CAMFT Codes Flashcards
1
Q
- RESPONSIBILITY TO CLIENTS/PATIENTS
A
Marriage and family therapists advance the welfare of families and individuals, respect the rights of those persons
seeking their assistance, and make reasonable efforts to ensure that their services are used appropriately.
2
Q
1.1 NON-DISCRIMINATION:
A
Marriage and family therapists do not condone or engage in discrimination, or refuse professional service to anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, indigenous heritage, immigration status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or marital/relationship status. Marriage and family therapists make reasonable efforts to accommodate clients/patients who have physical disabilities. (See also sections 3.2 Therapist Disclosures, 3.7 Therapist Professional Background, and 5.11 Scope of Competence.)
3
Q
1.2 HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL PREJUDICE:
A
Marriage and family therapists are aware of and do not perpetuate historical and/or social prejudices when diagnosing and treating clients/patients because such conduct may lead to misdiagnosing and pathologizing clients/patients.
4
Q
1.3 TREATMENT DISRUPTION
A
Marriage and family therapists are aware of their professional and clinical
responsibilities to provide consistent care to clients/patients and to maintain practices and procedures that
are intended to provide undisrupted care. Such practices and procedures may include, but are not limited to,
providing contact information and specified procedures in case of emergency or therapist absence, conducting
appropriate terminations, and providing for a professional will.
5
Q
1.3 TREATMENT DISRUPTION
A
Marriage and family therapists are aware of their professional and clinical
responsibilities to provide consistent care to clients/patients and to maintain practices and procedures that
are intended to provide undisrupted care. Such practices and procedures may include, but are not limited to,
providing contact information and specified procedures in case of emergency or therapist absence, conducting
appropriate terminations, and providing for a professional will.
6
Q
1.4 TERMINATION:
A
Marriage and family therapists use sound clinical judgment when terminating therapeutic relationships. Reasons for termination may include, but are not limited to, the client/patient is not benefiting from treatment, continuing treatment is not clinically appropriate, the therapist is unable to provide treatment due to the therapist’s incapacity or extended absence, or due to an otherwise unresolvable ethical conflict or issue. (See also sections 3.8 Client/Patient Benefit and 5.11 Scope of Competence.)
7
Q
1.5 NON-PAYMENT OF FEES
A
When terminating client/patient relationships due to non-payment of fees, marriage
and family therapists do so in a clinically appropriate manner.
8
Q
1.6 EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRACTUAL TERMINATIONS
A
When terminating employment or contractual relationships, marriage and family therapists primarily consider the best interests of the client/patient when
resolving issues of continued responsibility for client/patient care.
9
Q
1.7 ABANDONMENT:
A
Marriage and family therapists do not abandon or neglect clients/patients in treatment. If a therapist is unable or unwilling to continue to provide professional services, the therapist will assist the client/ patient in making clinically appropriate arrangements for continuation of treatment.
10
Q
1.8 FINANCIAL GAIN
A
Marriage and family therapists do not maintain therapeutic relationships solely for financial gain.
11
Q
1.9 CLIENT/PATIENT AUTONOMY:
A
Marriage and family therapists respect client/patient choices, the right of the
client/patient to make decisions, and help them to understand the consequences of their decisions. When
clinically appropriate, marriage and family therapists advise their client/patient that decisions on the status of
their personal relationships, including separation and/or divorce, are the responsibilities of the client/patient.
12
Q
1.10 TREATMENT PLANNING:
A
Marriage and family therapists work with clients/patients to develop and review treatment plans that are consistent with client/patient goals and that offer a reasonable likelihood of client/ patient benefit.
13
Q
- CONFIDENTIALITY
A
Marriage and family therapists respect the confidences of their client(s)/patient(s). Marriage and family therapists
have unique confidentiality responsibilities because the client/patient in a therapeutic relationship may include
more than one person.
14
Q
2.2 SIGNED AUTHORIZATIONS RELEASE OF INFORMATION:
A
When there is a request for information related to
any aspect of psychotherapy or treatment, each member of the unit receiving such therapeutic treatment
must sign an authorization before a marriage and family therapist will disclose information received from any
member of the treatment unit.
15
Q
2.3 MAINTENANCE OF CLIENT/PATIENT RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY:
A
Marriage and family therapists store,
transfer, transmit, and/or dispose of client/patient records in ways that protect confidentiality.
16
Q
2.4 EMPLOYEES—CONFIDENTIALITY:
A
Marriage and family therapists take appropriate steps to ensure, insofar as possible, that the confidentiality of clients/patients is maintained by their employees, supervisees, assistants, volunteers, and business associates.
17
Q
2.5 USE OF CLINICAL MATERIALS CONFIDENTIALITY:
A
Marriage and family therapists use clinical materials in
teaching, writing, and public presentations only if a written authorization has been previously obtained in
accordance with 2.1, or when appropriate steps have been taken to protect patient identity.
