Eye on Ethics: Creating a Professional Will

Eye on Ethics: Creating a Professional Will (1.5HR) Presented by Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW

$27.00

Course Description

This course guides mental health professionals through the process of creating a professional will—a critical yet often overlooked component of ethical and responsible clinical practice. Participants will explore the purpose and benefits of a professional will, including protecting client welfare, ensuring continuity of care, and meeting legal and ethical obligations in the event of incapacity, retirement, or death. The course will review key considerations, including selecting clinical executors, managing client records, and addressing confidentiality and consent. Best practices and customizable templates will be provided to support the development of a comprehensive and personalized professional will. Ethical frameworks and real-world examples will help clinicians anticipate challenges and create a clear, effective plan.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

Explain the ethical, legal, and clinical importance of having a professional will in place as part of responsible practice management.
Identify the essential components and considerations involved in drafting a professional will, including client care, records management, and appointing a clinical executor.
Apply best practices and use provided templates to begin creating or revising a professional will that reflects their unique practice setting and responsibilities.

Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.

For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 1.5 Ethics continuing education training.

Course Instructor: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW

Recording Date: 10/06/2026

Course Format

NBCC ACEP # 7091, CE Training Workshops has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP #7091. Programs that do not qualify are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. CE Training Workshops designates this continuing education activity for 1.5 continuing education hours.

CE Training Workshops, LLC, #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/02/2025 to 08/02/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 Ethics continuing education credits.

Meet Your Facilitator

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW

Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri and Kansas with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. She has held clinical positions as an outpatient and in-home therapist, and clinical supervisor. Diane was an Adjunct Professor of Social Work for 10 years at The University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare, and a Field Liaison and Field Instructor. She has also held administrative positions as a Program Director and Coordinator.

Diane is a popular local and national trainer on a wide variety of mental health and workplace development topics for clinicians and corporations. Diane is most passionate about providing quality professional development to clinicians, employees, and leaders. For fun, Diane loves to spoil her four Dachshunds and rock out to 80’s music.

Syllabus

Objective #1: Explain the ethical, legal, and clinical importance of having a professional will in place as part of responsible practice management.

Learning Objectives
Opening case vignette
Realities to consider
Reasons for a professional will: an ethical and clinical imperative
- “What is a therapist professional will?” video
One clinician’s experience: Peace of mind in a crisis

Objective #2: Identify the essential components and considerations involved in drafting a professional will, including client care, records management, and appointing a clinical executor.

Self-assessment and reflection questions
Sections of a professional will
The first 72 hours: the executor’s responsibility
A dilemma for the executor case study
- Recommendations
Exercise: spot the omissions
Informed consent example

Objective #3: Apply best practices and use provided templates to begin creating or revising a professional will that reflects their unique practice setting and responsibilities.

Barriers to completing a professional will (table)
Closing reflection questions
Addressing feeling overwhelmed
Resource review: templates, professional will checklist, scripts, etc.

Q&A, closing