DEVELOPING AND PRACTICING ETHICS

Course overview

This course is based on an article by Pope that reviews the initial and ongoing development of ethics in clinical practice. According to the abstract, “Ethical development is, for most, a career-long process. Ethical development that stops at graduate school can be a little like the professor relying on the same yellowing lecture notes decade after decade, never bothering to update, rethink, or renew. The purpose of this chapter is first to discuss steps that seem important to the development of professional ethics, and then to look at some of our shared vulnerabilities that can lead us to rationalize unethical behavior.” The article helps a clinician understand the process of developing a sense of ethics with our field and goes on to identify common areas for ethical mistakes and dilemmas. It is easy to read and follow and provides excellent case examples. The article also identifies common rationalizations that clinicians make when acting in an unethical manner. This course serves as an excellent resource for mental health professionals who require continuing education in the subject of ethics. It helps to build clinical skills in decision making within the therapeutic context as a means to earn CEUs. Psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists can benefit from this course and earn continuing education credits. This course may also be helpful for other practitioners, such as midwives and dieticians and nutritionists who may also need CEs in ethics and want a framework for ethical decision making with clients. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to learn more about ethics, boundaries and ethical decision making. It is also a good resource for licensed professionals who need continuing education. Learning Objectives: This course will provide a professional with detailed information about ethics and boundaries in psychotherapy. Specifically, a professional will: · Distinguish how a sense of how ethical rules develop as we develop professionally. · Identify the most common ethical dilemmas that clinicians face. · Identify common rationalizations that therapists use when acting unethically. Come visit us on the web at ce-classes.com