18
Q
2.6 GROUPS CONFIDENTIALITY
A
Marriage and family therapists, when working with a group, educate the group regarding the importance of maintaining confidentiality, and are encouraged to obtain written agreement from group participants to respect the confidentiality of other members of the group.
19
Q
2.7 THIRD-PARTY PAYER DISCLOSURES
A
Marriage and family therapists advise clients/patients of the information that will likely be disclosed (such as dates of treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, progress, and treatment plans) when submitting claims to managed care companies, insurers, or other third-party payers.
20
Q
- INFORMED CONSENT AND DISCLOSURE
A
Marriage and family therapists respect the fundamental autonomy of clients/patients and support their informed
decision-making. Marriage and family therapists assess their client’s/patient’s competence, make appropriate
disclosures, and provide comprehensive information so that their clients/patients understand treatment decisions.
21
Q
3.1 INFORMED DECISION-MAKING
A
Marriage and family therapists respect the rights of clients/patients to choose whether to enter into, to remain in, or to leave the therapeutic relationship. When significant decisions need to be made, marriage and family therapists provide adequate information to clients/patients in clear and understandable language so that clients/patients can make meaningful decisions about their therapy.
22
Q
3.2 THERAPIST DISCLOSURE:
A
When a marriage and family therapist’s personal values, attitudes, and/or beliefs are a prejudicial factor in diagnosing or limiting treatment provided to a client/patient, the marriage and family therapist shall disclose such information to the client/patient or facilitate an appropriate referral in order to ensure continuity of care.
23
Q
3.3 RISKS AND BENEFITS:
A
Marriage and family therapists inform clients/patients of the potential risks and benefits of therapy when utilizing novel or experimental techniques or when there is a risk of harm that could result from the utilization of any technique.
24
Q
3.4 EMERGENCIES/CONTACT BETWEEN SESSIONS:
A
Marriage and family therapists inform clients/patients of the
extent of their availability for emergency care between sessions.
25
3.5 CONSENT FOR RECORDING/OBSERVATION
Marriage and family therapists obtain written informed consent
from clients/patients before recording, or permitting third party observation of treatment.
26
3.6 LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY:
Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to inform clients/patients of significant exceptions to confidentiality such as child abuse reporting, elder and dependent adult abuse reporting, and clients/patients dangerous to themselves or others.
27
3.7 THERAPIST PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to disclose to clients/patients, at an appropriate time and within the context of the psychotherapeutic relationship, their
experience, education, specialties, and theoretical orientation.
28
3.8 CLIENT/PATIENT BENEFIT
Marriage and family therapists continually monitor their effectiveness when working
with clients/patients and continue therapeutic relationships only so long as it is reasonably clear that clients/
patients are benefiting from treatment.
29
3.9 FAMILY UNIT/CONFLICTS:
When treating a family unit(s), marriage and family therapists carefully consider the
potential conflict that may arise between the family unit and each individual member. At the commencement
of treatment and throughout treatment, marriage and family therapists clarify, which person or persons are
clients/patients and the nature of the relationship(s) the therapist will have with each person participating in
the treatment.
30
3.10 POTENTIAL CONFLICTS:
Marriage and family therapists carefully consider potential conflicts when providing
concurrent or sequential individual, couple, family, and group treatment, and take reasonable care to avoid or
minimize such conflicts.
31
3.11 TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES:
Marriage and family therapists discuss appropriate treatment alternatives with
clients/patients. When appropriate, marriage and family therapists advocate for the mental health care they
believe will benefit their clients/patients. Marriage and family therapists do not limit their discussions of
treatment alternatives to what is covered by third-party payers.
32
3.12 DOCUMENTING TREATMENT RATIONALE/CHANGES
Marriage and family therapists document treatment in
their client/patient records, such as major changes to a treatment plan, changes in the unit being treated and/
or other significant decisions affecting treatment.
33
4. DUAL/MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS
Marriage and family therapists establish and maintain professional relationship boundaries that prioritize
therapeutic benefit and safeguard the best interest of their clients/patients against exploitation. Marriage and
family therapists engage in ethical multiple relationships with caution and in a manner that is congruent with their
therapeutic role.
34
4.1 DUAL/MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS:
Dual /multiple relationships occur when a therapist and his/her client/patient
concurrently engage in one or more separate and distinct relationships. Not all dual/multiple relationships
are unethical, and some need not be avoided, including those that are due to geographic proximity, diverse
communities, recognized marriage and family therapy treatment models, community activities, or that fall
within the context of culturally congruent relationships. Marriage and family therapists are aware of their
influential position with respect to clients/patients, and avoid relationships that are reasonably likely to exploit
the trust and/or dependence of clients/patients, or which may impair the therapist’s professional judgment.
35
4.2 ASSESSMENT REGARDING DUAL/MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS
Prior to engaging in a dual/multiple relationship,
marriage and family therapists take appropriate professional precautions which may include, but are not
limited to the following: obtaining the informed consent of the client/patient, consultation or supervision,
documentation of relevant factors, appraisal of the benefits and risks involved in the context of the specific
situation, determination of the feasibility of alternatives, and the setting of clear and appropriate therapeutic
boundaries to avoid exploitation or harm.
