The differences between traditional psychotherapy ethics

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Traditional Psychotherapy Ethics

Traditional psychotherapy ethics, also known as institutional ethics, is based on a set of rules and guidelines that are designed to protect clients and to ensure that therapists provide high-quality care. These rules and guidelines are typically developed by professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association (APA).

Some of the key principles of traditional psychotherapy ethics include:

• Informed consent: Clients must be informed of the risks and benefits of therapy before they agree to participate.

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• Confidentiality: Therapists must keep client information confidential, except in certain limited circumstances, such as when the client is a danger to themselves or others.
• Competence: Therapists must be competent to provide the services that they offer.
• Dual relationships: Therapists must avoid dual relationships with clients, such as romantic or business relationships.

Relational Approach to Ethics The relational approach to ethics is a more recent development in the field of psychotherapy. It emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the therapist and the client as the foundation for ethical practice. The relational approach to ethics is based on the following principles:

• The relationship between the therapist and the client is the primary therapeutic tool.
• The therapist's ethical obligations are grounded in the relationship with the client.
• The therapist's ethical decision-making must be sensitive to the context of the relationship and to the unique needs of the client.

Differences Between Traditional Psychotherapy Ethics and the Relational Approach to Ethics The following table summarizes the key differences between traditional psychotherapy ethics and the relational approach to ethics:

Traditional psychotherapy ethics	Relational approach to ethics
Based on a set of rules and guidelines	Based on the relationship between the therapist and the client
Emphasizes the therapist's role as an expert	Emphasizes the therapist's role as a collaborator
Focuses on avoiding harm	Focuses on promoting well-being
Views ethics as a top-down process	Views ethics as a bottom-up process

drive_spreadsheetExport to Sheets Example To illustrate the difference between traditional psychotherapy ethics and the relational approach to ethics, consider the following example: A therapist is working with a client who has been struggling with depression. The client has been talking about suicidal thoughts, and the therapist is concerned that the client may be at risk of harming themselves. According to traditional psychotherapy ethics, the therapist has an ethical obligation to report the client's suicidal thoughts to the appropriate authorities. This is because the therapist has a duty to protect the client from harm. However, according to the relational approach to ethics, the therapist would first need to discuss the client's suicidal thoughts with the client themselves. The therapist would need to understand the client's perspective and to develop a plan to keep the client safe. The therapist would only report the client's suicidal thoughts to the authorities if they believed that it was absolutely necessary. Conclusion The relational approach to ethics is a more recent development in the field of psychotherapy, but it is gaining popularity among therapists. The relational approach to ethics emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the therapist and the client as the foundation for ethical practice. The relational approach to ethics is more complex and challenging than traditional psychotherapy ethics, but it can also be more rewarding. The relational approach to ethics allows therapists to build stronger relationships with their clients and to provide them with more individualized care.