Expanding "The Shrink Next Door:" An Ethical Case Study

This two-part webinar uses a single case study to explore clinical ethics (conflicts of interest, dual relationships, fraud, and incompetence).

"The Shrink Next Door" is a podcast and television drama series based on the true story of psychiatrist Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf’s thirty-year-long relationship with one of his clients. In 2021, New York’s Department of Health determined that the doctor violated "minimal acceptable standards of care in the psychotherapeutic relationship” and revoked his license to practice. While an egregious example of exploitation, this true story also provides an opportunity to explore the complex intersection of the therapeutic alliance, transference and countertransference, treatment interventions, and clinical ethics (in particular conflicts of interest, dual relationships, fraud, incompetence).

How do clinical treatment and the personal and professional decisions of therapists intersect? How does a therapist's own “unfinished business” interfere with treatment decisions and the maintenance of clinical boundaries? How were blurrings of boundaries rationalized clinically (e.g. playing basketball with a client) and would they ever be acceptable in any other circumstances?

How does it get so bad?

PREREQUISITES

Participants review assigned episodes of the television series “The Shrink Next Door” (available on Apple+ TV) before each 2-hour webinar (episodes 1 - 4 before December 6th; episodes 5 - 8 before December 13th). Particularly motivated participants can also listen to the podcast, but discussion will be based on the television series.

BY THE END OF THIS WEBINAR, participants will be able to:

1. Review definitions of transference and countertransference, their potential interference with clinically appropriate boundaries, and their relevance to this case study;
2. Identify clinical practices that are clearly violations as well as those practices that are plausibly correct but contraindicated;
3. Define and update their thinking about dual relationships and conflicts of interest;
4. Explore the checks and balances that mitigate against these kinds of professional hazards. What happened and didn’t happen in this case study?

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Six continuing education units through the National Association of Social Workers (California) pending.

BIPOC REPARATIONS DISCOUNT: If you identify as a BIPOC, you are entitled to a 25% discount.

MILITARY DISCOUNT: If you are currently or previously served in the military, or are a miltary spouse, there is a 25% discount.

GRADUATE STUDENT DISCOUNT: If you are currently in graduate school in a clinical discipline, there is a 25% discount.

Contact the EVENT ORGANIZER at the bottom of the page for discount codes.

Since 1989 Wayne Scott, MA, LCSW has worked with youth and adults in outpatient, residential, and hospital settings in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Portland, OR and he currently maintains a private consulting and psychotherapy practice in Portland, Oregon. For over twenty years he has provided clinical supervision to social workers, family therapists, counselors, and addiction specialists and during the same time has taught clinical ethics at Portland State University and throughout Oregon. He writes frequently for The Psychotherapy Networker. His essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Sun, Huffington Post, and Poets and Writers, among others. In addition to an MA in clinical social work from The University of Chicago, he has an MFA (Creative Writing) from The American University in Washington, D.C.

Host or Publisher Wayne Scott, MA, LCSW