36
4.3 UNETHICAL DUAL/MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS:
Acts that could result in unethical dual relationships include, but
are not limited to, borrowing money from a client/patient, hiring a client/patient, or engaging in a business
venture with a patient, or engaging in a close personal relationship with a client/patient. Such acts with a
client’s/patient’s spouse, partner or immediate family member are likely to be considered unethical dual
relationships.
37
4.4 NON-PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FORMER CLIENTS/PATIENTS:
Prior to engaging in a non-sexual
relationship with former clients/patients, marriage and family therapists take care to avoid engaging in
interactions which may be exploitive or harmful to the former client/patient. Marriage and family therapists
consider factors which include, but are not limited to, the potential continued emotional vulnerability of the
former client/patient, the anticipated consequences of involvement with that person, and the elimination of
the possibility that the former client/patient resumes therapy in the future with that therapist.
38
4.5 SEXUAL CONTACT
Sexual contact includes, but is not limited to sexual intercourse, sexual intimacy, and
sexually explicit communications without a sound clinical basis and rationale for treatment. Sexual contact
with a client/patient, or a client’s/patient’s spouse or partner, or a client’s/patient’s immediate family member,
during the therapeutic relationship, or during the two years following the termination of the therapeutic
relationship, is unethical. Prior to engaging in sexual contact with a former client/patient or a client’s/
patient’s spouse or partner, or a client’s/patient’s immediate family member, following the two years after
termination or last professional contact, the therapist shall consider factors which include, but are not limited
to, the potential harm to or exploitation of the former client/patient or to the client’s/patient’s family, the
potential continued emotional vulnerability of the former client/patient, and the anticipated consequences of
involvement with that person. (See also section 7.2 Sexual Contact with Supervisees and Students.)
39
4.6 PRIOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP:
A marriage and family therapist does not enter into a therapeutic relationship
with a person with whom the therapist has had a sexual relationship or knowingly enter into a therapeutic
relationship with a partner or immediate family member of a person with whom the therapist has had a sexual
relationship.
40
4.7 EXPLOITATION
Marriage and family therapists do not use their professional relationships with clients/patients
to further their own interests and do not exert undue influence on patients.
41
4.8 NON-THERAPIST ROLES:
Marriage and family therapists when engaged in professional roles other than
treatment or supervision (including, but not limited to, managed care utilization review, consultation, coaching,
adoption service, child custody evaluation, or behavior analysis), act solely within that role and clarify as
necessary, in order to avoid confusion with consumers and employers, how that role is distinguished from the
practice of marriage and family therapy.
42
5. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY
Marriage and family therapists maintain high standards of professional competence and integrity.
43
5.1 CONVICTION OF CRIME
Marriage and family therapists are in violation of this Code and subject to termination
of membership, or other appropriate action, if they: are convicted of a crime substantially related to their
professional qualifications or functions, are expelled from or disciplined by other professional organizations, or
have licenses or certificates that are lapsed, suspended, or revoked or are otherwise disciplined by regulatory
bodies.
44
5.2 FINANCIAL INCENTIVES:
Marriage and family therapists avoid contractual arrangements that provide financial
incentives to withhold or limit medically/psychologically necessary care.
45
5.3 CLIENT/PATIENT RECORDS:
Marriage and family therapists create and maintain client/patient records
consistent with sound clinical judgment, standards of the profession, and the nature of the services being
rendered.
46
5.4 PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE:
Marriage and family therapists seek appropriate professional assistance for their
personal problems or conflicts that impair work performance or clinical judgment.
47
5.5 PRACTICING WHILE IMPAIRED:
Marriage and family therapists do not practice when their competence is
impaired due to physical or psychological causes or to the use of alcohol or other substances.
48
5.6 STAYING CURRENT:
Marriage and family therapists remain current with developments in their field through
educational activities or clinical experiences. Marriage and family therapists, when acting as teachers,
supervisors, and researchers, stay informed about changes in the field, maintain relevant standards of
scholarship, and present accurate information.
49
5.7 SENSITIVITY TO DIVERSITY:
Marriage and family therapists actively strive to identify and understand the
diverse backgrounds of their clients/patients by obtaining knowledge, gaining personal awareness, and
developing sensitivity and skills pertinent to working with a diverse client/patient population.
50
5.8 GIFTS:
Marriage and family therapists carefully consider the clinical and cultural implications of giving and
receiving gifts or tokens of appreciation. Marriage and family therapists take into account the value of the
gift, the effect on the therapeutic relationship, and the client/patient and the psychotherapist’s motivation for
giving, receiving, or declining, the gift.
51
5.9 IMPACT OF THERAPIST VALUES ON TREATMENT:
Marriage and family therapists make continuous efforts to be
aware of how their cultural/racial/ethnic identities, values, and beliefs affect the process of therapy. Marriage
and family therapists do not exert undue influence on the choice of treatment or outcomes based on such
identities, values, and beliefs.
