OPA May Webinar
Navigating Ethical Complexity in Modern Clinical Practice: Challenges and Insights in an Evolving Socio-Political Climate

Presented by Dr. Rose Ashraf, Dr. Danielle Moyer, & Dr. Emma Nelson
May 22, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

REGISTER HERE

Description:

Psychologists hold an ethical obligation to respect and protect civil and human rights through accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in science, teaching, and clinical work. What does it mean to be an ethical psychologist during a complex and uncertain socio-political climate? This training will provide a brief overview of ethical considerations across social and political areas in which psychologists intersect, including: (1) how to best care for those seeking asylum or other forms of immigration relief, (2) working with transgender and gender diverse youth, and (3) practicing psychotherapy in a time of climate chaos. Attendees will be guided through reflecting on their own practice and the ways in which the broader sociopolitical context informs their work. The role of psychology in advocacy efforts and strategies for supporting wellness will also be discussed. This interactive training aims to dissect modern ethical challenges and provide insight into the practical, real-life decisions and responses that clinicians may consider employing in their own, contemporaneous work as psychologists. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss areas of psychology (clinical, research, education, advocacy, etc.) that are impacted and/or informed by the broader sociopolitical context. 
2. Reflect on ways in which ethical obligations might inspire and or challenge psychologists to be of service in tumultuous times. 
3. Articulate some of the ethical challenges psychologists today may face as they relate to transgender care, climate chaos, and immigrants seeking relief, and discuss practical suggestions provided by experts in these areas.

Dr. Rose Ashraf

Dr. Rose Ashraf is a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Rose’s research and clinical work focuses on immigrant and ethnic minority mental health, complex trauma, and multiculturalism. Rose’s past health equity work include a collaboration with the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas to provide no-cost asylum evaluations, earning the Angel of Freedom award in 2020. She has also testified in support of immigrant health equity at the state level and published for research and community audiences regarding BIPOC representation in the 2020 census. She is actively involved in training and regularly teaches on antiracism, multiculturalism, and advocacy.

Dr. Danielle Moyer

Dr. Danielle Moyer is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at OHSU within the divisions of psychology and endocrinology. She is a licensed psychologist in the state of Oregon and the Director of Psychology for the OHSU Doernbecher Gender Clinic, which serves the medical, social, and mental health needs of transgender and gender diverse youth and their families. Her work involves clinical service, individual and systemic advocacy, training and education, consultation to medical and mental health providers, and clinical research. In addition to pediatric gender affirming healthcare, Danielle also specializes in mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions for youth and families.

Dr. Emma Nelson

Dr. Emma Nelson is a pre-licensed clinical psychologist at Elemental Psychology, PLLC and executive committee member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. Emma sees individuals and groups for climate-inclusive psychotherapy, provides didactics on climate psychology, and collaborates on local and national projects at the intersection of psychological wellness and the collective crises of our time. Emma is interested in the deep transformation - intellectual, spiritual, behavioral, & cultural - being asked of psychotherapists in this time; she has been co-creating a postdoctoral fellowship (her own) with this work at the center and will be co-launching a similar training program for pre-licensed clinicians in 2026.