Skip to main content
Not Found
Digital Seminar

Ethical Decision Making for Clinicians: A 7-Step Framework for Navigating Complex Situations


Average Rating:
Not yet rated
Speaker:
Caleb Lack, PhD
Duration:
3 Hours 11 Minutes
Copyright:
22 Aug, 2025
Product Code:
POS150230
Media Type:
Digital Seminar
Access:
Never expires.


Description

No ethical code can fully prepare you for the messy, unpredictable challenges that arise when you’re working with real people.

Because let’s face it – balancing professional responsibility, maintaining patient confidentiality, and honoring your personal values often collide in unanticipated ways …

… and when you’re sitting across from a client, the “right” decision isn’t always clear.

But cutting through the uncertainty and making confident, ethically sound choices is a must for all clinicians.

That’s why we’ve partnered with ethics expert Dr. Caleb Lack to help give you a path to make clear, ethical decisions … even when the answers aren’t so obvious.

This isn’t about memorizing abstract codes. It’s about applying ethical principles to challenging scenarios you’ll actually face.

Takeaways from this training include:

  • A powerful model for tackling ethical situations
  • The keys to becoming an ethically responsible clinician
  • Real-life examples and strategies for applying the ethical decision-making model

You’ll leave with not just tools, but the clarity and practical insight needed to navigate even the most challenging ethical dilemmas with care and professionalism.

Purchase Today!

 

CPD

Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.



CPD

This online program is worth 3.25 hours CPD.



Handouts

Speaker

Caleb Lack, PhD's Profile

Caleb Lack, PhD Related seminars and products


Caleb W. Lack, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and the Counseling MA program coordinator at the University of Central Oklahoma.

A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Lack specializes in the treatment of children and adults with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and posttraumatic stress. He is regularly consulted for and interviewed by national, and international media outlets, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more.

Dr. Lack is also a best-selling author or editor of eight books on topics from psychopathology to critical thinking and pseudoscience to racism and sexism in early psychology. He has authored more than 65 scientific publications relating to the assessment and treatment of psychological problems such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, pediatric mood disorders, and posttraumatic stress.

An internationally sought-after clinical trainer and consultant, Dr. Lack has conducted workshops for clinicians across North and South America, Europe, and east Asia.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Caleb Lack maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with the University of Central Oklahoma, International OCD Foundation's Training Institute, and Asociación Lationamericana de TOC’s Entrenamiento Intensivo para el Tratamiento. He receives compensation as a consultant and trainer for BrainsWay. Caleb Lack receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Caleb Lack is an Ad hoc reviewer and editor for several peer review journals, for a complete list contact PESI, Inc.


Additional Info

Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product.

For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.


Objectives

  1. Identify five core ideas that underlie ethical decision making.
  2. Determine when something becomes an ethical dilemma.
  3. Differentiate between principle-based ethics and virtue-based ethics.
  4. Utilize the seven-step process to use to arrive at a sound ethical decision.

Outline

The Modern Ethical Clinician
  • National and organization guidelines
    • APA, NASW, ACA, AAMFT
    • Provide guidance but cannot cover all possible events
    • Uncovered situations can become stressors
  • Core ideas underlying ethical guidelines and individual behavior
    • Autonomy
    • Justice
    • Beneficence
    • Non-maleficence
    • Fidelity
  • Supplementary principles for ethical behavior
    • Openness
    • Commitment
    • Prudence
Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice
  • Situations not directly covered by ethical guidelines
  • Principle-based ethics (PBE) vs. Virtue-based ethics (VBE)
    • PBE: Rules-based guidelines that work when the situation at hand is covered in them
    • Emphasize personal characteristics of being an ethical clinician in non-covered situations
    • Rather than being in opposition, they work hand in hand
  • Being ethically responsible
    • Maintain personal and professional honesty
    • Act in best interests of the client
    • Act without malice or personal gain
    • Able to justify actions based on current state of the profession
Implement an Ethical Decision Making Model (EDM)
  • EDMs as a stepwise process to solve ethical dilemmas
  • Framework for making and defending why you made a decision
  • Seven steps to making good decisions
    • Identify the problem
    • Apply principle-based ethics (legal and ethical codes)
    • Determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma
    • Generate potential actions to take
    • Consider the consequences and determine action
    • Evaluate selected action
    • Implement the selected action
Limitations of an EDM Process, Potential Risks, and Scope of Practice
  • Does not guarantee a particular outcome
  • Others may not agree with your decision, even with similar process
Case Vignettes
  • Walk through of model with real life ethical dilemmas
    1. Teenager with outbursts and declining grades
    2. Licensed professional who starts new job

Target Audience

  • Counsellors
  • Psychotherapists
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Case Managers
  • Therapists
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Case Managers
  • Other Mental Health Professionals

Reviews

Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to info@pesi.co.uk or call 01235847393.

Please wait ...

Back to Top