (2014–2018). Abandoned parents: The Devil’s dilemma: The causes and consequences of adult children abandoning their parents.​
    • Wildey, S. A. (2017). Abandoned parents: Healing beyond understanding.​
    • Winfrey, O., & Perry, B. D. (2021). What happened to you?: Conversations on trauma, resilience, and healing.

        About the Presenter:

        Roberta Wasserman, LCSW-C is a trauma-informed therapist, coach, and consultant with over two decades of clinical experience. As the founder of Healthwaves Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting, she specializes in family estrangement, grief, trauma, and couples work. Roberta draws from both personal and professional insight in her work, offering a uniquely compassionate and informed perspective. She is a Certified Family Estrangement Coach, trained by Dr. Josh Coleman, a pioneer in the field, and a Certified Grief Educator through renowned expert David Kessler. Roberta is also fully trained in the Gottman Method, with specializations in couples counseling, addiction, trauma, and affair recovery. In her practice, Roberta advocates for the well-being of children within the family system and supports clients through complex relational dynamics. She facilitates virtual support groups for individuals navigating estrangement, separation, divorce, and widowhood. Prior to the Pandemic she facilitated support groups for Alienated Grandparents Anonymous.

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