We believe it is important to become familiar with the basic ethical guidelines that therapists should follow before you begin therapy with a new therapist, and we encourage you to do so.

Unfortunately, media portrayals of therapy do not always provide examples of ethical, effective therapy experiences and many myths about therapy persist.

In addition, or in opposition, to employing empirical and deductive methods, some—especially clinical and counseling psychologists—at times rely upon symbolic interpretation and other inductive techniques.

It is an academic discipline and a social science which seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases.

Many ethical challenges arise based on highly variable and unpredictable contextual factors.

This course material will equip clinicians to have a basic understanding of core ethical principles and standards related to the topics discussed and to ethical decision making generally, but cannot cover every possible circumstance.

Many problems are what Ethics Committee member Anne Hess, Ph D, calls "stealth" dilemmas: situations that develop gradually, moving step by small step beyond once-firm professional boundaries.

Although each step seemed harmless at the time, many practitioners later realize that they have landed themselves in deep trouble.