52
5.10 HARASSMENT OR EXPLOITATION:
Marriage and family therapists do not engage in sexual harassment or other
forms of harassment or exploitation of clients/patients, students, supervisees, employees, or colleagues.
53
5.11 SCOPE OF COMPETENCE:
Marriage and family therapists take care to provide proper diagnoses of
psychological disorders or conditions and do not assess, test, diagnose, treat, or advise on issues beyond the
level of their competence as determined by their education, training, and experience. While developing new
areas of practice, marriage and family therapists take steps to ensure the competence of their work through
education, training, consultation, and/or supervision.
54
5.12 DUPLICATION OF THERAPY:
Marriage and family therapists do not generally duplicate professional services to a prospective client/patient receiving treatment from another psychotherapist. When making a determination
to provide services, marriage and family therapists carefully consider the client’s/patient’s needs, presenting treatment issues, and the welfare of the client/patient to minimize potential confusion and/or conflict. Prior to rendering services, marriage and family therapists discuss these issues with the prospective client/patient, including the nature of the client’s/patient’s current relationship with the other treating psychotherapist and whether consultation with the other psychotherapist is appropriate.
55
5.13 PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
Marriage and family therapists, because of their ability to influence and alter the lives
of others, exercise caution when making public their professional recommendations or their professional
opinions through testimony, social media and Internet content, or other public statements.
56
5.14 LIMITS OF PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS:
Marriage and family therapists do not express professional opinions
about an individual’s psychological condition unless they have treated or conducted an examination and assessment of the individual, or unless they reveal the limits of the information upon which their professional
opinions are based, with appropriate cautions as to the effects of such limited information upon their opinions.
(See also section 10.7 Professional Opinions in Court-Involved Cases.)
57
5.15 CONSULTATION:
When appropriate, marriage and family therapists consult, collaborate with, and refer to
physicians, other health care professionals, and community resources in order to improve and protect the
health and welfare of the client/patient.
58
6. TELEHEALTH
Marriage and family therapists recognize that ongoing technological developments promote availability and access
to healthcare and expand opportunities to provide their services outside of the therapy office. When utilizing
Telehealth to provide services to clients/patients, marriage and family therapists consider the welfare of the
client/patient, the appropriateness and suitability of the modality in meeting the client’s/patient’s needs, make
appropriate disclosures to the client/patient regarding its use, exercise reasonable care when utilizing technology,
and remain current with the relevant laws and regulations.
59
6.1 TELEHEALTH:
Marriage and family therapists take precautions to meet their responsibilities to clients/patients who are not physically present during the provision of therapy. Prior to utilizing Telehealth, marriage and family therapists consider the appropriateness and suitability of this therapeutic modality in meeting the client’s/patient’s needs and do so competently. The suitability and appropriateness of Telehealth includes consideration of multiple factors such as the client’s/patient’s familiarity with the modality, the issues to be addressed, the therapeutic orientation, and other pertinent factors.
60
6.2 COMPLIANCE WITH TELEHEALTH LAWS:
Marriage and family therapists, prior to engaging in Telehealth, are
familiar with the state and federal laws governing Telehealth and ensure compliance with all relevant laws.
61
6.3 DISCLOSURES:
Marriage and family therapists inform clients/patients of the potential risks, consequences, and
benefits of the Telehealth modality, including but not limited to issues of confidentiality, clinical limitations,
and transmission/technical difficulties.
62
6.4 ELECTRONIC MEDIA:
Marriage and family therapists are aware of the possible adverse effects of technological
changes with respect to the dissemination of client/patient information, and take care when disclosing
such information. Marriage and family therapists are also aware of the limitations regarding confidential
transmission by Internet or electronic media and take care when transmitting or receiving such information via
these mediums.
63
7. SUPERVISOR, SUPERVISEE, EDUCATOR, AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Marriage and family therapists, supervisees and students employ effective and respectful communication when
fulfilling their professional responsibilities. Marriage and family therapists, when acting as supervisors and
educators, are cognizant of their impact on the professional development of supervisees and students; they do not
exploit the trust and dependence of students and supervisees and whenever possible they appropriately safeguard
the best interests of the clients/patients of supervisees.
64
7.1 MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES WITH SUPERVISEES AND STUDENTS:
Marriage and family
therapists are aware of their influential position with respect to their students and supervisees, and they avoid
exploiting the trust and dependency of such persons. Marriage and family therapists therefore avoid engaging
in relationships with supervisees and students (over whom they exercise professional authority) that are
reasonably likely to impair professional judgment or lead to exploitation. Provision of therapy to students or
supervisees over whom the supervisor or educator exercise professional authority is unethical and provision of
marriage and family therapy supervision to clients/patients is also unethical. Other acts which are likely to be
unethical include, but are not limited to, borrowing money from a supervisee, engaging in a business venture
with a supervisee, or engaging in a close personal relationship with a supervisee or student. Such acts with a
supervisee’s spouse, partner or immediate family member may also be considered unethical dual relationships.
