Legal and Ethical Information

Ethics Complaint Process

The AAMFT Ethics Committee has the ability to investigate complaints against AAMFT members for alleged violations of the AAMFT Code of Ethics.

Legal and Ethics Consultations

Your membership in AAMFT allows you access to various member benefits, including consultations with AAMFT's legal and ethics staff. All members of AAMFT are eligible to receive Ethical Advisory Opinions. AAMFT Professional Members are eligible to receive Legal Consultations. 

Legal and Ethics Fact Sheets

The AAMFT has developed a series of fact sheets concerning the legal and ethics issues that most frequently arise in a therapist’s practice. Each article provides general information on an important topic.

Registration for the 2023 Student Ethics Competition

AAMFT is proud to announce the open registration for the 2023 Student Ethics Competition. Registration ends on Sunday, April 9 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). This competition is designed to encourage MFT students to foster an interest in ethics issues and enhance their ability to analyze and respond to the various ethics issues that they will undoubtedly encounter throughout their careers. In this team competition, as participants, you will submit an essay analyzing and responding to a hypothetical scenario.

A side-by-side comparison of the 2012 AAMFT Code of Ethics and the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics was created to clearly depict the changes to the Code.

Tips for Maintaining an Ethical Practice

In 1962, the AAMFT adopted the Association's first Code of Ethics. Since that time, the AAMFT Ethics Committee has investigated many ethics complaints. During these investigations, the Committee and AAMFT's legal and ethics staff have observed common practice pitfalls. With that in mind, AAMFT offers these tips for maintaining an ethical practice. 

The AAMFT strives to honor the public trust in marriage and family therapists by setting standards for ethical practice as described in this Code. The ethical standards define professional expectations and are enforced by the AAMFT Ethics Committee. 

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