“Simplifying Ethical-Decision Making for all Mental Health Professionals” by Jason H. King PhD (3.0 credits) Not APA approved for online course

Presentation Summary: Most mental health professionals are taught ethics from an avoid liability paradigm. Ironically, this approach impairs awareness of how personal actions affect others. Learn how to avoid this pitfall by prioritizing interests of clients over self-interests when providing professional services and by evading the number one risk factor for incurring an ethical violation. Also become empowered by examining model types, purpose of ethics, power & relational differential tenets, 6 key ethical principles, and competent ethical decision-making practices.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:                                                                                                           

1. Learn how to use organized reasoning and good judgment to assess and respond to situations.          

2. Review, analyze, and internalize a credible ethical decision-making model

3. Learn how to avoid ethical dilemmas by managing personal mental health, emotional problems, stress, and/or interpersonal issues effectively.

4. Learn how to use technology appropriately and ethically in all situations while respecting others who are present or affected.

5. Learn how to manage clinical ambiguity and therapeutic uncertainty appropriately.

Biosketch:  Jason King, PhD Dr. King is a state licensed and nationally board certified clinical mental health counselor with over 17 years of experience in private practice, outpatient, correctional, school, community-based, and online settings. He currently works for Walden University as an Academic Coordinator that specializes in the remediation and dismissal of masters and doctoral counseling students presenting with unethical conduct. For 8 years Dr. King served on the Utah DOPL board for Counselors, with 6 of those years serving as Chair. His doctoral dissertation analyzed the ethical codes for psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers. He received the 2012 AMHCA Mental Health Counselor of the Year Award and assisted with the 2010 AMHCA Code of Ethics revision and Training Standards revision. In 2011, Dr. King was the second-place winner of the American Counseling Association’s Doctoral Student Ethics Essay Competition. Since 2003, he has given many state, regional, and national presentations on ethics and law. He frequently provides individualized ethical consultations to private practice counselors and he is retained by personal injury attorneys to guide litigation focused on ethical misconduct and professional malpractice.