Issues and Ethics in the

Helping Professions,

National UniversitySteven Mendoza, Ph.D.

Psychology Adjunct Professor

College of Letters and Sciences

January 27, 2015

Semper Conosco Bene

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ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUPLES

AND FAMILY THERAPY

Chapter 11

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Ethical Standards in Couples

and Family TherapyResponsibility to clients

Confidentiality

Professional competence and integrity

Responsibility to students, employees, and

supervisees

Ethics

Ethical Standards in Couples

and Family TherapyResponsibility to research participants

Responsibility to the professions

Fees

Advertising

Ethics

Training Issues in Couples

and Family TherapyPersonal characteristics of family

therapists:

– Self-knowledge is critical, especially family-of-

origin issues.

Training, supervision, and clinical

experience:

– Didactic and experiential methods

Ethics

Training Issues in Couples

and Family TherapyValues in couples and family therapy:

– Value system of the therapist has crucial

influence on formulation and definition of

problems.

Ethics

Feminist Perspective on

Family TherapyPlaces same demands for change on both

women and men

Values women’s requests for change,

expression of emotion and nurturance in

both partners, and women’s work in the

family

Ethics

Feminist Perspective on

Family TherapyChallenges traditional roles and patterns

of male dominance and female

subordination

Questions gender-specific rules

Ethics

Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence occurs in both

same-sex and heterosexual relationships

and affects people from all ethnic and

socioeconomic backgrounds.

Under current law, mental health providers

generally are not required to report

intimate partner violence.

Ethics

Help the victim

But help the victim during therapy to dev a

scape plan when the other person acts

violently

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Intimate Partner Violence

The therapist’s goal is to protect victims

from any further harm, including protecting

any children the couple may have at

home.

Ethics

Confidentiality in Couples

and Family Therapy Exceptions to confidentiality:

– When mandated by law

– When it is necessary to protect clients from

harm to self or others

– When family therapist is a defendant in a civil,

criminal, or disciplinary action arising from

therapy

– When a waiver has been previously obtained

in writing

Ethics

Informed Consent in Couples

and Family TherapyBefore therapy begins, the counselor

needs to give information to family

members about:

– Purpose of therapy

– Typical procedures

– Risks of negative outcomes

– Possible benefits of therapy

– The fee structure

Ethics

Informed Consent in Couples

and Family TherapyBefore therapy begins, the counselor

needs to give information to family

members about:

– Limits of confidentiality (including how secrets

are handled)

– Rights and responsibilities of clients

– The option that a family member can withdraw

at any time

– What can be expected from the therapist

Ethics