65
7.2 SEXUAL CONTACT WITH SUPERVISEES AND STUDENTS:
Marriage and family therapists do not engage in sexual
contact with supervisees or students with whom they exercise professional authority. Sexual contact includes,
but is not limited to, sexual intercourse, sexual intimacy, and sexually explicit communications without a sound
clinical, supervisory, or educational basis. Such acts with the spouse, partner, or immediate family member of a
supervisee or student are likely to be unethical and exploitive. (See also section 4.5 Sexual Contact.)7.3 SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF SUPERVISEES OR STUDENTS: Marriage and family therapists do not
engage in sexual harassment of supervisees or students.
66
7.4 COMPETENCE OF SUPERVISEES:
Marriage and family therapists assure that the extent, quality and kind
of supervision provided is consistent with the education, training, and experience level of the supervisee.
Marriage and family therapists do not permit their students, employees, or supervisees to perform or to hold
themselves out beyond their pre-licensed status or to perform professional services beyond their scope of
competence.
67
7.5 MAINTAINING SUPERVISION SKILLS:
Marriage and family therapists who act as supervisors are responsible for
maintaining the quality of their supervision skills and for obtaining consultation or supervision for their work as
supervisors whenever appropriate.
68
7.9 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
Supervisors and educators create and implement policies and procedures that are
clear and that are disclosed to supervisees and students at the commencement of and throughout supervision
or education.
69
7.10 PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS:
Supervisors provide supervisees with periodic performance appraisals and
evaluative feedback throughout the supervisory relationship and identify and address the limitations of
supervisees that might impede performance.
70
7.11 BUSINESS PRACTICES:
When acting as employers and/or supervisors, marriage and family therapists follow
lawful business practices.
71
7.12 BARTERING WITH SUPERVISEES:
Marriage and family therapists ordinarily refrain from accepting goods or
services from supervisees in return for services rendered due to the potential for conflicts, exploitation, and/
or distortion of the professional relationship. Bartering should only be considered and conducted if the
supervisee requests it, the bartering is not otherwise exploitive or detrimental to the supervisory relationship,
and it is negotiated without coercion. Marriage and family therapists are responsible to ensure that such
arrangements are not exploitive and that a clear written agreement is created. Marriage and family therapists
are encouraged to consider relevant social and/or cultural implications of bartering including whether it is an
accepted practice among professionals within the community. (For bartering with clients/patients, see also
section 12.5 Bartering.)
72
7.13 PERFORMANCE ASSISTANCE:
Supervisors guide supervisees in securing assistance when needed for the
supervisee to maintain or improve performance, such as personal psychotherapy, additional education,
training, or consultation. Supervisees have the responsibility to seek information and to ask for supervisorial
guidance when necessary.
73
7.14 DISMISSAL:
Supervisors shall document their decisions to dismiss supervisees.
74
7.15 REVIEW OF TRAINEE AGREEMENTS:
Supervisors are aware of and review any trainee
| agreements with qualified educational institutions.
75
7.16 CLIENTS/PATIENTS ARE PATIENTS OF EMPLOYER:
Supervisees understand that the
| clients/patients seen by them are the clients/patients of their employers.
76
7.17 SUPERVISOR QUALIFICATIONS:
Supervisors maintain licensure and meet/satisfy the
| qualifications, laws and regulations pertaining to supervision.
77
7.18 SUPERVISEE REGISTRATION AND LIMITED ROLE:
Supervisees maintain registrations when required by law and/
or regulation and function within this limited role as permitted by the licensing law and/or regulations.
78
8. RESPONSIBILITIES TO COLLEAGUES
To promote the welfare and best interest of clients/patients, marriage and family therapists collaborate with other
professionals, communicate with and about colleagues in a respectful manner, and strive to maintain constructive
working relationships with colleagues.
79
8.1 RESPECT CONFIDENCE OF COLLEAGUES:
Marriage and family therapists respect the confidences of colleagues
that are shared in the course of their professional relationships.
80
8.2 IMPAIRED COLLEAGUES:
Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to provide consultation or assistance
to colleagues who are impaired due to substance use or mental disorders.
81
8.3 ETHICAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST COLLEAGUES:
Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to take
reasonable actions to resolve disputes with colleagues before filing an ethics complaint against a colleague.
Reasonable measures may include, addressing the matter with the colleague, consultation, and/or mediation.
Marriage and family therapists do not file or encourage the filing of ethics or other complaints that they know,
or reasonably should know, are frivolous.
82
8.4 SOLICITING OTHER CLIENTS/PATIENTS:
Marriage and family therapists do not solicit or encourage clients/
patients to leave other therapists, where the client/patient, because of their circumstances, may be vulnerable
due to undue influence.
83
9. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROFESSION
Marriage and family therapists respect the rights and responsibilities of colleagues. Marriage and family therapists
cooperate with colleagues to act in the best interest of the profession. Marriage and family therapists participate in
activities that advance the goals of the profession.
