When the State Enters the Therapy Room: Social Work Orthodoxy and Supreme Court Scrutiny

Course Description – 1.25 Cultural Competence Continuing Education Credit Hours

Format: Asynchronous (Recorded) Distance Format

In this episode of the ProSocial Podcast, host Matthew Watson, along with co-hosts Zander Keig, and Nafees Alam, examine the implications of Chiles v. Salazar, a 2025 U.S. Supreme Court case concerning state restrictions on therapeutic conversations between licensed counselors and minors.

The discussion centers on three major themes:

1. The legal questions in the case

2. The boundary between ethical practice and ideological activism

3. The broader implications for mental health and social work

Just three days after recording (March 31, 2026), the U.S. Supreme Court delivered an 8–1 decision in Chiles v. Salazar, striking down Colorado’s ban on change‑oriented talk therapy (commonly known as conversion therapy) for minors as a violation of the First Amendment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Childs vs. Salazar
09:26 The Role of Ethics in Social Work
17:48 Activism vs. Education in Social Work
26:07 Legal Implications and Professional Ethics
34:35 The Intersection of Identity and Therapy
39:52 The Power Dynamics in Social Work Accreditation
41:19 The Risks of Politicizing Social Work
43:40 Exploring Identity and Conversion Therapy
47:58 State Responsibilities and Protection of Children
52:00 The Complexity of Gender Identity and Therapy
55:57 Client-Centered Care vs. Professional Limitations
58:50 Navigating Complex Therapeutic Relationships
01:01:53 The Future of Gender Identity in Therapy
01:14:13 Concluding Thoughts on Viewpoint Diversity

ProSocial Workers is a subsidiary of the Institute for Liberal Values, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting pluralistic, free, and democratic societies. The Institute for Liberal Values is ProSocial Workers’ fiscal sponsor.

This course was recorded on March 28, 2026.

It is intended for a beginning to intermediate social worker audience. Other helping professionals may also find the content relevant to their practice.

Course: When the State Enters the Therapy Room: Social Work Orthodoxy and Supreme Court Scrutiny

Credit: 1.25 Cultural Competence Continuing Education Credits

Format: Asynchronous (Recorded) Distance

How to Access: Click on the video or podcast link in the course materials section below. The video must be played through in entirety on this website in order to substantiate that the course was completed and to earn credit. Playing through on other websites or media will not substantiate course completion.

Post-test Requirements and Retakes: Participants must respond correctly to 80% of post-test questions. Post-test retakes are unlimited. Course participants may retake the test as many times as needed to pass the course.

Course Objectives:

1. Analyze Ethical Tensions Between Cultural Diversity, Client Self‑Determination, and State or Professional Regulation
2. Distinguish Client‑Centered Practice from Ideological or Activist Approaches in Culturally Diverse Clinical Settings
3. Present Complex Identity Conflicts and the Perils of Essentializing Clients with State Approved Identity Markers

Course Presenters:

• Dr. Nafees Alam is an award-winning professor (2022 Golden Apple Award) specializing in nonprofit program evaluation and macro practice, with over seven years of experience. Before academia, he worked in Wall Street’s financial sector for over seven years. Dr. Alam’s research agenda is self-determination in sport social work with a secondary focus on viewpoint diversity, open inquiry, and constructive disagreement in higher education. He has several publications and has presented at conferences worldwide, including two keynotes. He aims to disseminate ideas through many public platforms as a contributor to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Heterodox Academy, Inside Sources, Psychology Today, and Real Clear Education. He is passionate about global education through technology, teaching and designing online courses taught globally, along with his YouTube channel and Podcast geared toward an international academic audience.
• Matthew Watson is the executive director of ProSocial Workers, an affiliate of the Institute for Liberal Values, dedicated to promoting viewpoint and political diversity in social work practice and education. He is a seasoned mental health advisor and licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience. He provides competent, compassionate care and strategic leadership where he has excelled in direct service provider, management, and executive roles. Matthew has a documented history of building high-performing teams, improving outcomes, identifying individual strengths, and mentoring others. Matthew’s philosophy is that sustainable results emerge from the development of people, believing that strong, talented individuals are the ultimate outcome of effective leadership. His interests reflect a deep commitment to civic and ethical engagement, including voluntary service organizations, viewpoint diversity, religious liberty, and the integration of differing perspectives.
• Zander Keig is an award-winning social worker, best-selling author, social care educator, and motivational speaker with many distinguishing accolades, including 2023 Caregiving.com LGBTQ Advocate of the Year, 2020 NASW National Social Worker of the Year,  2020 WPATH Harry Benjamin Distinguished Educator of the Year, and 2018 NASW CA Social Worker of the Year. Zander has earned a BA in Interpersonal Communication (1999), an MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution (2003), an MTS in Theological Systems (2004), and an MSW in Clinical Social Work (2012). He has delivered conflict mitigation, social care, diversity and inclusion, and emotional well-being workshops for over 30 years. Zander hosts the Umbrella Hour podcast on the UK Health Radio Network. His best-selling book is The Third Space: A Nonconformist’s Guide to the Universe (Thought Leader Press, 2024), available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

Course Materials:

Watch the Podcast/Video for free on YouTube, or for use the link below for continuing education credit.

Course References/Bibliography:

Alam, N. (2026). Social Work: Profession or Ideology? A Critical Self-Reflection on Ideological Homogeneity in Social Work Practice. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 46(2), 239–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2026.2634630

Alam, N., Rueda, H.A. (2025). Heterodox social work: advancing viewpoint diversity, constructive disagreement, and open inquiry. Research on Social Work Practice, 1-5.

Alam, N. (2025). Beyond ideological mandates: reclaiming critical thinking and evidence-based practice in social work education. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 45(3), 497-503.

Watson, M., & Alam, N. (2025). Viewpoint and political diversity and the NASW Code of Ethics. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 45(5), 761–769. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2025.2567238

Course Completion Requirements (only required for those seeking continuing education credit):

1. Click on “Enroll” (above) to start the course and, if applicable, pay for the course.
2. Create a ProSocial Workers account or log in.
3. Watch the entire required podcast or video using the links below. You must watch or listen for the amount of time being credited for the course.
4. Complete a course evaluation.
5. Complete a post-test or quiz and pass with at least 80% correct responses. Retesting is allowed.
6. Download your certificate (immediately available) upon completion of the post-test/quiz.

Additional Information

1. The course is administered online. Participants will need a computer or mobile device with a stable internet connection, a modern web browser (like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari), and the ability to access to ProSocialWorkers.com website.
2. Once the course has been purchased, you will have access to course content required for continuing education credit.
3. There are no refunds once the course is purchased. The course cannot be cancelled.
4. If special accommodations are needed, please email help@prosocialworkers.com.
5. ProSocial Workers, provider #2002, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: May 6, 2025 – May 6, 2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 general continuing education credits.
6. Participants assume full responsibility to ensure local jurisdictional approvals.
7. Contact help@prosocialworkers.com with any questions, concerns, or to address any of the presenters.