Ethical Issues In Counselling And Psychotherapy Practice

This edited volume comprehensively examines the critical ethical challenges that arise in the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. It translates philosophical positions and professional ethical guidelines in a way that can be applied to practice. The various chapters focus on specific ethical issues that emerge in working with a range of different client groups; for example, children, couples and families. While some ethical imperatives are common across the board, others could be more closely associated with certain client groups. Practitioners might experience uncertainty in working with vulnerable client groups; for example, lesbian/gay/transgender/intersex (LGBT) clients, or persons who report intimate partner violence. Several chapters raise questions, provide information and additional resources to enhance ethically informed practice. Chapter contributions also highlight the ethical dilemmas that might be unique to certain contexts; for example, private practice, schools and consultation-liaison settings. This volume also addresses contemporary and relatively less understood playing fields like ‘digital ethics’ related to therapist-client interface in the internet space and the navigation of ethical dilemmas in the newly emerging field of employee assistance programmes which address mental health needs in the corporate sector. Written by experienced practitioners of psychotherapy, and culturally contextualized, this is a valuable resource for academics and practitioners interested in psychotherapy and counselling.

Closer regulation of psychological counselling means that an awareness of the professional, legal and ethical considerations is vital. The Handbook of Professional and Ethical Practice brings together leading therapists and psychologists who have a wealth of knowledge and experience of their subjects. Each chapter places particular emphasis on the current codes of practice and ethical principles underpinning safe ethical practice and the implications for practitioners. Comprehensive coverage of the legal, clinical and ethical considerations involved in research and training is provided and the reflective questions at the end of every chapter serve to prompt further discussion of the issues. The following subjects are covered: · professional practice and ethical considerations · legal considerations and responsibilities · clinical considerations and responsibilities · working with diversity - professional practice and ethical considerations · research, supervision and training. This innovative Handbook provides a supportive guide to the major professional, legal and ethical issues encountered by trainees on counselling, clinical psychology and psychotherapy courses, as well as providing an invaluable resource for more experienced therapists and other members of the helping professions.

Can I be a creative therapist without overstepping boundaries and risking complaints? Can I practise safely and ethically whilst remaining true to my humanistic values? This book answers ′Yes′ by offering a safety net to trainees and therapists working in the context of today′s ′complaints culture′. Exploring what safe and creative practice means in relation to the key cornerstones in therapy, the authors offer practical guidance to assist the reader in reflecting on and negotiating the challenges of boundaries, legalities and defensive practice. Creative Ethical Practice for Counselling & Psychotherapy considers the necessary structures and processes that must inform creative, humanistic practice for it to be a safe, ethical therapeutic framework. Packed with reflective exercises, summaries, case examples and step-by-step guidance, this book takes the reader from establishing the therapeutic relationship to worst-case scenarios like complaints procedures and legal action. It is essential reading for legal & ethical modules on all counselling courses. Patti Owens, Michael Wilson and Bee Springwood are all humanistic and integrative therapists and members of the UK Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (UKAHPP) as well as the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

The work of every school of psychotherapy and every therapist is inevitably structured by a value system and requires codes of ethics and practice. This book addresses the conscious and unconscious aspects of the value system in which therapists are situated. Values and Ethics in the Practice of Psychotherapy and Counselling explores the central issues through the experience of the contributors, each of whom is well known in this field. Each chapter will raise questions for the reader which will stimulate individual thinking about practice or can form a basis for discussion and debate for training or graduate groups. The book is firmly rooted in practice. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the psychotherapist's work beginning with the general underlying principles, continuing through matters of technique and on to contextual issues. Finally the book moves to the outer world, politics and spirituality as ways of connecting inner and outer, social and individual. The arrangement of chapters allows for flexibility and creativity while providing a coherent structure. Values and Ethics in the Practice of Psychotherapy and Counselling is recommended reading for psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and counsellors in training and practice.

Developing and maintaining a secure framework for professional practice is a core part of any counselling and psychotherapy training, as all therapists need to understand the key values, ethics and laws that underpin the profession today. But what does being a member of a ′profession’ actually mean, and what does being a ‘professional’ actually involve? Structured around the BACP Core Curriculum, and with the help of exercises, case studies and tips for further reading, this book covers everything from the requirements of the BACP Ethical Framework to broader perspectives on good professional practice. It includes: Practising as a therapist in different roles and organizational contexts. Working with key issues, including difference, vulnerable clients and risk. Understanding the law and relevant legal frameworks for practice. Working ethically, including contrasting models and approaches to ethics.