83
9. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROFESSION
Marriage and family therapists respect the rights and responsibilities of colleagues. Marriage and family therapists
cooperate with colleagues to act in the best interest of the profession. Marriage and family therapists participate in
activities that advance the goals of the profession.
84
9.1 ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE STANDARDS OF THE PROFESSION:
Marriage and family therapists remain
accountable to the standards of the profession when acting as members or employees of organizations. If an
organization with whom a marriage and family therapist is employed or affiliated has policies, procedures, or
demands that conflict with the CAMFT Code of Ethics, the marriage and family therapist shall make known their
ethical obligations as set forth in the Code of Ethics and take reasonable steps to resolve such conflicts.
85
9.2 PUBLICATION CREDIT:
Marriage and family therapists assign publication credit to those who have contributed
to a publication in proportion to their contributions and in accordance with the customary standards of
professional publication.
86
9.2 PUBLICATION CREDIT:
Marriage and family therapists assign publication credit to those who have contributed
to a publication in proportion to their contributions and in accordance with the customary standards of
professional publication.
87
9.3 AUTHORS—CITING OTHERS:
Marriage and family therapists who are the authors of books or other materials
that are published or distributed appropriately cite persons to whom credit for any original ideas are due.
88
9.4 AUTHORS—ADVERTISING BY OTHERS:
Marriage and family therapists who are the authors of books or other
materials published or distributed by an organization take reasonable steps to ensure that the organization
promotes and advertises the materials accurately.
89
9.5 PRO BONO SERVICES:
Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to participate in activities that contribute
to a better community and society, including devoting a portion of their professional activity to services for
which there is little or no financial return.
90
9.6 EMERGING PUBLIC POLICY:
Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to be aware of current and
emerging laws and regulations pertaining to marriage and family therapy that serve the public interest, and
with the revisions of such laws and regulations that are not in the public interest.
91
9.7 FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH THE ETHICS COMMITTEE:
Marriage and family therapists cooperate with the
Ethics Committee or its designee and truthfully represent facts to the Ethics Committee or its designee at any
point from the inception of an ethical complaint through the completion of proceedings regarding a complaint.
Failure to cooperate with the Ethics Committee is itself a violation of these standards.
92
10. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM
Marriage and family therapists recognize their duty to remain objective and truthful. Marriage and family therapists
recognize that court cases involving therapeutic services introduce factors and dynamics into the delivery of
treatment services that are likely to impact their working alliance with the clients/patients; they are cognizant of the
tendency of clients/patients to equate their own best interests with prevailing in a legal dispute. Marriage and family
therapists understand that their role is not to produce a pre-determined outcome in the legal process; they should
not align with the client’s/patient’s legal position as this might distort information received, or impair their ability to
support the client/patient in dealing with the stresses of the process and potential outcomes.
93
10.1 TESTIMONY:
Marriage and family therapists who give testimony in legal proceedings testify truthfully and
avoid making misleading statements. Marriage and family therapists inform the court of any conflicts between
the expectations of the court and their ethical obligations or role limitations. Marriage and family therapists
should anticipate that clients, attorneys, or the court, might ask them to offer opinions or information beyond
the limits of their knowledge base or expert role. In such circumstances, marriage and family therapists
safeguard their professional objectivity by clarifying these issues with the court and respectfully declining to
offer such testimony.
94
10.2 EXPERT WITNESSES:
Marriage and family therapists who act as expert or who provide expert opinions in any
context, orally or in writing, clarify their expert role to their clients/patients, fellow professionals, attorneys,
and the court as necessary. Marriage and family therapists base their opinions and conclusions on appropriate
data and are careful to acknowledge the limits of their training, data, recommendations or conclusions, in
order to avoid providing unsubstantiated, misleading, distorted, or biased testimony or reports. Marriage and
family therapists carefully distinguish between the roles of “treating therapist” and “forensic expert.” Treating
therapists primarily provide opinions on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment progress and recommendations,
and prognosis of their clients/patients. A treating expert’s testimony should be limited to the therapist’s
particular area of expertise and issues directly relevant to the treatment role. They understand that their
role is to facilitate successful psychological functioning, and not to promote a predetermined legal outcome.
Forensic experts are retained to offer opinions and make recommendations in a variety of legal contexts,
including specific parenting and custody plans or decision-making authority in legal proceedings.
95
10.3 CONFLICTING ROLES:
Whenever possible, marriage and family therapists avoid performing conflicting roles
in legal proceedings and disclose any potential conflicts to prospective clients/patients, to the courts, or to
others as appropriate. At the outset of the service to be provided and as changes occur, marriage and family
therapists clarify role expectations, limitations, conflicts, and the extent of confidentiality to pre-existing or
prospective clients, to the courts, or to others as appropriate.
