Guidelines and principles that ensure ethical behavior and professionalism in clinical practice and research.
Ethical Principles: These are fundamental values that guide ethical decision-making in clinical psychology, such as respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Codes of Ethics: These are sets of guidelines and principles developed by professional organizations to help clinical psychologists make ethical decisions, and to provide standards for professional conduct.
Informed Consent: This refers to the process of providing patients with complete information about their treatment options, including the risks and benefits, before they agree to undergo therapy.
Confidentiality: This is the duty of clinical psychologists to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of their clients, including protecting their personal information and medical records.
Boundary Issues: This refers to maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with patients, including avoiding intimate relationships, setting appropriate limits on communication, and avoiding dual relationships.
Cultural Competence: This refers to the ability of clinical psychologists to understand and work effectively across diverse cultural backgrounds, such as race, ethnicity, cultural differences, and gender identity.
Professional Competence: This refers to a clinical psychologist's ability to deliver effective, evidence-based treatments using techniques and skills that are appropriate for the specific needs of their patients.
Ethical Decision-Making: This is the process of resolving ethical dilemmas encountered in clinical practice, by evaluating the available options, reflecting on the ethical principles involved, and making decisions that are consistent with professional standards and obligations.
Professional Ethics in Research: This refers to the ethical standards that apply to the conduct of research, such as obtaining informed consent, protecting the confidentiality and privacy of research participants, and ensuring that the research is conducted in a safe and ethical manner.
Compassionate Care: This refers to the use of empathy and understanding in clinical practice, to develop a therapeutic relationship with patients that is grounded in trust and respect.
Deontological Ethics: This type of ethics considers moral duties and obligations as the basis for ethical decision making, rather than taking into account the consequences of actions or outcomes.
Consequentialist Ethics: This approach considers the overall good or bad consequences of actions, as well as their impact on others, when making ethical decisions.
Virtue Ethics: This type of approach focuses on the character traits, values, and virtues that individuals should maintain to lead a good moral life.
Cultural Ethics: Cultural ethics refers to the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that are accepted or rejected by a specific culture. The cultural context in which an individual operates can influence the ethical decisions that they make.
Professional Code of Ethics: Most professional societies and organizations have a code of ethics that sets standards for member conduct. Codes of ethics provide guidance for professionals working in the field and help maintain integrity, confidentiality, and trust.
Informed Consent: Informed consent is a process of voluntary agreement to engage in a clinical procedure or treatment after the patient has been fully informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality requires that all personal or medical information shared by a patient or client to a therapist remain private and kept confidential. This principle is foundational to the therapeutic relationship and is considered an ethical duty of clinical psychologists.
Dual Relationships: Clinical psychologists are advised to avoid dual relationships, where they have a therapeutic relationship with someone and other personal or professional relationships.
Boundaries: Psychologists are expected to maintain professional boundaries that respect the well-being of their patients and avoid exploitation.
Multicultural Competence: Clinical psychologists must be sensitive to the diversity of individuals and groups, including their cultural, religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Multicultural competence requires an understanding of the social and cultural contexts, the history of each patient, and access to culturally relevant resources.
Mandatory Reporting: Clinical psychologists are required by law to report certain information to the appropriate authorities, including client information related to child abuse, substance abuse, or potential violent behaviors.