Learn about the psychological response to pandemics, and get practical guidance about how to psychologically navigate these uncertain times

Interview-style, with Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

  • Course Description

    Many clinicians are feeling helpless and confused about the current COVID-19 outbreak. In this timely interview, Dr. Fischhoff discusses common individual and community responses to pandemics, and discusses how infrastructure (or lack thereof) and data/information interpretation can contribute to feelings of confusion, panic, anger, and fear. Listeners will learn practical tools to help interpret and respond to a pandemic, and how to make sense of this unfamiliar, threatening situation.

  • Learning Objectives

    Upon completing this course, participants will be able to: List two or more simple strategies to reduce the negative psychological impact of pandemics; Discuss how news media consumption impacts psychological wellness during a pandemic; Describe one or more thinking errors that can impact how individuals weather stressful experiences.


    Target Audience and Instructional Level
    This course is intended for psychologists, therapists, social workers, clinical counselors, and addiction counselors. Instructional level: Introductory

  • How To Take This Course

    In order to receive a certificate of completion reflecting the associated CE credit hour, you must:
    #1: Have an active paid Clearly Clinical membership
    #2: Listen to the corresponding course podcast
    #3: Achieve a passing grade on the post-presentation test (the test has up to ten questions and you must earn a score of at least 80%; users can re-test up to three times. After three attempts, users are advised to re-listen to the audio course in its entirety and then subsequently re-test. Psychologists who are seeking CE credit may not be awarded credit if they attempt to pass the post-test more than three times.)
    #4: Complete the requested course evaluation.

    Course elements (including the course audio, post-test, and requested course evaluation) can be completed on a computer or mobile device via your Clearly Clinical account.

  • Course Format

    This high-quality and interesting course contains a one-hour, non-interactive audio podcast presentation which is available for free via all major public podcast providers. You can also listen to and download the file via our course player.

  • Certificate Access Details

    Once you've completed the course, your certificate will automatically populate in the 'Certificate' section of your account; it will also be emailed to you. Access to completion certificate will expire 365 days after issuance. Course certificates will be on file for ten (10) years from date of course completion.

  • Commercial Support

    There is no known commercial support or conflict of interest for this CE program, sponsor, instructor, or content. Dr. Fischhoff co-authored a book called 'Risk: A Very Short Introduction,' (2011) which he mentions as a potential resource during this course.

  • Accommodations

    If you have special needs or need an accommodation, please email us at [email protected] and we will do our best to assist you.

Expert Interviewee and Interviewer

Baruch Fischhoff, PhD

Pandemic and Infectious Disease Expert Psychologist

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff is a Howard Heinz University Professor, Department of Engineering and Public Policy and Institute for Politics and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University. He is a graduate of the Detroit Public Schools, Wayne State University (BS, mathematics, psychology), and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (PhD, psychology). He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine. He is past President of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making and the Society for Risk Analysis. He has chaired the Food and Drug Administration Risk Communication Advisory Committee and been a member of the Eugene (Oregon) Commission on the Rights of Women, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee and the Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Board, where he chaired the Homeland Security Advisory Committee. His books include "Acceptable Risk, Risk: A Very Short Introduction," and "Counting Civilian Casualties".

Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias, MS, LMFT

Interviewer & Clearly Clinical Founder

Elizabeth 'Beth' Irias (she/her) is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and the Founder and President of Clearly Clinical. She has specializations in Clinical Documentation, Best Practice, and Utilization Review, and works closely with clinical teams across the US as a trainer and national conference presenter; Beth was formerly an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University in the Graduate Psychology and Education department. Licensed in California and Oregon, she provides therapy via her private practice to young adult and adult clients, members of the LGBTQ population, and those with addictive disorders. She has two young children, a super cool spouse who helps out with Clearly Clinical's tech, and a rescue dog.

What Your Colleagues Have to Say About This Course

Great content

Deborah Todd

This was a thoughtful and informative class that met all my objectives professionally. It was also applicable personally as I want to better navigate the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and how it effects me, my family, my community and the nation an...

Read More

This was a thoughtful and informative class that met all my objectives professionally. It was also applicable personally as I want to better navigate the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and how it effects me, my family, my community and the nation and world at large. He gave practical advice. A good course.

Read Less

Helpful

Falicia Miller

This podcast was helpful in giving me concrete ways to communicate with my clients.

This podcast was helpful in giving me concrete ways to communicate with my clients.

Read Less

See why we're the country's premier CE provider

  • CONVENIENT: All courses are 1-hour podcast episodes, available on all public podcast platforms

  • AFFORDABLE: We offer quality CE courses through a reasonably-priced membership

  • SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE: We donate to The Trevor Project for LGBTQIA+ youth suicide prevention

  • WOMEN-OWNED: We are founded and run by Elizabeth Irias, LMFT

  • DIVERSE: We highlight expert presenters from historically-marginalized communities

Check Out Our Growing Course Library

View all courses


Quick Note: Are you confused about the difference between a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and a Continuing Education (CE) Credit Hour?  You're not the only one! Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for clarification!