CAMFT Responsibility to Clients

Question 1

1.1 Non-Discrimination

Answer 1

MFTS 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, age, disability, SES, or marital/relationship status. MFTS make reasonable efforts to accommodate clients who have physical disabilities.

Question 2

1.2 Historical and Social Prejudice

Answer 2

MFTs are aware 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.

Question 3

1.3 Treatment Disruption

Answer 3

MFTs 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.

Question 4

1.4 Termination

Answer 4

MFTs use sound clinical judgment when terminating therapeutic relationships. Reasons for termination may include, but are not limited to, the client/patient 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.

Question 5

1.5 Non-Payment of Fees

Answer 5

When terminating client/patient relationships due to non-payment of fees, marriage and family therapists do so in a clinically appropriate manner.

Question 6

1.6 Employment and Contractual Terminations

Answer 6

When terminating employment or contractual relationships, MFTs primarily consider the best interests of the client/patient when resolving issues of continued responsibility for client/patient care.

Question 7

1.7 Abandonment

Answer 7

MFTs 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.

Question 8

1.8 Financial Gain

Answer 8

MFTs do not maintain therapeutic relationships solely for financial gain.

Question 9

1.9 Client/Patient Autonomy

Answer 9

MFTs 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, are the responsibilities of the client/patient.

Question 10

1.10 Treatment Planning

Answer 10

MFTs work with clients to develop and review treatment plans consistent with client goals and that offer reasonable likelihood of client goals and client benefit.