Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychotherapy

Course overview

Course Description: This courrse provides an overview of the ethical and legal issues that arise in the practice of psychotherapy. Participants will review foundational ethical principles including beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, and fidelity, as well as core risk management strategies such as informed consent, documentation, and supervision. The course also examines confidentiality and its legal exceptions, boundary crossings and violations, professional negligence, telepsychotherapy considerations, termination procedures, and documentation standards. Emphasis is placed on practical application, ethical decision-making, and minimizing legal risk while promoting client welfare. This course is appropriate for beginning and, intermediate-level practitioners who wish to learn more about confidentiality. It is also a good resource for licensed therapists who need continuing education in ethics or confidentiality for license renewal. Authors: Avasthi, Grover and Nischal Learning Objectives: This course will provide a professional with detailed information about confidentiality. Specifically, the practitioner will: Identify and describe at least five core ethical principles that guide psychotherapy practice. Explain the legal and ethical components of informed consent, confidentiality, and documentation in psychotherapy. Differentiate between boundary crossings and boundary violations and apply risk-management strategies to clinical scenarios. Citation: Avasthi, A., Grover, S. Nischal, A. (2022). Ethical and legal issues in psychotherapy. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, S47-