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ETOS Programme · Psychiatry and social work

When decisions
affect people —
not just systems

When the situation is complex, the problem is not missing rules — but missing overview of tensions. ETOS helps professionals navigate between coercion, care and autonomy.

Try in practice → See the programme ↓
Typical situation — psychiatry
System risk
82
Citizen autonomy
78
Relational trust
22
Time pressure
70

ETOS: Action is possible — but relational damage is likely and must be actively managed.

What you know

You must act — even when there is no good choice.

Professionals in psychiatry and social work face situations every day where all options come at a cost. The system demands action. The citizen needs respect. And you are in the middle.

ETOS is not an alternative to professional expertise — it is a layer on top that makes tensions visible, so decisions can be made more consciously.

You understand the situation — but the system demands that it be reduced to an assessment and an action.

Coercion may be necessary — but it leaves traces in the relationship that must be actively managed.

Every decision has consequences — and you often carry them alone, without a framework or language for them.

The learning disappears — because there is no structure for gathering what works and what does not.

Positioning

Not an alternative to expertise — but a layer on top.

Not

Treatment

Not a psychologist or therapist
Not clinical guidance
Not an alternative to professional judgement
But

Reflection framework

Decision support
System understanding
Structured reflection
Gives

Overview

Tensions made visible
Ethical pressure named
Decision with conscious responsibility

"I help professionals understand and navigate complex decisions — where both people and systems are at stake."

The programme

Four modules · from tension to learning

01

The tension field

What is actually in conflict?
Content
ETOS introduction — psychiatry version
Coercion vs. autonomy
Safety vs. relationship
Short-term stabilisation vs. long-term trust
Exercise
👉 "Map the case"
Risk, autonomy, relational trust and strain. ETOS shows divergence, ethical pressure and room for action.
Divergence visibleEthical pressure named
02

The professional's position

Where do I stand — and what is my responsibility?
Content
Responsibility vs. power — the crucial difference
Professional expertise vs. system demands
Ethical debt from intervention
Exercise
👉 "My position"
What does the system require? What does the citizen experience? What can I stand behind?
Role clarityConscious choice
03

Decision

What do we do — and why?
Content
Decision mode: Stable · Tense · Critical
When coercion may arise
When relationship must be prioritised
Exercise
👉 "Decision choice"
What is the decision? What is the consequence? What is the alternative?
Conscious actionResponsibility placed
04

Aftermath and learning

What happens afterwards?
Content
Experienced coercion vs. intention
Trust after intervention
Structured reflection and learning
Exercise
👉 "Aftermath"
How did the citizen experience it? What needs explaining? What needs repairing?
Learning preservedRelationship repaired
Example

ETOS in practice — a psychiatric situation

Patient refuses treatment · High risk · Low trust Critical tension
The situation
Patient refuses medication and treatment
System risk assessment: high
Relational trust: very low
ETOS detects
High divergence — system demands and citizen will are incompatible
Ethical debt arises regardless of the choice
Action is possible — but with a cost
Professional insight
Action is necessary — but relational damage must be actively managed
Document the dilemma explicitly
Plan repair of the relationship afterwards

"ETOS does not remove the dilemma. It gives the professional language and structure to act consciously — and learn from it afterwards."

Format

Three ways to work with it

🏛

Workshop

Cases from practice. ETOS is used live on real situations from the department's daily work.

3–4 hours · in person · team
📅

Programme

One module per week over four weeks. You work with your own practice and watch the patterns develop.

4 weeks · online or in person
🏥

Institution pilot

Entire departments or teams work with ETOS as a shared language for complex decisions.

Arranged individually · shared language
Start the conversation

Try ETOS in your department

Start with a no-obligation conversation about your specific practice.

Write to us → Contact page

Free introductory conversation · no obligation

● Pilot running

Would you like to test it in your real situation? 90 min · free · no preparation.

See the pilot package →