Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling

Kenneth S. Pope, PhD, a psychologist in independent practice, chaired the ethics committees of the American Psychological Association and the American Board of Professional Psychology. He received the 2015 Canadian Psychological Association John C. Service Member of the Year Award.Melba J.T. Vasquez, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and former President of the American Psychological Association. She is a Fellow of ten divisions of the American Psychological Association and is a recipient of the 2020 APA Award for Lifetime Achievement.Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and professor. She is a recipient of the 2018 American Psychological Association Distinguished Citizen Psychologist Award.Hector Y. Adames, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist and professor. He chaired the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affair (CEMA) of the American Psychologist Association (APA) and is a recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Emerging Professional Contributions to Research Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race of the APA.

“The 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling is a practical and indispensable guide for clinicians. The volume is filled with up-to-date information and actionable steps on ethics including telehealth and social media. What sets the book apart is its consistent attention to an ethics grounded in dignity, respect, and human rights. I am excited about its release!”—Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP, 2021 President, American Psychological Association  “This is the best psychology ethics book on the market; a must-have resource for any applied psychologist or mental health professional. The internationally recognized scholars and practitioners use research, case examples, legal decisions, and diversity-related topics to bring ethical dilemmas to life. This volume makes me excited to teach on ethics.” —Helen A. Neville, PhD,Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  “The 6th edition is a stunningly good book. If there is only one book you buy on ethics, this is the one.”—David H. Barlow PhD, ABPP,Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry Emeritus;Founder, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD), Boston University  “No other ethics text comes close to matching its comprehensiveness. The 6th edition is a paradigm of excellence and should be required reading for all mental health practitioners.”   —Derald Wing Sue, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Education Teachers College, Columbia University  "This 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling takes ethical reasoning and practice to a new level by addressing the complexity of video conferencing and the use of digital tools while emphasizing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. An absolute must-read for all clinicians.”—Martin Drapeau, PhD, Professor, McGill University; former editor of Canadian Psychology  “Like all areas of human functioning, ethics is influenced by culture. Yet, during my psychological training over 20 years ago, the recognition and inclusion of topics related to culture and other diverse aspects of the human experience (e.g., race, gender, religion, sexual orientation) in ethics were marginalized, if they were mentioned at all. In this 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling, the authors have updated an already classic book that is responsive to the emergent needs of this historical moment.”—Kevin O. Cokley, PhD, Professor of Educational Psychology and African and African Diaspora Studies, The University of Texas at Austin  “The authors of this 6th edition continue to represent the ‘conscience of psychology.’ The inclusion of new and important material makes this the essential handbook of ethics in contemporary psychology.” —Bonnie R. Strickland, PhD, Former President, American Psychological Association  “This is a MUST READ for both beginning and seasoned clinicians. KUDOS!”—Don Meichenbaum, PhD, Research Director of the Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention, Miami

• The Authors xvPreface xviiAcknowledgements xixPart I: FoundationsChapter 1 Helping Without Hurting 3Chapter 2 Ethics in Real Life 12Chapter 3 Ethics Theories and Codes 22Chapter 4 Dignity and Respect 40Chapter 5 Trust, Power, Caring, and Healing 48Chapter 6 Competence, Humility, and the Human Therapist 59Chapter 7 Culture, Context, and Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling 73Chapter 8 Steps in Ethical Decision-Making 88Chapter 9 Moral Distress and Moral Courage 95Part II: Common Sources of ProblemsChapter 10 Ethics, Science, and Pseudoscience 115Chapter 11 Ethical Fallacies 121Chapter 12 Pitfalls in Ethical Judgment 132Chapter 13 Language and Ethics 142Chapter 14 Ethics Placebos, Rationalizations, and Excuses 149Part III: Special TopicsChapter 15 Beginnings and Endings, Absence and Access 157Chapter 16 Informed Consent and Informed Refusal 175Chapter 17 Creating and Using Strategies for Self-Care 196Chapter 18 Creating a Professional Will 206Chapter 19 Responding to Ethics, Licensing, or Malpractice Complaints 214Chapter 20 Assessment, Testing, and Diagnosis 222Chapter 21 Confidentiality 246Chapter 22 Recognizing, Assessing, and Responding to Suicidal Risk 263Chapter 23 Supporting Human Rights and Addressing Oppression in Psychotherapy 288Chapter 24 Therapists in a Virtual World: Teletherapy, Electronic Records, and Social Media 306Chapter 25 Sexual Attraction to Patients, Therapist Vulnerabilities, and Sexual Relationships with Patients 327Chapter 26 Nonsexual Multiple Relationships and Other Boundary Crossings: The Therapeutic, the Harmful, the Risky, and the Inevitable 357Chapter 27 Steps to Strengthen Ethics in Organizations: Research Findings, Ethics Placebos, and What Works 380References 390About the Authors 445Author Index 454Subject Index 463