Ethical Factors Associated With Therapy And The Therapeutic Process
Client Factors: The ethical therapist is capable of attending to client factors and addressing what the client presents in a competent manner. If they are unable to do so, they refer to another therapist or in some situations develop the skills necessary to effectively treat the client. Certain clients require high levels of expertise and knowledge on the part of the therapist that can mitigate problematic and risky outcomes. Clients who carry diagnoses such as Cluster B Personality Disorders, Dissociative Identity Disorders and PTSD (particularly complex trauma) and other disorders tend to present increased risks of clinical errors and negative consequences to the client as well as to the outcome of treatment. Similarly, clients with histories of abuse as children or potential or previously expressed suicidal behaviors and/or histories of crisis and relapse have been identified as carrying a high risk. Other chronic conditions can indirectly potentiate or interfere with positive outcomes of therapy and heighten risks factors as well.
Therapist Factors: Certain professional, self-care and personal features can contribute to positive or negative outcomes of therapy. The primary ethical responsibility of the therapist is to attend to these features so that they do not interfere with their care of their clients. Therapists who struggle with work/life balance, high demand environments, job insecurity and role conflicts (among others) may lose perspective which consequently reduces their ability to attend to the client. As a result, they may become unable to maximize their clinical expertise and provide competent care. Most, if not all therapists, intermittently lapse into poor self-care whether or not they recognize it. They may not prioritize their own needs, particularly when they are overly committed to work or other obligations. Some may simply not identify their self-care needs when they arise. Therapists, as "wounded heroes," sometime experience mental health conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety, chronic stress or other personal concerns. These may originate from their pasts histories or personal struggles in their own lives. Like many people, therapists often lack social support or are reluctant to seek help from others.
Relationship Factors: One aspect of relationship factors is known was the 'Therapeutic Alliance." The alliance speaks to the establishment of a relationship between the client and the therapist that includes the agreement of the goals, tasks and desired outcome between the therapist and the client. In doing so, the therapist establishes a shared sense of purpose and understanding. An effective alliance also includes the therapist's responsibility to engage the client and form a relationship that is experienced as warm, caring and empathic. A shared sense of trust between each other appears to be an element of relationship factors as well. In summary, the ethical therapist ensures that a positive and caring environment is established and that there is a shared sense that the therapist can be trusted to effectively treat the client.
Treatment Factors: The essential element here is that the therapist is skilled and competent to provide ethical and effective therapy. In many cases there are established forms of therapy that have established efficacy. The therapist's treatment should, whenever possible, take into account established models of effective treatment. The client should understand and agree to the proposed therapy. Nevertheless, this does not ensure that the outcome of the therapy is always what was anticipated by the therapist, client or both of them.
Therapist Factors: Certain professional, self-care and personal features can contribute to positive or negative outcomes of therapy. The primary ethical responsibility of the therapist is to attend to these features so that they do not interfere with their care of their clients. Therapists who struggle with work/life balance, high demand environments, job insecurity and role conflicts (among others) may lose perspective which consequently reduces their ability to attend to the client. As a result, they may become unable to maximize their clinical expertise and provide competent care. Most, if not all therapists, intermittently lapse into poor self-care whether or not they recognize it. They may not prioritize their own needs, particularly when they are overly committed to work or other obligations. Some may simply not identify their self-care needs when they arise. Therapists, as "wounded heroes," sometime experience mental health conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety, chronic stress or other personal concerns. These may originate from their pasts histories or personal struggles in their own lives. Like many people, therapists often lack social support or are reluctant to seek help from others.
Relationship Factors: One aspect of relationship factors is known was the 'Therapeutic Alliance." The alliance speaks to the establishment of a relationship between the client and the therapist that includes the agreement of the goals, tasks and desired outcome between the therapist and the client. In doing so, the therapist establishes a shared sense of purpose and understanding. An effective alliance also includes the therapist's responsibility to engage the client and form a relationship that is experienced as warm, caring and empathic. A shared sense of trust between each other appears to be an element of relationship factors as well. In summary, the ethical therapist ensures that a positive and caring environment is established and that there is a shared sense that the therapist can be trusted to effectively treat the client.
Treatment Factors: The essential element here is that the therapist is skilled and competent to provide ethical and effective therapy. In many cases there are established forms of therapy that have established efficacy. The therapist's treatment should, whenever possible, take into account established models of effective treatment. The client should understand and agree to the proposed therapy. Nevertheless, this does not ensure that the outcome of the therapy is always what was anticipated by the therapist, client or both of them.