AAMFTAmerican Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Code of Ethics

Blanca Perezarce-Serenil, Sonia Navarro, Tenisha Williams

BSHS 335

Beatriz Zayas

January 2, 2014

Agenda

Introductions

Principles I-VIII

Personal Characteristics of Effective Family

Practitioners

References

T.Williams

Principles

I- Responsibility To Clients

II- Confidentiality

III- Professional Competence and Integrity

IV- Responsibility to Students and Supervisees

V- Responsibility of Research Participants

VI- Responsibility to the Profession

VII- Financial Arrangements

VIII- Advertising

("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)

T.Williams

Principle I

Responsibility to Clients

(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)

("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)

T.Williams

• Non-Discrimination

• Informed Consent

• Multiple Relationships

• Sexual Intimacy with Current

Clients and Others• Sexual Intimacy with

Former Clients and Others

• Reports of Unethical

Conduct

• No Furthering of Own

Interests

• Client Autonomy in

Decision Making

• Relationship Beneficial to

Client

• Referrals

• Non-Abandonment

• Written Consent to Record

• Relationships with Third

Parties

• Electronic Therapy

Principle II

Disclose only if:

Mandated by law: child abuse, incest neglect of children or adults, information used on civil or criminal cases.

Written waiver ,such as teaching , lecture, writing that will benefit others.

Harm to same person to others., mandated by law “duty to warn”

CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidence between client and therapist

Principle III

Continuing Education

Prepared/up dated skills

Interactions between therapist

Responsible to be competent

(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)

S. Navarro

Principle IVResponsibility to Students

and Supervisees

• Exploitation

• Therapy with Students/Supervisees

• Sexual Intimacy with

Students/Supervisees

• Oversight of Supervisee

Competence

• Oversight of Supervisee

Professionalism

• Existing Relationship with

Students/Supervisees

• Confidentiality with Supervisees

(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)

("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)

T.Williams

Principle V

Methods of research:

Protection to participant by being well planned.

Informed consent: information to participant shows willingness to participate.

Participants have a right to decline at any time during research.

Confidentiality is a big part of the research team as well. Unless there is a prior consent sign by the participant.

Research Participants: Is a type of investigation done in a group

of participants in order to come to a conclusion.

Principle VI

Respecting Colleagues

Don’t share clients

Report therapist without license

Contribute with society:

Donating service (Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,”

2011) S. Navarro

Principle VII

Financial Arrangements

(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)

("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)

T.Williams

Financial Integrity

Disclosure of Financial Policies

Notice of Payment Recovery Procedures

Truthful Representation of Services

Bartering

Withholding Records for Non-Payment

Principle VIII

The advertisements should be:

Professional that could represent

other therapist education, business,

education ,and experience as well.

Convey information in media only

that is beneficial to the public.

Not claim other agencies if you are

not affiliated to them.

Be careful with using any

fraudulent ,false name or

misleading information.

ADVERTISING : Informational resource to community.

Personal Characteristics

of Effective Family Practitioners

Presence (Acceptance, Interest and Caring)

Assertiveness and Confidence

Courage and Risk Taking

Openness to Change

Paying attention to goals and purposes of a family

Being sincerely interested in the welfare of others

Tending to the spirit of the entire family

Involvement, engagement, and satisfaction in working with families (Corey, "Chapter 11,Ethical Issues in Couples and Family Therapy," 2011)

T.Williams

References American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2012). Retrieved from

http://www.aamft.org/imis15/content/legal_ethics/code_of_ethics.aspx

Corey, G., Scheider Corey, M., Patrick, C. (2011). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (8th ed.)

Background photo in slide 2,”Shadow of Family of Four,” courtesy of www.canstockphoto.com - 141 × 150

Photo used in slide #3”Family of Three” courtesy of www.weparent.com - 477 × 290

Photo used in slide 3,”Afro-American Family,” courtesy of www.americanprogress.org - 620 × 360 -

Photo used in slide 3, “Woman and child,” courtesy of colormyworldkids.org - 1280 × 857

Photo in slide 6, “Boss woman standing in front of co-workers,” courtesy ofwork.chron.com - 400 × 267

Photo background in slide 9, “Money,” courtesy of paintzoomnews.com - 3504 × 2336