Author
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
44 articles
Boundaries and Multiple Relationships in Psychotherapy
The process of psychotherapy is relationship based. As such, how psychotherapists conduct themselves in these relationships has significant clinical and ethical implications. The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA Ethics Code, APA, 2010) makes clear the ethical obligations relevant to boundaries and multiple relationships that are likely to be well known by […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
July 19, 2015
Termination and Abandonment
Psychotherapists have numerous obligations to our clients that exist with the intent of ensuring that our clients’ best interests are paramount in our thinking and resulting actions. Jorgenson, Hirsch, and Wahl (1997) describe the responsibilities inherent in the psychotherapy relationship as a fiduciary responsibility to one’s clients. As they explain this relationship and responsibility: Generally, […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
July 5, 2015
Confidentiality and its Exceptions
Maintaining the confidentiality of both the existence of and content shared within psychotherapy is one of the foundations of the psychotherapy relationship. In fact, this has been an essential feature of all health care relationships dating as far back as the Fifth Century B.C.E. as articulated in the Hippocratic Oath: Whatever I see or hear […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
May 10, 2015
Informed Consent in Clinical Practice
It may be easy to view informed consent as one of those obligations all psychotherapists must meet in order to stay out of trouble. After all, no one wants an ethics complaint, licensure board complaint, or malpractice suit. And, if we ever do become the subject of any of these we will definitely want to […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
March 29, 2015
Six Strategies for Successful Supervision
Download a free accompanying PowerPoint presentation from Dr. Barnett here. Clinical supervision is an essential aspect of the training of every psychotherapist (Bernard & Goodyear, 2014). It supplements and significantly adds to the academic education that those in training receive. Clinical supervision received during one’s training can lay the foundation for the neophyte psychotherapist’s clinical […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
January 11, 2015
Distress, Therapist Burnout, Self-Care, and the Promotion of Wellness for Psychotherapists and Trainees
The practice of psychotherapy can be highly rewarding and gratifying. Psychotherapists regularly make a significant positive impact in the lives of those with whom they work. Yet, this endeavor can also be emotionally demanding and challenging; if we do not attend to our own functioning and wellness, we can be at risk of developing problems […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
December 21, 2014
Integrating Spirituality and Religion into Psychotherapy Practice
Download a free accompanying Power Point presentation from Dr. Barnett here: Integrating_Religion_and_Spirituality.ppt It may be easy for psychotherapists to overlook or avoid addressing our clients’ spirituality and religion in psychotherapy. Such issues may not have been addressed in our training and thus may not be seen as relevant to our clinical work with clients. After all, we […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
November 16, 2014
Integrating Technology into Psychotherapy Practice
“Telehealth,” “Telepsychology,” “E-Health,” “E-Therapy;” whatever you call it, when you integrate various technologies into psychotherapy and other professional services you provide (such as clinical supervision) there are a range of important issues that each mental health clinician should be aware of and consider. While much more information is included in the accompanying downloadable Powerpoint presentation from workshops […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
October 26, 2014
Ethical Considerations with Married HIV-Positive Clients
Victoria Asks I’m wondering how you would proceed when it is the case of a married person who is positive from engaging in sex outside the marriage, and the spouse does not know that the person is HIV+? Jeffrey Barnett Responds Hi Victoria. Great question. These are such tough issues. The first point to consider […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
October 12, 2010
Is there a Duty to Warn When Working with HIV-Positive Clients?
Stephanie Chervenak Asks I am curious about ethical considerations when treating individuals who are HIV positive. What are my responsibilities as a clinician if I know that my client (HIV positive) is engaging in risky/unsafe sexual practices with someone? In this case, the other person’s life is endangered. This issue always stumps me, thank you […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
August 8, 2010
Supervisors Need Competence Too
Taline Andonian Asks As graduate students we receive training not only in academia but in a myriad of different clinical settings, which often lead to a wide range of experiences in terms of supervision. Because of the emphasis that is placed on clinical/practical training for clinical psychology programs in particular a graduate student’s competencies are […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
August 1, 2010
Couples Therapy in an Abusive Relationship
Question by Faith Prelli I have a client (18yr female) who I have seen twice a week for 8 months who is currently in a relationship plagued with intimate partner violence. This has been dubbed “mutual combat” by several of my co-workers, but in exploration with her, it appears as though the severity of his […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
July 1, 2010