Preferred registration deadline: April 10th

3 CEs

Social workers today navigate a rapidly changing professional landscape—one where shifting norms, diverse perspectives, and generational differences can create workplace conflict and lead to confusion, frustration, and tension. Opaque communication around expectations, roles, and boundaries can erode trust and create conflict within teams and with clients. Many of us simply don’t like conflict and have been socialized to avoid it, see it as negative, or view it as adversarial.  Yet, when approached thoughtfully, conflict can be a catalyst for growth. Ethical, well-managed conflict can strengthen relationships, clarify values, enhance engagement, and improve outcomes for clients and colleagues alike. The NASW Code of Ethics provides a powerful framework for guiding and transforming communication and decision-making in these moments. This interactive workshop will equip social workers with trauma-informed, practical strategies to skillfully handle conflict and foster open, values-driven communication. Through case studies and hands-on exercises, participants will apply ethical principles and transformative conflict strategies to real-world challenges. 

This is an in-person workshop that will be held on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The exact location and directions will be emailed to registered participants before the course date. This workshop meets the licensure requirement for 3 hours of continuing education in ethics.

General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 35.

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Course Outline

Content Level: Intermediate

Target Audiences: Social Workers and other mental health providers.

Agenda:

• Introductions - 5 mins
• Overview of session, including self-regulation strategies and workshop norms - 10 mins
• Setting the stage: conflict in the current era - 45 mins
• Conflict and Ethics - 60 mins
• Conflict skill building - 60 mins

Learner Outcomes

• Describe at least three constructive functions of conflict within organizational and team settings.
• Apply relevant NASW Code of Ethics standards and core social work values to the analysis and resolution of organizational conflict case studies.
• Demonstrate enhanced conflict resolution and communication skills applicable to professional practice.
• Develop a personalized framework for addressing and transforming conflict within their own organizational or interdisciplinary contexts.

Course Completion Requirements:

• The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Professional Development, provider #2130, 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: 9/24/2025 – 9/24/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 ethics continuing education credits.
• The Brown School is also an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois.
• To earn ACE credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. ACE credit is not provided for partial attendance.  However, you may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs provided by the Brown School.
• Brown School CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available. ACE CE Certificates, if requested in your evaluation survey, will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
• For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancelation policy, our grievance policy, or other inquiries, please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.