Navigating Ethics Hell: A Journey Toward Aspirational Practice

6.0 Credit Hours

Ethics is Needed for Licensure in 2026

Presented by: John D. Gavazzi, PsyD ABPP

Course Descriptions

Morning Session: Ethics, Morality, and Clinical Practice through Dante's Inferno

This workshop explores the complex interplay between ethics, morality, and clinical practice through the unique lens of Dante’s Inferno. Participants embark on a metaphorical journey through “Ethics Hell,” examining how suboptimal ethical decision-making leads to professional missteps and discovering strategies to rise above these challenges and embrace aspirational ethical practice.

Using the acculturation model of ethical development, the workshop provides a practical framework for integrating personal and professional values into clinical practice. Through real-world vignettes and experiential exercises, participants analyze how assimilated, separated, and marginalized strategies produce ethical dilemmas and learn to prevent them.

The workshop will include time for participants to work through ethical vignettes along with instructor-led comments on the process.

Learning Objectives for Morning Sesson:

By the end of this program, the workshop participants will be able to:

1. Distinguish between compliance-based and aspirational ethical approaches, explaining how an over-reliance on rules can lead to rigid, legalistic practices that miss the broader spirit of ethical principles.
2. Analyze how values-based ("separated") strategies can lead to specific countertransference reactions (e.g., over-protection, value imposition) and undermine evidence-based care and patient autonomy.
3. Predict the potential negative outcomes for client care and professional practice associated with the assimilated, separated, and marginalized ethical acculturation styles.
4. Evaluate a complex ethical dilemma from both an assimilated (rule-based) and separated (values-based) perspective, contrasting the different courses of action and their implications.
5. Identify two specific strategies to move toward integrated practice patterns

Afternoon Session: AI Technologies: Ethics Use Cases & Potential Pitfalls

This workshop delves into the intersection of psychology, ethics, decision-making, and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT. Participants will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of LLMs, the significance of effective prompting, practical applications, core ethical principles, and the Ethical Acculturation Model. The session will also explore strategies for incorporating LLMs into clinical practice and ethical decision-making processes. Attendees will engage in hands-on activities with AI tools to enhance their learning experience. Active participation and interaction are essential components of this workshop.

Learning Objectives for Afternoon Session:

By the end of this program, the workshop participants will be able to:

1. List three current use cases of LLMs in the practice of psychology;
2. Describe two ethical issues when using any AI technology, including the potential for algorithmic bias and its impact on diverse populations;
3. Use one prompt for ethical decision-making for any large language model, considering the potential for culturally biased outputs; and,
4. Apply personal moral values in context of professional ethics for one vignette using a large language model as a guide.

About the Presenter:

Dr. John Gavazzi is a psychologist, Board Certified in Clinical Psychology, who has been in practice since 1990. His career spans clinical work, ethics education, and forensic consultation. In addition to maintaining a private practice, Dr. Gavazzi serves as an expert witness for legal teams across the United States as well as the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology. Dr. Gavazzi also provides consultation services to the Bureau of Disability Determination.

With over 25 years dedicated to ethics education, he is a frequent presenter on topics including professional ethics, decision-making, and mental health law. His expertise has been recognized with the Ethics Educator of the Year award from both the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (2013) and the American Psychological Association (2014).

Dr. Gavazzi is the founder of the widely-read blog, Ethics and Psychology (www.ethicalpsychology.com), which explores the intersection of ethics, morality, philosophy, technology, and healthcare for an international audience, amassing over 11 million page views. His leadership includes serving as Past President of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association and Past Chair of its Ethics Committee, underscoring his enduring commitment to advancing the highest ethical standards in the profession.

Registration:

Members:

• On or before February 20, 2026: $150
• After February 20, 2026: $175

Non-Members

• On or before February 20, 2026: $200
• After February 20, 2026: $225

Students

• Student/Resident UPA Members: Free
• Non-members Students: $15