Ethical Decision Making in Psychotherapy: On Being Moral, Ethical and Professional
Fulfills: Professional Ethics for all professions
This intermediate level course discusses issues of morality, ethics, rights, virtues, values and responsibility. It outlines the processes of ethical decision-making and critical thinking. It takes participants on a journey starting with the general theoretical issues involved in moral reasoning through the practical considerations all the way to ethical decision-making in psychotherapy. It goes beyond the most common approaches to ethics, which are What are the laws, codes and rules? How to avoid being sued or How to comply with the rules and regulations. The course invites participants to explore a wide range of fundamental questions of ethics, such as What should I do? or How should I act? What is good? and the heart of ethics which is What moral principles should I follow? Culturally and professionally, there seems to be an increase in focus on rules, principles and dos and don’ts at the dangerous expense of ignoring the fundamental component of ethics — virtue.
After covering the broader concerns of ethics, virtue, morality, cultural relativism, etc., the course focuses on ethical decision-making in psychotherapy and the importance of the moral principles of autonomy, non-malfeasance, beneficence, justice and fidelity. The course then introduces a theoretical and conceptual framework for ethical decision-making. It provides examples of dual relationship and associated ethical concerns and exemplifies how to apply ethical decision-making in dual relationships situations.
Educational Objectives
This course will teach the participant to
- Explain the meaning of ethics from a variety of approaches.
- Identify the seven steps of the ethical decision-making process.
- Analyze the ethical and clinical issues involved in confidentiality, record keeping, payment, special high-risk populations and legal situations, telemental health, and termination.
- Discuss the ways in which f dual relationships are unavoidable and common.
- Apply key ethical questions to decision-making for dual relationships.
Syllabus
- Part 1: An Overview of Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making
- Ethics and values from different approaches (i.e., utilitarian, rights, justice and fairness, and common good)
- Can ethics be taught?
- Ethics and the American Psychological Association’s Code of Ethics
- Risk-benefit analysis of action and inaction
- Seven-step ethical decision-making model
- Part 2: Ethical and Clinical Practice Guidelines in Light of Current Trends
- Confidentiality
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Danger to others, duty to report
- Record keeping
- Dual relationships
- Fees and billing
- Bartering
- Gifts
- Child custody evaluations and Parental Alienation Syndrome
- Repressed memories
- Treatment of patients with Borderline Personality Disorder
- Non-sexual touch
- Out-of-office experiences
- Pharmacotherapy
- Telemental health, e-therapy, email
- The Google Factor
- Ethical risk management
- Subpoenas
- Termination
- Part 3: Dual Relationships and Ethical Decision-Making
- How the consensus regarding the prohibition of dual relationships has been contrived
- Legally-mandated dual relationships in the military, correctional, and police settings
- Supervisory relationships and other settings in which dual relationships are unavoidable and common
- Ethical decision-making about dual relationships
- Is it necessary?
- Is it exploitative?
- Whom does it benefit?
- What are the risks to the patient?
- What are the risks to the therapeutic relationship?
- Has consent been documented?