___________________________________ Code of Ethics for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
• The Complainant then works with the ACA Staff Liaison in order to accurately identify the ACA Ethics Code sections that apply, as necessary, to identify any evidence and witnesses the Complainant wants to offer. To then finalize the complaint, steps will be taken in setting forth into separate charges according to the sections of the ACA Ethics Code that were allegedly violated. • The Complainant maintains the right to approve or make any or none of the suggested changes made by the ACA Staff Liaison. • Once the Complainant is satisfied with the contents of the completed formal complaint, Complainants must sign the complaint to begin the formal adjudication process. • If the ACA Staff Liaison is unable to obtain a response from potential complainants for 45 business days after repeated attempts, those are treated as incomplete cases and are reported to the Co-Chairs and subsequently to the Committee as administratively dismissed but can be refiled by the Complainant in accordance with this policy. Sanctions to address ethical violations may include letters of reprimand, suspension, or revocation of membership in the association. Documentation from the complaint process outlined previously may be obtained through subpoena and become part of a legal action against the counselor. If a viola- tion of state or federal law occurs, criminal sanctions may result if convicted in a court of law. This may result in fines, suspension, or revocation of the license to practice, and/or criminal adjudication depending on the offense.
Multicultural, generational, and developmental factors, as well as lifestyles, belief sets, sexual orientations, race, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation, group affiliation, and intrafamil- ial issues impact the group approach to marriage and family therapy. The nature of the group therapy process involves an infinite number of variables and ethical issues to consider. Complicating this process further is the growing application of technology for distance therapy with multiple clients, juris- dictional requirements, licensing restraints, state and federal laws, and organizational mandates that must be reviewed if services are delivered across state lines. The following section is taken from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s (AAMFT) Code of Ethics and is only a summary of the major components [11]. The entire code should be reviewed to ensure best ethical practice guidelines are followed. PREAMBLE The Board of Directors of the American Association for Mar- riage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) hereby promulgates, pur- suant to Article 2, Section 2.01.3 of the Association’s bylaws, the Revised AAMFT Code of Ethics, effective January 1, 2015. HONORING PUBLIC TRUST The AAMFT strives to honor the public trust in marriage and family therapists by setting standards for ethical practice as described in this code. The ethical standards define profes- sional expectations and are enforced by the AAMFT Ethics Committee.
Commitment to Service, Advocacy, and Public Participation
Marriage and family therapists are defined by their dedication to professional and ethical excellence, which includes the fol- lowing components: • Commitment to service, advocacy, and public participation. • Participation in activities that contribute to a better community and society, regardless of financial return. • Concern with developing laws and regulations
SUMMARY OF THE AAMFT CODE OF ETHICS
Counseling and therapy practice emphasize evidence-based interventions and methods of service, often using integrated therapies tailored to the needs of a specific set of clients. The practice of marriage and family therapy continues to be influ- enced by societal and cultural changes as well as politics and economics, such as the Affordable Care Act, managed care, and the increasing number elderly and disabled citizens who rely on Medicaid or Medicare. The trend toward research-based models that integrate several approaches may be more effective for families than one specific approach. Therapy that involves an integrated model for intervention requires the therapist to match the therapeutic approach to the specific members of the family. This process increases the number of interventions for the therapist to consider and may make the decisions and judg- ments more complex and dynamic as the therapy progresses. The complexity of group therapy increases the ethical consid- erations for confidentiality and informed consent.
pertaining to marriage and family therapy and altering laws and regulations that are not in the public interest.
• Professional competence in these areas is essential to the character of the field, and the well-being of clients and their communities. SEEKING CONSULTATION The standards are not exhaustive and marriage and family therapists uncertain about the ethics of a particular course of action are encouraged to seek counsel from consultants, attor- neys, supervisors, colleagues, or other appropriate authorities.
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