Ethics & Legal
111 articles found
Personal Psychotherapy as an Essential Self-Care Strategy
Numerous authors have emphasized the importance of the ongoing practice of self-care for psychotherapists (e.g. Baker, 2003; Barnett et al., 2007; Norcross & VandenBos, 2018; Wise & Reuman, 2019). Support for this focus on self-care by all psychotherapists is found in the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Ethics Code, […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
January 14, 2024
Being Informed About Informed Consent
Part One: Foundational Issues The informed consent process is an essential component of ethical, legal, and clinically effective practice by psychotherapists. Yet, how we engage in this process can have significant implications for the unfolding professional relationship and for the assessment, treatment, or other professional services provided. This is the first of four consecutive articles […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
November 22, 2023
The Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson on a Client’s Well Being and the Therapeutic Relationship
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decided on Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization, overturning 50 years of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which previously protected the right to healthcare privacy and abortion. States now have the right to set their own abortion laws, which vary enormously between states. For example, under California […]
Deanna Young, PsyD + 2 more
October 29, 2023
Ethical Decision-Making for Psychologists
As licensed professionals, psychologists are obligated to serve in their professional roles and to carry out their professional duties and responsibilities in an ethical manner. We have a fiduciary duty to our clients that requires that all decisions made, and all actions taken, are motivated by and in keeping with our clients’ best interests (Jorgenson […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
October 27, 2023
“Love as fresh as the morning air”
APA/APA Services’ Exciting Virtual Advocacy Summit Alix Ginsberg, Senior Director Congressional & Federal Relations: “On March 26-27th, APA/APA Services’ hosted its first Virtual Advocacy Summit of 2023, ‘Strengthening the Psychology Workforce to Improve Health Equity.’ This Summit included over 200 psychologists from 49 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, and represented 13 […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
October 27, 2023
Risk Management and Clinical Excellence for Psychotherapists
No psychotherapist wants a licensing board complaint or malpractice suit filed against them. While the overall risk of such events happening during the course of one’s career can be fairly low, their consequences may be quite significant for the psychotherapist. Even just the threat of such actions being taken can be stressful and may be […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
October 27, 2023
Addressing Religion and Spirituality in Psychotherapy: Ethical and Clinical Perspectives
Psychotherapists strive to provide their clients with the best treatment possible, something highly dependent on our ability to achieve high standards of competence. An important aspect of one’s clinical competence that has received increasing attention in recent years is multicultural competence. It is recognized that a psychotherapist cannot be clinically competent without being multicultural competent […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
April 9, 2023
Self-care in the Age of Telepsychology
Self-Care in the Age of Telepsychology The practice of psychotherapy has changed dramatically in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some changes may be seen as positive for both psychotherapists and their clients. For clients there is the convenience of online psychotherapy, such as no longer needing to take as much time off from work due […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
January 5, 2023
Revisions to our Ethics Code
We live in interesting times, professionally, with the revision of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (“Ethics Code” or “Code”) currently underway. This document forms a foundational function of our work, and its changes provide us an opportunity to evaluate our profession from the viewpoint of where we have been as well as where […]
David Jull-Patterson, Ph.D.
September 1, 2022
Comments on Doing Video Psychotherapy
It has been about two and a half years since the beginning of COVID, which mandated the suspension of in-person psychotherapy contact, forced the rapid closing of offices, and ushered in a mass migration to video psychotherapy. For some colleagues, the change has become permanent, as they have terminated their physical office leases and are […]
Steven J. Hendlin, Ph.D.
September 1, 2022
The Practice of Telepsychology
The use of telepsychology by psychotherapists has increased in recent decades (Glueckauf et al., 2018). It provides greater access to psychotherapy, such as for those who live in areas where needed treatment services are not available and for those who are homebound or who lack access to adequate transportation. It also can be more cost-effective […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 1 more
September 1, 2022
Professional Ethics for Challenging Times
APA Division 29 is excited to sponsor an Ethics Workshop entitled PROFESSIONAL ETHICS FOR CHALLENGING TIMES: A POSITIVE APPROACH BY Jeffrey E. Barnett, PsyD, ABPP. The workshop will be held live and virtually on Saturday, July 23rd 11-2:15 EDT. Registration is free to Division 29 members and participants will receive 3 ethics CE credits for […]
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy
June 2, 2022