Practical Ethics for Psychologists: A Positive Approach, Second Edition

Ethical behavior involves much more than avoiding being sanctioned by a disciplinary body. For psychologists, being ethical is also a positive goal that involves striving to reach one's highest ethical ideals.

Guided by the APA Ethics Code, amended in 2010, the authors provide short sketches illustrating the standards that psychologists must follow. In addition, they emphasize how psychologists can actualize their personal values and ethical acumen in their daily work.

Psychologists are shown a variety of ways to reach this goal:

• by attending to their emotional well-being
• by using the five-step decision making model presented in this book
• by using risk reduction strategies in difficult cases
• by basing their professional conduct on overarching ethical values

This second edition features new material on the positive impact of continuing education programs; consideration of emotional problems and non-rational decision making on professional competence; and discussion of the challenges of delivering psychological services using electronic media.

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. The Legal Floor and Positive Ethics
2. Foundations of Ethical Behavior
3. Ethical Decision Making
4. Competence
5. Informed Consent, Empowered Collaboration, or Shared Decision Making
6. Multiple Relationships and Professional Boundaries
7. Confidentiality, Privileged Communications, and Record Keeping
8. Life-Endangering Patients
9. Forensic Psychology
10. Assessment
11. Special Topics in Psychotherapy
12. Business Issues
13. Psychologists as Educators
14. Consultation and Clinical Supervision
15. Research and Scholarship

Afterword

References

Index

About the Authors

Samuel Knapp, EdD, ABPP, is the director of professional affairs for the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. He has authored or edited 16 books and about 100 articles and made almost 300 professional presentations on ethics and other professional issues. He was the editor-in-chief of the recently published APA Handbook of Ethics in Psychology (2012). He holds a diplomate in counseling psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is a fellow of APA Division 31 (State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association Affairs).

Leon D. VandeCreek, PhD, ABPP, is a professor in the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University. He has authored or edited more than 20 books and about 200 articles and professional presentations. He was an associate editor of the recently published APA Handbook of Ethics in Psychology (2012). He holds a diplomate in clinical psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is a fellow of several divisions of APA. In 2005, he served as the president of APA Division 29 (Psychotherapy).