Format: Home Study (Self-Paced)

Credit: 1.5 Continuing Education Hours

Provider: The Wellness Collaborative, ACE Provider and NBCC ACEP Candidate

Delivery Method: Online asynchronous course with multimedia instruction, reading materials, and knowledge assessment

Course Description

Deconstructing Diagnosis is a 1.5-hour self-paced training designed for mental health professionals who wish to explore diagnostic practices through an ethical, social justice, and person-centered lens.

This course examines the historical development of psychiatric diagnosis, the influence of cultural and social context on the diagnostic process, and the ethical challenges that arise when assigning labels to human experience. Participants will learn practical, evidence-informed strategies for balancing accuracy, sensitivity, and equity in diagnostic decision-making.

Using an integrative framework grounded in ethical theory and clinical application, the course invites learners to critically examine how diagnostic systems—such as the DSM and ICD—both shape and reflect broader social constructs of “disorder.” Through reflective exercises and case-based examples, participants will develop tools for ethical reasoning, cultural humility, and client-centered communication around diagnosis.

This program meets the requirements for 1.5 hours of continuing education for social workers, counselors, and related mental health professionals.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

Identify the historical and cultural influences that have shaped the diagnostic systems used in contemporary mental health practice.

Apply ethical frameworks and decision-making models to diagnostic challenges in clinical settings.

Analyze the impact of bias, intersectionality, and power dynamics on diagnostic labeling and access to care.

Demonstrate client-centered and culturally responsive approaches to discussing diagnosis in clinical practice.

Target Audience

This course is intended for social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other licensed mental health professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of ethical and equitable diagnostic practice.

Content Level

Intermediate — assumes foundational knowledge of diagnostic systems (e.g., DSM-5-TR) and clinical practice.

Instructor

Cyrus Patten, LICSW, Doctoral Candidate

Founder, The Wellness Collaborative

Cyrus Patten is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and educator with advanced training in ethics, clinical supervision, and trauma-informed practice. His teaching integrates evidence-based frameworks with applied social justice perspectives relevant to modern behavioral health systems.

Course Format & Completion Requirements

This home study course consists of narrated multimedia lessons, reading materials, and a post-test. Participants must:

Complete all course modules in sequence.

Pass the final knowledge assessment (minimum 80% score).

Submit the course evaluation.

A CE certificate will be automatically generated upon successful completion.

Accreditation

The Wellness Collaborative, #2004, is approved as an ACE provider by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit.

NBCC ACEP Status: Application pending.

Course Access & Support

Learners may access course content for up to 12 months from the date of registration. For technical assistance or CE questions, contact hello@wellnesscollaborative.io.