Ethical Decision Making in Psychotherapy: On Being Moral, Ethical and Professional

Course content available in articles.

Fulfills Requirement: Professional Ethics for all professions. Check with your state board if you have questions.

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?

EDM201

February 17, 2023