New and experienced psychotherapists alike can find themselves overwhelmed by an ethical quandary where there doesn't seem to be an easy solution. This book presents positive ethics as a means to overcome such ethical challenges. The positive approach focuses on not just avoiding negative consequences, but reaching the best possible outcomes for both the psychotherapist and the client. The authors outline a clear decision-making process that is based on three practical strategies: the ethics acculturation model to help therapists incorporate personal ethics into their professional roles, the quality enhancement model for dealing with high-risk patients who are potentially harmful, and ethical choice-making strategies to make the most ethical decision in a situation where two ethical principles conflict. Throughout the decision-making process, psychotherapists are encouraged to follow four basic guidelines: Focus on overarching ethical principles Consider intuitive, emotional, and other nonrational factors Accept that some problems have elusive solutions Solicit input from colleagues and consultation groups Numerous vignettes illustrate how to apply positive ethics to many different ethical challenges that psychotherapists will likely encounter in practice.

Focuses on the nuances of ethical and legal standards across disciplines Completely revised and updated to reflect the new 2014 ACA Code of Ethics and current ethics codes in psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy. This unparalleled text guides helping professionals in the use of ethical decision-making processes as the foundation for ethical approaches to counseling and psychotherapy. The book focuses on ethical and legal challenges and standards across multiple professions emphasizing counseling, and including the professions of psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy. It not only identifies relevant ethical issues in clinical mental health, rehabilitation, group, school, addictions counseling, and career counseling, it also addresses couple and family therapy, clinical supervision, and forensics. The text illuminates the particular application of ethical standards within each specialty. The book features five new sections that clearly define how ethical standards are interpreted and applied: Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privileged Communication; Informed Consent; Roles and Relationships with Clients; Professional Responsibility; and Counselor Competency. Under the umbrella of each broad topic, the particular nuances of ethical standards within each specialty are analyzed to facilitate comparison across all specialties and settings. The text also addresses current issues in office and administrative practices, technology, and forensic practice that are crucial to school, clinical, and private practice settings. Compelling case studies illustrate the connection between ethical decision-making models and ethical practice. Learning objectives, a comprehensive review of scholarly literature, and a robust ancillary package for educators contribute to the fourth edition's value for use in upper-level undergraduate and graduate classrooms. New to the Fourth Edition: Comprehensive reorganization and reconceptualization of content Reflects new 2014 ACA Code of Ethics Includes five new chapters on Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privileged Communication; Informed Consent; Roles and Relationships with Clients; Professional Responsibility; and Counselor Competency. Emphasizes specialty practice organized by professional standards Facilitates comparison of standards across disciplines Addresses new issues in office, administrative, technology, and forensic practice Key Features: Delivers an unequaled overview of ethical decision-making in counseling and psychotherapy Defines how ethical standards are interpreted and applied in specialty practice Describes how to avoid, address, and solve serious ethical and legal dilemmas Includes learning objectives, case studies, and scholarly literature reviews Offers robust ancillary package with Instructor's Manual, Test Bank, and Power Point Slides

Relational Ethics in Practice presents a new collection of narratives on ethics in day-to-day therapeutic practice. Highly experienced professionals from a range of roles in the therapeutic professions explore ways of developing ethical and effective relationships. The contributors provide the reader with engaging and informative narratives that indicate how ethics can inform and influence practice in a variety of clinical contexts across the helping professions. These personal and professional narratives will encourage people to think more proactively about ethics and the impact that they have on both therapeutic practice, and life in general. Throughout this book, Lynne Gabriel, Roger Casemore and their contributors emphasise that the consideration of the ethical dimension is of paramount importance to successful processes and outcomes in every therapeutic relationship. Chapters cover a number of topics including: how theoretical approaches can inform ethical decision making and practice practical difficulties and ethical challenges innovative and unconventional approaches informed consent across various contexts pointers for good practice the notion of the 'wounded healer'. Relational Ethics in Practice: Narratives from Counselling and Psychotherapy will appeal to a wide range of readers involved in the helping professions including counsellors, psychotherapists, researchers, supervisors and trainees.