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Law Vs. Ethics

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 As mental health clinicians, we are required to get so many continuing education credits per reporting period (usually about 6 every 2 years, depending on the state you live in). Most of us think of "Law" with "Ethics" and they have actually been run together as if they belong with each other. This is sad! While following the law is part of the ethical code, ethical treatment is actually the most important part of our work, and goes much deeper than just being legally "protected." Unfortunately, lawsuits are all too commonly brought against psychologists and behavioral health therapists for infractions of constantly fluctuating laws.  State governments have become involved and leveled laws to enforce ethical standards. Accountability is great, we all need to be held accountable so that we can live up to the standards that we espouse. That's important.  What is concerning, however, is the ever growing amount of laws, statutes, court...
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Where Do You Stand?

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I don’t watch TV. I especially don’t watch national news. People ask me all the time if I’m familiar with this program or that, or know about this issue or that issue—and the truth is I turned it all off a long time ago. I do hear about things from others, catch some on Facebook and the internet, I don’t filter it all out, but I don’t watch it directly. Years ago, I decided for my own sanity, that I needed to protect myself from the negativity and attacks that just go on and on with contempt and vitriol between political factions. As a therapist, “I hear enough about pain and strife and division in my office to last a lifetime,” I say to myself. When I go home I need a safe place to regroup and find hope and comfort in order to keep my balance in my office.   I also realize that by turning it off and tuning out, I insulate myself from the pain and needs of others.   It’s not that I don’t really have beliefs or political ideologies, it’s that I don’t want to fight about it and...
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Above all, Do no Harm!

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No one becomes a therapist, especially a couple and family therapist, to hurt their clients! Most anyone who goes through all the work and expense of becoming a therapist, and the ADDED expense and extensive time it takes in training to become a good couple and family therapist, is not out to hurt their clients! We got into this field to do good, to help individuals, couples and families, and to make a difference in some kind of way for the betterment of the world. By and large in our field we work very hard to be the best we can be and to really help others. It's in our natures to want good things for others, it's part of who we are, and it's part of what drives us to be in the helping profession. Yet, we all know of horror stories where sexual boundaries are crossed, inappropriate behaviors on the part of therapists happen, and reports of things that just seem so unbelievable to us that happened between a client and a therapist. How do therapists, who start out with ...
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