Ethical Issues in Psychotherapy

PSY 571 - INTRODUCTION TO INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
Spring, 2006
Monday, 5:30-8:30 pm
Brooke J. Cannon, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology,
Director of Clinical Training, Psy.D. Program
Marywood University
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Website: www.brookecannon.com

ETHICAL ISSUES IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

What are the 3 “C”s to maintain ethical practice?

Caution
Competence
Consent

Sexual Attraction to Clients

Most common cause of malpractice complaints

3rd Party Payers

falsification

Duty to Warn

Prosenjit Poddar – Tatiana Tarasoff
HIV case

Privileged Communication

Can be waived only by client
Subpoena vs. Court order
In context of professional duties

Prediction of Danger

Can we predict aggression?

First, Do No Harm

Fringe therapies
Regression case

Informed Consent

Handelsman article
Naked in group therapy example

Therapeutic Goals

Bait-and-switch tactic?
The never-ending therapy

When to Refer

If the client worsens?
If the client fails to improve?

Undesirable Clients

Do we have to accept all clients?

Ethnic Minorities

Biases
Stereotypes
Familiarity

Gay/lesbian Clients

Biases
Stereotypes
Comfort with issues
Transference issues

Sex Therapy

Specific code of ethics/training guidelines
According to Lowery and Lowery (1975) The most ethical sex therapy is…
that “which cures the symptom and improves the marital relationship in the briefest time and at the least cost”
Sex surrogates
Sex with the client?