In Brief
On June 1, a new APA Ethics Code began to govern psychologists' work--but how does the new code compare with the previous code? APA's Ethics Office is traversing the country to answer psychologists' questions on these and other ethics matters.
By partnering with state psychological associations, the office is holding daylong seminars at conventions, graduate psychology departments, internship sites and other venues to educate psychologists about ethical decision-making and the new code of ethics. The workshops are part of the APA Ethics Office's initiative to expand its educative and training aspects, says Stephen Behnke, JD, PhD, director of the Ethics Office.
"APA feels that [education and training] are very important facets of what we do--and that they should be enhanced because they're preventative measures that are an excellent use of resources," says Behnke, who recently led a training workshop co-sponsored by the District of Columbia Psychological Association at APA's headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The workshop featured tips on how specific sections of the new code, such as the standard on multiple relationships, apply to psychologists' practices and research. Attendees shared ethical dilemmas and discussed the code's application to various difficult hypothetical situations.
For a list of upcoming APA Ethics Office workshops or to schedule an event, contact the APA Ethics Office at (202) 336-5930; Visit APA Ethics site; or e-mail: ethicsmatters@apa.org.
--D. SMITH BAILEY
