Session D6 | Workshop | Part 1
Tracks
Stream D
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 |
| 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
Overview
Working with High-Risk Clients in Private Practice: Ethical Decision-Making for Clinical Psychologists - Tess Crawley (90mins)
Details
This workshop will run over two session blocks, D6 & D7 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Presenter
Dr Tess Crawley
Dr Tess Crawley Pty Ltd & The Crawley Clinic
Working with High-Risk Clients in Private Practice: Ethical Decision-Making for Clinical Psychologists
10:30 AM - 2:30 PMAbstract
Workshop description
Working with high-risk clients in private practice demands ethical decision-making under pressure, clear professional boundaries, and robust practice systems, particularly in situations where public safety, client wellbeing, and professional accountability intersect. Designed for mental health clinicians in private practice, this half-day, interactive workshop will use the Psychology Board of Australia’s new Code of Conduct (effective 1 December, 2025) as a foundation for exploring challenging, real-world situations. Participants will learn to structure ethical decision-making, adapt practice environments for best practice, and maintain clinician wellbeing, all while upholding the standards expected under the new Code.
Teaching approach
The workshop uses a combination of:
• Brief presentations introducing key Code clauses relevant to work with high-risk populations in private practice,
• Interactive group discussions where participants share experiences and perspectives,
• Case study analysis (fictional examples) to practise applying ethical decision-making models,
• Practical tools including a quick-reference Code map, an ethical decision-making flowchart, and a supervision/support checklist,
• Reflection exercises to identify individual and organisational changes needed for Code alignment.
Content overview
1. Welcome & framing: why high-risk work is different in private practice versus government / correctional settings.
2. The new Code of Conduct: structure, purpose, and key clauses relevant to high-risk client populations.
3. Understanding ‘high risk’: definitions, types, and private practice realities.
4. Ethical decision-making under the Code: appropriate referrals, structured approaches, avoiding role confusion, documenting rationale.
5. Adapting the practice environment: systems, supervision, clinician wellbeing, and secure record-keeping.
6. Case scenario discussions: applying Code principles to practical situations.
7. Consolidation & take-aways: embedding changes for ongoing compliance.
Working with high-risk clients in private practice demands ethical decision-making under pressure, clear professional boundaries, and robust practice systems, particularly in situations where public safety, client wellbeing, and professional accountability intersect. Designed for mental health clinicians in private practice, this half-day, interactive workshop will use the Psychology Board of Australia’s new Code of Conduct (effective 1 December, 2025) as a foundation for exploring challenging, real-world situations. Participants will learn to structure ethical decision-making, adapt practice environments for best practice, and maintain clinician wellbeing, all while upholding the standards expected under the new Code.
Teaching approach
The workshop uses a combination of:
• Brief presentations introducing key Code clauses relevant to work with high-risk populations in private practice,
• Interactive group discussions where participants share experiences and perspectives,
• Case study analysis (fictional examples) to practise applying ethical decision-making models,
• Practical tools including a quick-reference Code map, an ethical decision-making flowchart, and a supervision/support checklist,
• Reflection exercises to identify individual and organisational changes needed for Code alignment.
Content overview
1. Welcome & framing: why high-risk work is different in private practice versus government / correctional settings.
2. The new Code of Conduct: structure, purpose, and key clauses relevant to high-risk client populations.
3. Understanding ‘high risk’: definitions, types, and private practice realities.
4. Ethical decision-making under the Code: appropriate referrals, structured approaches, avoiding role confusion, documenting rationale.
5. Adapting the practice environment: systems, supervision, clinician wellbeing, and secure record-keeping.
6. Case scenario discussions: applying Code principles to practical situations.
7. Consolidation & take-aways: embedding changes for ongoing compliance.
.....
Dr Tess Crawley (PhD, Clin Psych) is a clinical and forensic psychologist, private practice business coach, and director of The Crawley Clinic. With over 25 years’ experience in mental health, Tess has worked in academia, community and correctional mental health settings, as well as in private practice. Her PhD explored aggression and subclinical psychopathic personality traits. Her professional interests include the interface between psychology and the law, clinician wellbeing and burnout prevention, and the development of private practice systems that support safe and ethical client care coupled with business sustainability. Tess was awarded the Leadership & Management Award at the 2024 Allied Health Awards, and has twice been a finalist for Psychologist of the Year.
