Psychologists routinely face complex ethical dilemmas in private practice. While professional ethics codes provide critical information on psychologists’ responsibilities and the boundaries of practice, they do not give direct guidance for navigating the shifting currents of real-world situations. This workshop will present a positive approach to ethical decision-making that establishes personal values and striving for ethical ideals as goals for every practitioner. The ethics literature on decision-making and professional standards of conduct will be reviewed, along with findings from several disciplines regarding the “science of morality.” In addition, the workshop will review quality enhancement strategies for decision-making in high-risk situations involving suicidal clients. These strategies include effective informed consent, consultation, reviewing procedures, and accurate documentation.n groups.
Throughout the workshop, participants will be invited to consider how their personal values inform their ethical behavior. The workshop is designed to be interactive and engaging. The presenter will use numerous clinical examples, as well as participatory exercises, to demonstrate ethical concepts. In addition, participants will be encouraged to discuss ethical concerns from their clinical work and receive guidance and feedback from their colleagues.n groups.
CE Learning Objectives
Following this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe the components of ethical decision-making.
- Identify personal values or aspirations informing ethical and professional conduct.
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of traditional ethical decision-making models.
- Observe the role that our emotions play in our ethical decision making.
- Apply ethical decision-making informed by personal values to a dilemma involving risk (e.g., suicidal client).
- Discuss strategies for enhancing effectiveness when working with suicidal or other at-risk clients.
About the Presenter
Randy Fingerhut is an Associate Professor of Psychology at La Salle University and the Director of La Salle University’s Psy.D. program. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The University of Pennsylvania Health System’s Center for Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Fingerhut is a Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and has been practicing CBT as a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania for 15 years. His specialty interests include perinatal mood anxiety disorders and self-care for graduate students. Dr. Fingerhut has presented workshops on The Fundamentals of CBT, CBT for Anxiety Disorders, CBT for Suicidality, and Teaching and Supervising CBT for the Beck Institute. He has taught Ethics within La Salle’s doctoral program and has previously presented Ethics workshops for the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. He is co-author with Samuel J. Knapp and Leon D. VandeCreek of Practical Ethics for Psychologists: A Positive Approach.
Target Audience
This presentation is intended for mental health professionals, researchers, and graduate students. The instructional level of this presentation is intermediate.
Continuing Education
Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This program provides four (4) hours of CE credits. This workshop qualifies for three (3) contact hours for the ethics requirement and one (1) contact hour for the suicide prevention requirement as mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology. PBTA is also an authorized provider for CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
Full attendance is required to obtain CE credits for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed.
