Ethical Decision-Making In Psychotherapy On Being Moral, Ethical And Professional

Course overview

This intermediate level course discusses issues of morality, ethics, rights, virtues, values and responsibility. It outlines the processes of ethical decision-making and critical thinking. It takes participants on a journey starting with the general theoretical issues involved in moral reasoning through the practical considerations all the way to ethical decision-making in psychotherapy. It goes beyond the most common approaches to ethics, which are What are the laws, codes and rules? How to avoid being sued or How to comply with the rules and regulations. The course invites participants to explore a wide range of fundamental questions of ethics, such as What should I do? or How should I act? What is good? and the heart of ethics which is What moral principles should I follow? Culturally and professionally, there seems to be an increase in focus on rules, principles and dos and don'ts at the dangerous expense of ignoring the fundamental component of ethics -- virtue. Defensive medicine often takes precedence over critical thinking, soulfulness and care. The moral life is not simply a matter of rigidly following rules. The moral life is a matter of trying to determine the kind of people we should be and of attending to the development of character within ourselves and our communities. After covering the broader concerns with ethics, virtue, morality, cultural relativism, etc., the course focuses on ethical decision-making in psychotherapy and the importance of the moral principles of autonomy, non-malfeasance, beneficence, justice and fidelity. The course then introduces a theoretical and conceptual framework for ethical decision-making. The course also looks critically at how professional, ethical guidelines, publications and the code of ethics themselves are influenced by professional, cultural and other forces, including self-serving influences. Lastly, it gives updates of laws and ethical concerns and exemplifies how to apply ethical decision-making in dual relationships situations.