Self-Care: Our Ethical Responsibilities to Our Clients
You Cannot Pour Water from an Empty Glass

Date: June 16, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET
Format: Live Virtual Training
CEs: 3 Category I Ethics CEs

Self-care is more than a personal wellness practice—it's an ethical responsibility. The NASW Code of Ethics recognizes that social workers must maintain their personal and professional well-being to provide competent, effective, and ethical services to clients.

Join us for this thought-provoking and practical workshop exploring the critical connection between self-care and ethical social work practice. Participants will examine the impact of workplace stress, trauma exposure, compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma on professional effectiveness and client outcomes.

Through guided reflection and discussion, attendees will explore strategies for building resilience, strengthening support systems, and developing sustainable self-care practices that support both personal well-being and ethical service delivery.

Mission Statement: The Committee on LGBTQIA2S+ Affirming Practice seeks to improve the affirming and intersectional practice of Maryland social workers. The Committee monitors policy to further the cause of social justice with LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, families, communities, and members. In addition, the Committee is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, supportive space for members who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, fostering connection, community, and mutual support. We are committed to creating activities that further affirm spaces for those in the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Interested in joining this committee? Sign up today!

Self-Care: Our Ethical Responsibilities to Our Clients. You Cannot Pour Water from an Empty Glass

Presenter: Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C 
 
Description: The National Association of Social Workers identify self-care as critical for ethical practice. The NASW Code of Ethics states, “Professional self-care is paramount for competent and ethical social work practice. Professional demands, challenging workplace climates, and exposure to trauma warrant that social workers maintain personal and professional health, safety, and integrity.” This workshop will unpack this principle by identifying the ethical issues related to self-care and the delivery of social work. Participants were invited to explore strategies and deepen their self-care practices to enhance best client outcomes. NASW Code of Ethics sections covered: Purpose (last paragraph), 1.01, 1.02, 1.04 and 2.01)
 
Objectives: Participants will:
1. Identify & define the ethical issues which impact social work intervention and the professional, including primary traumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout.  
2. Explore strategies for ethical practice including the balance of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue.  
3. Identify the causes and signs of stress and obstacles for recovery.  
4. Develop an individualized ethical plan including assessment, identification of supports, as well as an agency assessment to support overall well-being and effective client outcomes.  
 
CEUs: 3 CAT 1 in Ethics

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