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10.4 DUAL ROLES:
Marriage and family therapists avoid providing both court evaluations and treatment
concurrently or sequentially for the same clients/patients or treatment units in legal proceedings such as child
custody, visitation, dependency, or guardianship proceedings, unless otherwise required by law or initially
appointed pursuant to court order. When pre-existing clients/patients become involved in a legal proceeding
and the marriage and family therapist continues to provide treatment, they should discuss the potential effects
of legal involvement with their clients/patients, including clarifying the potential role conflicts, clients’/patients’
expectations, and possible requests to release treatment information.
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10.5 IMPARTIALITY:
Marriage and family therapists, regardless of their role in a legal proceeding, remain impartial
and do not compromise their professional judgment or integrity. Marriage and family therapists understand
that their testimony and opinions are impactful on legal outcomes. Marriage and family therapists use
particular caution when drawing conclusions or forming or expressing opinions from limited observations or
sources of information.
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10.6 MINORS AND PRIVILEGE:
Marriage and family therapists determine who holds the psychotherapist-patient
privilege on behalf of minor clients/patients prior to releasing information or testifying. Marriage and family
therapists determine who are the legal recipients of privileged information and the extent of the information
to be released. When legally permitted, Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to inform parents/legal
guardians about whether, how, and what they will communicate to the court.
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10.7 PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS IN COURT-INVOLVED CASES:
Marriage and family therapists shall only express
professional opinions about clients/patients they have treated or examined. Marriage and family therapists,
when expressing professional opinions, specify the limits of the information upon which their professional
opinions are based. Such professional opinions include, but are not limited to, mental conditions, emotional
conditions, or parenting abilities. (See also section 5.14 Limits of Professional Opinions.)
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10.8 CUSTODY EVALUATORS:
Marriage and family therapists who are custody evaluators (private or court-based)
or special masters provide such services only if they meet the requirements established by relevant ethical
standards, guidelines, laws, regulations, and rules of court.
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10.9 CONSEQUENCES OF CHANGES IN THERAPIST ROLES:
Marriage and family therapists inform the client/patient or
the treatment unit of any potential consequences of therapist-client/patient role changes. Such role changes
include, but are not limited to: child’s therapist, family’s therapist, couple’s therapist, individual’s therapist,
mediator, and special master. Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to obtain consultation before
changing roles to consider how the role change might create a conflict of interest or affect the therapeutic
alliance, and to explore whether appropriate alternatives exist that would reduce such risks.
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10.10FAMILIARITY WITH JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES:
Marriage and family therapists, when assuming
treatment or forensic expert roles, are or become familiar with the judicial, jurisdictional, and administrative
rules governing their roles.
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10.11CUSTODY DISPUTES:
When treating families and minors who are involved in a custody determination or
dispute, marriage and family therapists obtain information about how the decision to enter therapy was
made, who was involved in the decision, and the outcomes expected by the parents, other parties, or the
court. Marriage and family therapists take care to clarify and determine who has the legal authority to provide
consent and treatment for the minor and avoid initiating treatment of the minor until such determination is
made. Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to request copies of any court judgements or orders and
determine who has the legal authority to make decisions about entering or continuing treatment, or access to
or release of confidential information. When providing legally permitted disclosures of confidential information or professional opinions about
minor clients/patients in court-involved cases, marriage and family therapists generally limit the scope of
such information to issues which concern the minor’s psychotherapeutic treatment. In order to avoid an
inaccurate or incomplete assessment of the minor’s needs, marriage and family therapists use caution in the
interpretation of a minor’s pictures, writings, or other materials produced in the course of treatment as well as
behaviors or statements when the minor expresses a position on disputed adult issues.
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10.12PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Marriage and family therapists are aware of the potential impact of the
adversarial nature of legal disputes on their actions, observations, and opinions. When communicating with
clients/patients, parents, counsel, the court, or other parties, marriage and family therapists ensure that their
communications are properly authorized, unbiased, and accurate. Marriage and family therapists decline to
communicate when there is insufficient data to form a reliable opinion or where the opinion is inconsistent
with their role.
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11. RESPONSIBILITY TO RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
Researchers respect the dignity and welfare of participants in research and are aware of federal and state laws and
regulations and professional standards governing the conduct of research.
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11.1 SAFEGUARDS:
Researchers are responsible for making careful examinations of ethical acceptability in planning
studies. To the extent that services to research participants may be compromised by participation in research,
researchers seek the ethical advice of qualified professionals not directly involved in the research and observe
safeguards to protect the rights of research participants.
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11.2 CLIENT/PATIENT PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH:
Researchers requesting participants’ involvement in research
inform them of all aspects of the research that might reasonably be expected to influence willingness to
participate. Researchers are especially sensitive to the possibility of diminished consent when participants are
also receiving clinical services, have impairments which limit understanding and/or communication, or when
participants are children.
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11.3 RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS:
Researchers respect participants’ freedom to decline participation in or to withdraw
from a research study at any time. This obligation requires special thought and consideration when researchers
or other members of the research team are in positions of authority or influence over participants. Marriage
and family therapists, therefore, make every effort to avoid dual/multiple relationships with research
participants that could impair professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation.
