Ethical Boundaries Misused in Today’s Clinical Psychology

1665 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Clinical psychology ethics case studies

Ethical Boundaries Misused in Today’s Clinical Psychology

In today’s psychology profession, a therapist and even the client can cross many boundaries if immediate boundaries are not put into place during the initial visit. Some boundaries that are crossed are not a problem at first and then the problem progresses. Leonard L. Glass called these, “the gray areas of boundary crossing and violation” (429). However, there is further description, “Boundary issues mostly refer to the therapist's self-disclosure, touch, an exchange of gifts, bartering and fees, length and location of sessions and contact outside the office” (Guthiel & Gabbard). This statement by Thomas G. Gutheil, M.D. & Glen O. Gabbard, M.D explains the meaning of boundary issues that most will face in treating patients in the mental health profession. The ethical boundaries can be harmful to the client and the therapist, if clear boundaries are not established early in treatment. “Therapy can be confusing: two people converse in a private room, one in distress, the other described as a helpful expert: At least one of the two is likely to express thoughts and feelings usually kept secret” (10). This statement by Madill et al. is important because in a therapy setting, you have two people and human emotions can easily become a part of the dilemma in treatment. Misuse of ethical boundaries is prevalent in today’s practice of clinical psychology. In order to address and minimalize the damage to the client and psychologist, ethical rules are applied.

First, the therapist's self-disclosure boundary commented Ofer Zur, Ph.D., “Is a therapist's self-disclosure inevitably becomes an unhealthy social relationship.” In addition, to find out if the therapist’s self-disclosure wa...

... middle of paper ...

... Leonard L. "The Gray Areas Of Boundary Crossings And Violations." American Journal Of Psychotherapy 57.4 (2003): 429-444. PsycINFO. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.

Hanson, Jean. "Should Your Lips Be Zipped? How Therapist Self-Disclosure And Non-Disclosure Affects Clients." Counseling & Psychotherapy Research 5.2 (2005): 96-104. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Nov. 2011.

Lazarus, Arnold A. "How Certain Boundaries And Ethics Diminish Therapeutic Effectiveness." Ethics & Behavior 4.3 (1994): 255. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Nov. 2011.

Madill, Anna, et al. "Staying On The Straight And Narrow." Therapy Today 21.5 (2010): 10-14. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Nov. 2011.

Wessinger, Cynthia. Personal interview. 28 Sep. 2011.

Zur, O. (2004). To Cross or Not to Cross: Do boundaries in therapy protect or harm.

Psychotherapy Bulletin, 39 (3), 27-32. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.

Show More
Related

  • Ethical and Legal Considerations in Social Work

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    The expectation in the practitioner/client relationship is that any information disclosed will not be shared with others. Confidentiality is emphasized to provide the client with a safe haven in which to share traumatic events or embarrassing personal information about themselves (Krase, 2013). Disclosing this type of sensitive information...

    Read More

  • Talk Therapy vs Psychoactive Drugs

    2738 Words  | 6 Pages

    Heitler, Susan. Ph.D. “8 Reasons to Cheer for Psychotherapy and to Broaden Its Availability.” Psychology Today. N.p. 10 Aug. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2013

    Read More

  • Appropriate Client/Clinician Relationship

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    Finally, it may be valuable for some clients to have Suzie’s phone number; however, she should use discretion when providing it. Suzie’s personal therapy style, including providing her phone number, may promote client dependency (Roth & Worthington, 2011, 361). Moreover, it is not Suzie’s responsibility to solve the client’s issues (Roth & Worthington, 2011, 361). If a client has Suzie’s phone number, he or she may be tempted to call when problems arise. Roth & Worthington (2011) assert: “The clinician’s role is to assist clients in assuming responsibility for their own behavior and decisions” (p. 365). In conclusion, proper boundaries play a crucial role in maintaining an appropriate client/clinician relationship (Roth & Worthington, 2011, 361).

    Read More

  • Ethics in the Mental Health Profession

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the mental health profession of counseling, therapy, psychology, psychiatric and social services ethical dilemmas are faced primarily on a daily basis. Being that mental health professionals are working with clients who are often fragile and vulnerable, they must develop an intense awareness of ethical issues. On the other hand, mental health professionals would never intentionally harm their clients, students or colleagues and others whom they work with. Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough to ensure that wrong doings will not occur and mental health professionals have no choice but to make ethically determined decisions. Depending upon the experience and expertise of the professional determines the outcome of the ethical circumstance. For example, if you were practicing mental health professional and had a friend who’s a licensed psychologist, who is invited to attend the wedding of a patient that she has been seeing in court-ordered therapy for a year; what advice would you give your friend?

    Read More

  • Phychotherapy Case Study

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prochaska, J.O., & Norcross, J.C. (2010). Systems of psychotherapy. A transtheoretical analysis. (8th ed.). Stamford, CT. Cengage learning.

