PSY343 - 10. Ethics Flashcards
What are ethics?
Values that inform psychotherapeutic practice (e.g., “what should I do in X situation?”)
Ideal standards set + enforced by professional associations
in psychology associations form code of conduct
What are ethics?
Principles independent from legal system + may or may not be compatible with the law - ethics are not laws, but principles
may line up with legal obligations, but may not (confidentiality vs. obstructing law)
What are ethics?
a lot of ethical behaviour is personal
clinical psychologists
there’s room for interpretation
ethics guide us through decision making
Why are Ethics Important in Psychotherapy?
Therapeutic relationships unbalanced; inherent power
imbalance betw client + therapist
power differential set up - we have to acknowledge its existence
Why are Ethics Important in Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy complicated; right course of action is not always clear
we are often navigating unclear territories
requires checking in what is best for the client
if we don’t we risk doing more harm
Why are Ethics Important in Psychotherapy?
Therapists are human + fallible; need guidance + accountability
sometimes we can’t get above own psychology
need council that oversees our behaviour we can be accountable
Regulation of Psychologists in Ontario
Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991:
• All health professionals must belong to professional College
Regulation of Psychologists in Ontario
Each College works with Ministry of Health to ensure public has access to adequate numbers of qualified, skilled + competent regulated health professionals
Each College regulates practice of profession + govern the members in accordance with legislation
Regulation of Psychologists in Ontario
Psychology Act, 1991:
• Scope of practice – assessment, diagnosis, prevention, + treatment of behavioural + mental conditions
Regulation of Psychologists in Ontario
College of Psychologists of Ontario: identified different professions that needed to be regulated
gives regulating power to the college, not to the Ministry of Health
sets out standards, training, codes, supervision
Regulation of Psychologists in Ontario
Authorized acts – Diagnosis + treatment*
psychology act: limited by scope of practices
can share overlap with other professions, but authorized acts are more limited
Regulation of Psychologists in Ontario
considered controlled act => can provide psychotherapy
now have to be regulated by a specific college (College of Psychotherapists)
Diagnosis is a controlled act that only clinical psychologists, and no other psychologists can do
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists guides psychologists in everyday conduct, + in resolution of ethical dilemmas based on standard set of ethical principles
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
because we don’t have hard + fast rules
ambiguous by design
doesn’t tell you what to do, but what you should consider
ethical expectation: no sexual relationship with client within two years of therapy, but this is not a law
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Include minimal behavioural expectations to more idealized but achievable attitudinal expectations - e.g. be their therapist even outside therapy environment
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Identifies 4 ethical principles to be considered + balanced in ethical decision making, ordered according to weight they should be given in circumstances where multiple principles apply + potentially conflict
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
principles may conflict - we prioritize those higher in the hierarchy
when it doesn’t we need to take all of them in accounts
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Principle I: Respect for Dignity of Persons
• belief that each person should be treated primarily as person/end in him/herself, not as an object or a means to an end
not about how they can satisfy my needs or improve my career
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Psychologists acknowledge that all persons have inherent, innate worth as humans, + this worth not dependent upon culture, nationality, ethnicity, colour, race, religion, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orienta6on, physical/mental abilities, age, socio-economic status, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition, or status
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
highest weight, except in circumstances in which there is clear + imminent danger to physical safety of any person
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Principle II: Responsible Caring
• activities of psychologist will benefit members of society or, at least, do no harm
ensure you keep in mind the welfare of client + community you are working with
ensured through maintaining competence
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
take care to discern potential harm + benefits involved, to predict likelihood of their occurrence, to proceed only if potential benefits outweigh potential harms, to develop + use methods that minimize harms + maximize benefits, + take responsibility for correcting clearly harmful effects that have occurred as direct result of research, teaching, practice, or business activities
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
e.g think through risks and benefits of terminating therapy
Responsible caring recognizes + respects ability of individuals, families, groups, + communities to make decisions for themselves
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Psychologists recognize need for competence + self-knowledge
4. have to declare areas of competence
ensures that no mistakes are made because of lack of competence in the area
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
e.g can’t treat a child if child psychology is not her area of competence
can be licensed, but if not, must be supervised by someone from the college
second highest weight
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Principle III: Integrity in Relationships
• Psychologists expected to demonstrate highest integrity in all relationships + ensure maintenance of public confidence in psychology
thinking more broadly about people, not necessarily just your clients
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Expectations of integrity include: accuracy + honesty; straightforwardness + openness; maximization of objectivity + minimization of bias; + avoidance of conflicts of interest
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
avoid conflicts of interests - teaching own psychotherapy approach
if there is a benefit, it reflects poorly on practice + college
third highest weight
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
Principle IV: Responsibility to Society
• Psychologists, both in their work + citizens, have responsibilities to societies they live + work (neighbourhood or city) + welfare of all humans in those societies
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
• expectation that psychologists will conduct their affairs in such ways that promote welfare of all human beings, and + work will support beneficial purposes
lowest weight of the four principles when it conflicts with one or more of them
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists
we don’t cause harm to our client on behalf of society
ethical dilemma - e.g. psychologists helping torture suspected terrorists
Ethical Issues in Psychotherapy
- Informed consent
- Confidentiality
- Boundaries (e.g., dual relationships)
Informed consent
consent to participate in specific psychotherapeutic procedure or intervention based on clear understanding of relevant facts, risks + benefits, available alternatives
Informed consent
how long is it gonna last, how much will it cost, what are the possible outcomes, alternatives (may be a free program that provides same service)
e.g. couples therapy: you may stay together or break up
Informed consent
Obtaining consent not discrete event; process that should occur throughout relationship
ongoing process
make sure client understands what they are committing to and that they have the option to not continue
Confidentiality
obligation to safeguard information person has disclosed to him/her in a professional relationship
• Limits of Confidentiality
some are legal, others are ethical
Confidentiality
- Client poses danger to self or others
not simple - e.g. client has thoughts of hurting parent
can’t just pretend you didn’t hear it
may choose to call police based on information, but have an obligation of investigating them
if client feels confidentiality was inappropriately broken, they lose trust, could harm the client
Confidentiality
- Client discloses abuse/neglect of minor/vulnerable adult
required by law to report it
don’t have to know, just need to suspect-
Confidentiality
- Client discloses abuse by health professional
also required by law
must report to that person’s college
Confidentiality
- Court orders counselor to make records available
if subpoena’d by law, must show all records
Boundaries
professional relationship betw clinical psychologists + patients should be strictly maintained at all times
Dual Relationships
When therapist assumes two (or more professional or nonprofessional relationships) simultaneously or sequentially with client
-e.g. private practice, but also taking one her classes
both a client-therapist relationship and teacher-student relationship
Dual Relationships
can potentially impact objectivity => exploitation + harm
e.g., sexual relationship betw therapist + client
Dual Relationships
can’t do one role without potential of other role bleeding in
it is a conflict of interest
once given a bad mark, could ruin the therapeutic relationship
Dual Relationships
may be just one psychotherapist in town, so you can’t avoid it
but the dual relationship must be addressed in the consent