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11.4 CONFIDENTIALITY: In Research
Information obtained about a research participant during the course of a research project
is confidential unless there is an authorization previously obtained in writing. When the possibility exists that
others, including family members, may obtain access to such information, this possibility, together with the
plan for protecting confidentiality, is explained.
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11.5 RESEARCH FINDINGS:
Marriage and family therapists take reasonable steps to prevent the distortion or misuse
of their clinical and research findings.
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12. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Marriage and family therapists make financial arrangements with clients/patients and supervisees that are
understandable, and conform to accepted professional practices and legal requirements.
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12.1 PAYMENT FOR REFERRALS:
Marriage and family therapists do not offer or accept payment for referrals,
whether in the form of money or otherwise.
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12.2 FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION:
Marriage and family therapists do not financially exploit their clients/patients.
114
12.3 DISCLOSURE OF FEES:
Prior to the commencement of treatment, marriage and family therapists disclose their
fees and the basis upon which they are computed, including, but not limited to, charges for canceled or missed
appointments and any interest to be charged on unpaid balances, and give reasonable notice of any changes in
fees or other charges.
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12.4 COLLECTING ON UNPAID BALANCES:
Marriage and family therapists give reasonable notice to patients with
unpaid balances of their intent to sue or to refer for collection. Whenever legal action is taken, marriage
and family therapists will avoid disclosure of clinical information. Whenever unpaid balances are referred to
collection agencies, marriage and family therapists will exercise care in selecting collection agencies and will
avoid disclosure of clinical information.
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12.5 BARTERING:
Marriage and family therapists ordinarily refrain from accepting goods or services from clients/
patients in return for services rendered due to the potential for conflicts, exploitation, and/or distortion of the
professional relationship. Bartering should only be considered and conducted if the client/patient requests
it, the bartering is not otherwise exploitive or detrimental to the therapeutic relationship, and it is negotiated
without coercion. Marriage and family therapists are responsible to ensure that such arrangements are not
exploitive and that a clear written agreement is created. Marriage and family therapists are encouraged to
consider relevant social and/or cultural implications of bartering including whether it is an accepted practice
among professionals within the community. (For bartering with supervisees, see also section 7.12 Bartering
with Supervisees.)
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12.6 THIRD-PARTY PAYERS:
Marriage and family therapists represent facts regarding services rendered and
payment for services fully and truthfully to third-party payers and/or guarantors of payment. When
appropriate, marriage and family therapists make reasonable efforts to assist their clients/patients in obtaining
reimbursement for services rendered.
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12.7 WITHHOLDING RECORDS FOR NON-PAYMENT:
Marriage and family therapists do not withhold patient records
or information solely because the therapist has not been paid for prior professional services.
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13. ADVERTISING
Marriage and family therapists who advertise do so appropriately and recognize that advertising in all of its forms,
enables consumers to choose professional services based upon accurate information.
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13.1 ACCURACY REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS:
Marriage and family therapists accurately represent their education,
training, and experience relevant to their professional practice to clients/patients and others.
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13.2 ASSURING ACCURACY:
Marriage and family therapists take reasonable steps to assure that advertisements
and publications, whether in directories, business cards, newspapers, radio, television, websites, email, social
media, or any other media, are formulated to convey accurate information to the public.
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13.3 FICTITIOUS/OTHER NAMES:
Marriage and family therapists do not use a name that could mislead the public
concerning the identity, responsibility, source, and status of those practicing under that name, and do not hold
themselves out as being partners or associates of a firm if they are not.
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13.4 FALSE, MISLEADING, OR DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING:
Marriage and family therapists do not use any means of
professional identification, including but not limited to: a business card, office sign, letterhead, telephone,
email address, association directory listing, Internet, social media or any other media, if it includes a statement
or claim that is false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive. A statement is false, fraudulent, misleading, or
deceptive if it contains a material misrepresentation of fact, omits any material fact necessary to make the
statement, in light of all circumstances, not misleading, or is intended to or is likely to create an unjustified
expectation.
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13.5 CORRECTIONS:
Marriage and family therapists correct, wherever possible, false, misleading, or inaccurate
information and representations made by others concerning the therapist’s qualifications, services, or
products.
125
13.6 SOLICITATION OF TESTIMONIALS:
Marriage and family therapists do not solicit testimonials from those clients/
patients who, due to their particular circumstances, are vulnerable to undue influence.
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13.7 EMPLOYEE—ACCURACY:
Marriage and family therapists make certain that the qualifications of persons in their
employ are represented in a manner that is not false, misleading, or deceptive.
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13.8 SPECIALIZATIONS:
Marriage and family therapists may represent themselves as either specializing in or having
expertise within a limited area of marriage and family therapy, but only if they have the education, training,
and experience that meets recognized professional standards to practice in that specialty area.
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13.9 ADVERTISING OF CAMFT MEMBERSHIP:
CAMFT members may identify their membership in CAMFT in public
information or advertising materials, but they must clearly and accurately represent their membership status.
Marriage and family therapists may use the CAMFT logo only after receiving written permission from the
Association.
