Informed Consent
This must be explained to clients early in therapy, including fees and confidentiality limits.
What is informed consent?
At the start of family therapy, psychologists must clarify this.
Who are the clients and what is the psychologist’s role?
When a client is already receiving mental health services elsewhere, psychologists should proceed with this.
What is caution and sensitivity?
Psychologists are prohibited from providing therapy for these former individuals in a psychologist's life.
Who are former sexual partners?
When changing jobs, psychologists must ensure this type of transition for clients.
What is an orderly and appropriate resolution of responsibility?
Clients must be told this about their participation in experimental treatments.
What is voluntary participation?
A therapist acting as both a family therapist and divorce witness is an example of this.
What is a conflicting role?
At the beginning of group therapy, psychologists explain two things.
What are the roles & responsibilities of all parties AND limits of confidentiality?
Psychologists are prohibited from sexual relationships with these individuals connected to current clients.
Who are relatives or significant others of current clients?
Therapists may terminate therapy if they feel this from a client or associated person.
What is threatened or endangered?
If a therapist is still in training, they must provide the client with these two pieces of information.
What is your trainee status AND supervisor’s name?
If conflicting roles arise, psychologists may need to do this.
What is withdrawing from one of the roles?
Psychologists should communicate with these individuals when appropriate to reduce confusion and conflict.
Who are other service providers?
Even after two years, psychologists must prove that there was no sign of this.
What is exploitation?
Before terminating therapy, psychologists should provide this, if appropriate.
What is pretermination counseling and/or suggestions for alternative service providers?
Name 4 things psychologists must discuss during informed consent.
What are confidentiality limits, fees, anticipated course of therapy, involvement of third parties, or opportunity to ask questions?
A therapist treating parents and their teenager learns confidential information from the teen that could affect the parents’ decisions. What ethical issue should have been clarified at the start of therapy to reduce conflict later?
What are the probable uses of information obtained during therapy?
A psychologist providing services to a client already in treatment elsewhere contacts the other provider without discussing it with the client first. Which ethical concern is most relevant here?
What is minimizing confusion and conflict while respecting the client’s welfare and communication rights?
Name 4 of the 7 factors that psychologists must provide to engage in sexual intimacies with a former client after the two-year interval.
What are: 1) amount of time that has passed, 2) nature, duration, intensity of therapy, 3) circumstances of termination, 4) client’s personal history, 5) client’s current mental status, 6) likelihood of adverse impact on client, 7) statements or actions made by therapist during course of therapy
A therapist ends treatment immediately after a disagreement with a client despite no safety concerns and without referrals. Which ethical issue is most relevant?
What is improper or unethical termination of therapy?