Hi everyone!
I just wanted to share about something that a lot of clients think about but they (maybe) don’t have the right terms or words to describe - Ethics in counselling/therapy! 
Ethics in counseling refers to a set of principles and standards that guide the conduct of mental health professionals in their interactions with clients. These ethical guidelines are designed to ensure the well-being and protection of clients, maintain the integrity of the therapeutic relationship, and promote responsible and professional behavior among counselors.
Ethical violations in therapy can take various forms and can be detrimental to the well-being of clients. Ethical guidelines and principles are established to protect the welfare of clients and maintain the integrity of the therapeutic relationship. Some common examples of ethical violations in therapy include:
- Breach of Confidentiality:
- Sharing client information without their explicit consent.
- Discussing a client’s case with friends, family, or colleagues without appropriate anonymization.
- Dual Relationships:
- Engaging in dual relationships where the therapist has multiple roles with the client (e.g., therapist and business partner, therapist and friend) that could compromise objectivity.
- Lack of Informed Consent:
- Failing to fully inform clients about the nature of therapy, potential risks, and their rights, and obtaining their informed consent before starting the therapeutic relationship.
- Incompetence or Misrepresentation:
- Providing therapy outside the scope of one’s competence.
- Misrepresenting qualifications, credentials, or experience to clients.
- Boundary Violations:
- Violating professional boundaries, such as engaging in inappropriate physical contact, sharing personal information excessively, or accepting inappropriate gifts from clients.
- Cultural Insensitivity:
- Failing to recognize and respect cultural differences and diversity, and imposing one’s own values or beliefs on the client.
- Financial Exploitation:
- Charging excessive fees, engaging in deceptive billing practices, or exploiting clients financially.
- Sexual Misconduct:
- Engaging in any form of sexual contact or behavior with a client, which is strictly prohibited due to the significant potential for harm and exploitation.
It’s extremely important for therapists to adhere to ethical standards and regularly engage in supervision or consultation to ensure the highest quality of care for their clients.
If you have concerns about the ethical conduct of a therapist, you may consider reporting the behavior to the therapist’s licensing board or professional association. Additionally, seeking a second opinion from another mental health professional can be helpful.
Question: Have you ever experienced or heard of ethical violations during therapy? What did you/the person do to manage the situation?
Let’s have an open discussion about this topic, and learn from each other’s experiences!