MFT Green Book - CHAPTER 13 ETHICS

Ethical Guidelines

Standards developed by professionals to regulate behavior and protect clients beyond legal requirements

Confidentiality

Therapist’s legal and ethical duty to protect client information from unauthorized disclosure

Privilege

Client’s legal right to prevent confidential information from being disclosed in court

Informed Consent

Process of informing clients about treatment risks benefits and limits before they agree to therapy

Duty to Warn

Therapist’s obligation to protect identifiable victims when a client poses a serious threat of harm

Tarasoff Case

Legal case establishing therapist duty to warn and protect potential victims

Duty to Report

Legal requirement for therapists to report suspected abuse or neglect

Mandated Reporter

Professional legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect

Dual Relationships

When a therapist has more than one role with a client increasing risk of harm or exploitation

Boundary Violations

Crossing professional limits in ways that harm or exploit the client

Countertransference

Therapist’s emotional reactions to a client based on personal unresolved issues

Power Differential

Imbalance of power in therapist client or supervisor supervisee relationships

Client Autonomy

Client’s right to make their own decisions without therapist interference

Nonmaleficence

Ethical principle meaning do no harm

Beneficence

Ethical responsibility to promote client well being

Handling Secrets

Managing disclosures like infidelity while balancing confidentiality in family systems

Diagnostic Labeling

Use of diagnoses that must be applied carefully to avoid harm or misuse

Nontraditional Techniques

Use of touch gifts or other methods requiring careful ethical consideration

Clinical Notes

Documentation including consent diagnosis treatment and risk assessment

Termination of Therapy

Ending treatment when no longer beneficial with proper referrals

Abandonment

Unethical termination without proper referral or continuation of care

Teletherapy

Providing therapy via phone or internet with ethical concerns about confidentiality and competence

Electronic Confidentiality

Risk of breaches when using digital communication requiring secure safeguards

HIPAA Compliance

Legal requirement to protect client health information in electronic and physical formats

Minors in Therapy

Ethical considerations involving consent confidentiality and custody issues

Parental Consent

Legal permission required from parent or guardian for minor’s treatment

Managed Care

System requiring authorization treatment plans and justification for services

Utilization Review

Insurance evaluation of medical necessity and effectiveness of treatment

Supervisor Liability

Supervisor’s legal responsibility for supervisee actions and client care

Gatekeeping

Supervisor’s role in ensuring only competent therapists enter the profession

Supervisory Contract

Formal agreement outlining expectations roles and responsibilities in supervision

Sexual Attraction in Therapy

Common ethical risk requiring supervision and management to avoid violations

Sexual Misconduct

Any sexual relationship with a client or supervisee which is unethical and prohibited

Informed Consent to Record

Written permission required for recording sessions or third party observation

Confidentiality Limits

Situations where confidentiality may be broken such as harm abuse or court order

Duty to Protect

Responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to clients or others

Competence

Practicing within areas of training and maintaining ongoing professional education

Scope of Practice

Boundaries of what a therapist is trained and qualified to do

Financial Ethics

Requirement that fees be fair transparent and not exploitative

Advertising Ethics

Requirement that therapist marketing be accurate truthful and not misleading

Identifiable Victim

A specific person or group that can be reasonably identified as the target of a client’s threat

Imminent Danger

A situation where there is immediate risk of serious harm requiring action such as duty to warn

Reasonable Care

Standard requiring therapists to take appropriate steps to prevent foreseeable harm

Standard of Care

Level of competence and practice expected of a reasonably skilled therapist

Negligence

Failure to meet the standard of care resulting in harm to a client

Malpractice

Professional negligence involving harm due to unethical or incompetent practice

Consultation

Seeking guidance from other professionals to ensure ethical and competent decision making

Record Retention

Requirement to maintain client records for a legally specified period

Release of Information

Written authorization required to share client information with third parties

Conflict of Interest

Situation where personal or financial interests may impair professional judgment