APA Ethical Standards

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APA Ethical Standards

• Therapy

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10.01 Structuring the Relationship

• Inform patients what your therapy is about and
  what to expect in the course of treatment
• Think about what you would tell a good friend if
  he or she asked you about the nature of therapy

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10.02 Informed Consent to Therapy

• The person must
• be able to understand your description and be
  able to provide consent
• be informed about what you have planned for
  his/her treatment
• freely and willingly consent
• You must
• document the consent

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10.03 Couple Family Relationships

• Identify your role from the beginning
• Identify who is the patient if more than one
  person will be present
• Only play ONE role with each of your patients, if
  at all possible

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10.010 Providing Mental Health Services to Those
Served by Others

• You must coordinate treatment and collaborate
  with them as needed
• (NOTE This rule is a change from the previous
  version of the Code)

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10.05 Sexual Intimacies with Current
Patients/Clients

• NEVER DO THIS!!!
• Be very careful about ambiguous physical contact
  with patients

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10.06 Therapy with Former Sexual Partners

• DONT DO THIS EITHER!!
• EVEN IF YEARS HAVE PASSED!!

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10.07 Sexual Intimacies with Former Therapy
Patients

• It is VERY UNWISE to do this!!!
• You may see patients currently consulting other
  therapists, BUT
• RISKY BUSINESS!!!
• If you decide to do it anyway, wait a minimum of
  2 years after the therapeutic relationship has
  ended

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10.08 Interruption of Services

• Make plans for the continuity of your patients
  care in the event of
• Illness
• Accident
• Death
• A move
• Burnout/career change

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10.09 Terminating the Professional Relationship

• Dont disappear from your patients life without
  formally terminating treatment
• Provide appropriate referrals if needed/wanted