Ethical Decision Making

In family and couples therapy, ethical decision-making refers to the actions counselors take in regard to precarious situations that occur within the therapeutic context. Ethical decision-making is a specific term that encompasses the various processes and considerations counselors take into account in order to manage an ethical quandary that does not have a clear solution. Decision-making processes can vary depending on the presenting ethical issue(s), the client population, and the counselor. In ethics literature, several different models of ethical decision-making are discussed, most of which include similar steps to guide the counselor working through an ethical dilemma. Given the complex nature of couples and family counseling, it is advantageous for counselors to be aware of common issues that occur within couples and family therapy. This ...