Skip to main content
Digital Seminar

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

$169.99 Standard

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!

 

Here's What You'll Learn


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

Everything You're Getting


  • More than 3 hours of video content
  • Up to 3.0 CE credits
  • Certificate of completion
  • Handouts and resources

We Recommend


This Item

Will be added to the cart.
Ethical Decision Making for Clinicians: A 7-Step Framework for Navigating Complex Situations
Digital Seminar
$169.99

Meet Your Experts


Caleb Lack, PhD

Toggle speaker biography

Caleb W. Lack, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and the Counseling MS 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 75 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: Dr. Caleb Lack maintains a private practice and receives compensation as a consultant. He has employment relationships with the University of Central Oklahoma, the International OCD Foundation's Training Institute, and the Asociación Lationamericana de TOC’s Entrenamiento Intensivo para el Tratamiento del TOC. Dr. Lack was a previous consultant with BrainsWay USA. Dr. Lack receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Caleb Lack serves on the board of directors with Oklahoma Psychological Association and is a member of Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation. He is an Ad hoc reviewer and editor for several peer review journals, for a complete list contact PESI, Inc.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Register for this intensive training course without risk. If you're not completely satisfied, give us a call at 800-844-8260.

We’re that confident you'll find this learning experience to be all that's promised and more than you expected.

PESI App


Access CE trainings on your phone or tablet through our free mobile app. Choose video or audio-only versions of online courses from the world's best instructors, and complete your CE requirements anywhere, anytime, at your own pace.


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.

Questions?

Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info

Want this training for your whole team?

Get a customized training package for your team at a discounted rate!

Claim your FREE listing


Need referrals? List your practice in the directory for FREE!


Media Type:
Digital Seminar
Product Code:
POS150230
Duration:
3 hours, 11 minutes
Copyright:
Aug 22, 2025
Closed Captions:
Available
Format:
Audio and Video

ADA Needs


We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.

Some text some message..
Back to Top