    Read More

  • Dual Relationships In Counseling

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    The article “Managing boundaries under pressure: A qualitative study of therapists’ experiences of sexual attraction in therapy” states that throughout a lifetime of practice, many therapists don’t cross boundaries and the relationship is strictly professional. That leads to the questions about what strategies they use to help them during difficult situations where boundaries could be crosses. (Martin, Godfrey, Meekums, & Madill

    Read More

  • Cognitive-Behavior Therapy: Annotated Bibliography

    1227 Words  | 3 Pages

    They argue that therapists should consider their own motivation to self-disclose and set boundaries. The therapists should never put their own needs above the client. They make sure to point out that self discourse alone cannot affect the outcome of treatment. Self-disclosure is effective only if it is used appropriately and only if it is used when it is necessary. The amount of information disclosed and when it is disclosed is also important. Therapists should draw a clear line with the amount of intimacy to include in their therapeutic disclosure to ensure that no inappropriate boundaries are crossed. The authors suggest two rules of thumb to follow when disclosing information which include: (a) “Why do I want to say what I am about to say” and (b) “What will be the likely impact of the client” (p. 567).

    Read More

  • Transference, Countertransference, and Resistance in "Precious"

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    Strean, H. S. (1999). RESOLVING SOME THERAPEUTIC IMPASSES BY DISCLOSING COUNTERTRANSFERENCE. Clinical Social Work Journal, 27(2), 123-140

    Read More

  • Establishing a Therapeutic Alliance

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ate with their therapists. “A systematic relationship between the therapists' personal reactions to the patient and the quality of their communication, diagnostic impressions, and treatment plans” (Horvath & Greenberg, ). While positive attitudes from the therapists are more likely to result in a successful treatment, negative attitudes will not develop the necessary cooperation from the clients side to successfully reach the goal of the therapy.

    Read More

  • Counseling: Ethical Issues

    1774 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ethical issues in a counseling practice lay the foundation of a therapist in practice. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions and operates in a successful manner for the clients who seek help in such a setting. In order for the counseling profession to be ethical and hold professional recognition, there are many facets that need to be examined and outlined to make sure all counselors and practitioners are functioning at the highest level and withholding their duties required by the counseling profession. The first introduction so to speak of the area of ethics also happens to be one of the first steps in counseling, which is the informed consent. The informed consent provides the basis of what happens or will be happening in a counseling setting and serves to inform the client to their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect. Most importantly, the informed consent is in place for the client’s benefit. It also is important to understand that culture and environment play a role in the treatment of a client and how theories can positively or negatively impact this treatment. Therapists need to understand how to work within the context of a theory while being able to understand the individual in their own environment. Although theories are put into place to serve as a framework, there are also alternative ways to approach counseling, one example being evidence-based practice. Such an approach is very specific, which presents a series of solutions for counseling as a whole, but also brings forth many problems. Every approach or theory introduces ethical concerns that need to be taken into consideration by the entire counseling community and how each can positively and negatively affect clients and the pr...

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Ethics in Psychology

    1957 Words  | 4 Pages

    ​The Milgram experiment is probably one of the most well known experiments in Psychology. The reason being is because its participants were not told what was really occurring in the experiment. After the experiment was over, the participants were mentally and emotionally affected. Later, a cognitive psychologist, George Miller described Milgram’s experiments, together with Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment, as “being ideal for public consumption of psychological research” (Blass, 2002). And indeed, Milgram’s studies, as Zimbardo’s, are clearly meant to be spread to a broad audience, the moral and preventative objectives permeating the experiments from their very outset (Stavrakis, 2007).. In this paper, I will explore how experiments such as Milgram and Zimbardo’s, as well as the Tuskeegee Syphilis Experiment, changed the way experiments are conducted today because of the formation of the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

    Read More

  • Boundaries and Ethics in a Counseling Relationship

    2216 Words  | 5 Pages

    Ethics in the counselling and psychotherapy protects the client and the therapist involved in the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process as a whole; with the concepts that act as a guide for the therapists in provision of good practice and care for the client. The framework is built on values of counselling and psychotherapy; principles of trustworthiness, autonomy, fidelity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and self-respect, and provides standards of good practice and care for the practitioner (BACP, 2010). Ethical framework contributes to the development of the therapeutic relationship and process by assisting therapist’s decisions, and guides their behaviour and proceedings within their legal rights and duties. The ethical frame is structured on the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship and the therapists should be aware of their categories and be responsible for their forms. Monitoring and being aware of what goes on in and out of the room physically, emotionally and psychologically is primarily the duty of the therapist.

    Read More

  • Counseling Ethics Case Study

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1068.

    Read More

  • The Benefits of Revealing Secrets

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kelly, A., Kenny, C., Klusas, J., and von Weiss, R. (2001). What Is It About Revealing Secrets That Is Beneficial? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 657-665.

    Read More

  • A Case Study of Ethics in Psychology

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    Koocher, G.P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

More about Ethical Boundaries Misused in Today’s Clinical Psychology

Open Document