Avoiding failures when applying principle-based ethics to difficult ethical situations in psychotherapy.

Abstract

The enforceable standards of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct do not tell psychologists how to behave or respond to every problematic ethical situation. Psychotherapists can use the aspirational General Principles to guide their behavior in these situations. However, psychotherapists can only implement these principles appropriately if they correctly conceptualize the ethical principles involved and find ways to balance competing ethical concerns. This article gives examples of how psychotherapists can implement principle-based decision making to maximize their adherence to foundational ethical principles and the spirit of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Clinical Impact StatementPsychotherapists often encounter complex ethical situations in which they cannot easily understand how to fulfill their ethical obligations. This article describes how psychotherapists could use principle-based ethics to think through these situations.