Your Modern Therapist Ethics Questions Answered: Digging into the mail bag to identify how to behave ethically in modern times

Curt and Katie discuss tricky ethics questions we’ve received from listeners and colleagues over the years. We look at dual relationships, documentation, therapists in the public eye, fee setting, and when (and whether) we should report each other to the board. This is a law and ethics continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we answer complex ethics questions from modern therapists

Too often in groups of therapists, you’ll hear confusing situations being described as “unethical” or illegal without any other explanations. Big feelings about complex situations often lead to therapists avoiding them all together. We dug into our listener mail bag (and gathered our own questions) to sort through more complicated and modern questions that don’t often get talked about in grad school or ethics courses. We discuss dual relationships, documentation, therapist performers and influencers, fee-setting, and our responsibility to correct each other. We look at ethics codes and the philosophy behind ethical decision-making to sort through complex situations.

What do therapist ethical codes say around less typical dual relationships?

·       Ethical codes do vary, so it is important to look at your own code

·       We must avoid harmful dual relationships

·       It is important to address foreseeable concerns

·       Concerns related to muddying the mechanism of change (the relationship)

What is actually required in therapist documentation?

·       Electronic documentation is recommended, but probably not required

·       We need to accurately reflect what is happening in therapy

·       Diagnosis may not be required if you’re not using insurance and don’t need to prove medical necessity

How can therapists show up in public spaces?

·       Therapists can have public personas and will need to navigate how what is public may impact the therapeutic relationship

·       Therapists can be influencers – you want to make sure you’re aware of how it is impacting your brand and relationships with your clients

·       How you interact with your clients around your public persona becomes very context dependent

What are the special rules for therapists setting fees?

·       You have to come to an agreement with your client on your fee before services start

·       Looking at sliding scale, pro bono expectations

·       There are so many interpretations on what is expected by your ethics

·       We cannot take advantage of clients

What is a therapist’s responsibility when they believe another therapist has done something wrong?

·       There is a strong recommendation in most ethics codes to go to the other therapist first

·       It is difficult to get proof and/or get actual records and be able to release them

·       There are potentials for confidentiality breaches if therapists move forward with concerns

·       Supporting clients to report concerns if it comes up in session

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

You can find this full course (including handouts and resources) here: https://learn.moderntherapistcommunity.com/pages/podcourse

Continuing Education Approvals: Continuing Education Information including grievance and refund policies.

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Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/