Tips for Maintaining an Ethical Practice

In 1962, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (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.  

 

Don't Practice in Isolation

Make it a habit to consult with trusted sources of professional guidance and insight on a regular basis (e.g., peer supervision, peer consultation, etc.) and as needed when you are unsure what to do. You can also use instant self-check: "Would I feel comfortable if my professional peers could see what I'm doing or considering doing?" If not, are your actions defensible, and if so how would you defend them? Be very honest with yourself.

Remember, ethical practice doesn't require you to be perfect, but to appropriately attempt to determine the best course of action and then follow through.

 

Listen to Your Intuition

Many therapists who get in trouble realize with hindsight that they felt uneasy about the course of action they were taking but ignored the warnings. 

 

Protect the Therapeutic Relationship

Always remember that the therapeutic relationship is unique. Its power to help lies in the fact that it is like no other form of relationship. You and your clients will experience a constant pull to make your relationship more like a friendship, a social relationship, a romantic relationship, a business partnership, etc. It takes work to maintain the "therapeutic stance."

 

Take Care of Yourself

Nourish your mental, physical and spiritual health, as well as your personal relationships. Protect time for play, recreation, and family, etc. Charge and defend fees that reflect the value of your work; don't be a financial martyr. If you're not enjoying your work, find out why and change course! Otherwise ethical therapists have gotten in trouble when they became impaired through fatigue, cynicism, substance abuse, or transient life stresses. They neglected to take the self-care advice they would have given their own clients. Therapists with healthy and satisfying personal lives are less likely to inappropriately exploit their professional roles or function at a substandard level. 

 

Know the Legal and Ethical Duties that Apply to Your Practice

Keep handy a copy of all laws, regulations and ethics codes that govern your practice. You have sworn to uphold them, so read them carefully. Consult colleagues, attorneys or ethics experts to clarify any duties that are not clear to you. Know in advance exactly what you may and must do in mandated reporting, "duty to protect," and other emergency situations. Keep your practice library stocked with up-to-date literature on your legal and ethical duties and use it.

 

Keep Learning

The best therapists pursue continuing education for its own sake. Doing so will help you:

  • Know firsthand the evolving standards of care in the field.
  • Be more effective as your competencies grow.
  • Increase the value of your professional services.
  • Expand your network of colleagues.
  • Keep your career fresh, interesting, and satisfying.
Remember, 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. Members in the following AAMFT membership types are eligible for Legal Consultations: Professional Members under the Full and Early categories. AAMFT's legal and ethics staff can by contacted at 703-253-0459 or [email protected].