Live Webinar April 25 - It Takes a Village: A Communitarian Approach to Enhancing Ethical Competency with Dr. Randy Fingerhut

Friday, April 25, 2025

11:00 AM- 12:30 PM Eastern/ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Central/ 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Mountain/ 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Pacific/ 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Alaska/6:00 AM - 7:30 AM Hawaii

1.5 CE Credits Awarded

$15 Student ABCT Members / $25 ABCT Members / $35 Non-Members

All levels

All prices listed in US currency

Abstract:

Previous research has found that knowledge of ethics codes, laws, and regulations does not necessarily ensure that psychologists will make ethical decisions. Ethical competency in practice requires a complex set of skills including critical thinking, the ability to navigate ambiguity, and the emotional strength to make difficult decisions. The current model of ethics training focuses on coursework and supervised clinical training, but after graduate school, psychologists must maintain ethical competency independently. Regulatory measures, such as licensing boards, credentialing, and continuing education, primarily serve as safeguards against unethical behavior rather than fostering excellence. Furthermore, our profession’s focus on individual responsibility for maintaining ethical competency leaves many practitioners feeling confused, isolated, and burnt out when faced with the day to day demands of clinical practice. In contrast, a communitarian approach to ethical competency emphasizes building communities of mental health professionals who can support and collaborate with each other towards common professional goals.

This interactive workshop will focus on developing strategies for creating a positive ethical culture within your clinical practice. It will utilize a combination of lecture, interactive exercises, and group discussion to facilitate a personalized and deep understanding of the material.

Presenter Biography:

Dr. Randy Fingerhut, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at La Salle University, where he teaches CBT and professional ethics within their doctoral program. His research interests include perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, ethical decision-making, and self-care for graduate students. In addition, Dr. Fingerhut is an adjunct faculty member at The Beck Institute. He is the co-author of the 4th edition of Practical Ethics for Psychologists: A Positive Approach, published by the American Psychological Association. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the difference between remedial and positive approaches to ethics.

2. Identify principles and standards of the APA ethics code that relate to competency and self-care.

3. Assess the relative benefits of a communitarian versus an individual approach to maximizing ethical competency.

4. Describe the components of the competence constellation model.

5. Design a personalized plan for professional growth in ethical competency that focuses on self-care and developing a professional support network.

Recommended Readings:

1. Johnson, W. B., Barnett, J. E., Elman, N. S., Forrest, L., & Kaslow, N. J. (2013). The competence constellation model: A communitarian approach to support professional competence. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 44(5), 343-354. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033131 

2. Johnson, W. B., Barnett, J. E., Elman, N. S., Forrest, L., & Kaslow, N. J. (2012). The competent community: toward a vital reformulation of professional ethics. American Psychologist, 67(7), 557-569. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027206

3. Knapp, S., Gottlieb, M. C., & Handelsman, M. M. (2018). The benefits of a positive approach to ethics education. Training and Education in Psychology, 12, 196-202. http://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000195 

4. Knapp, S., & Fingerhut, R. (2024). Practical ethics for psychologists: A positive approach (4th ed). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000375-000

About The Moderator: Courtney DeAngelis, Psy.D. is an Assistant Professor within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical supervisor at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD-Westchester). She also dedicates her time to the development of continuing education programming, with a mission to disseminate research and clinical knowledge to improve clinical competencies and patient outcomes. Dr. DeAngelis received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from La Salle University. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and her postdoctoral fellowship at CUCARD-Westchester.

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All attendees will receive a certificate of completion when the course requirements are satisfied. Certificate of completion is included in the cost of the webinar

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For more information, contact:

Rachel Lamb, ABCT Membership and Marketing Manager
212-647-1890 ext. 209
rlamb@abct.org

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