Just like all other mental health professionals, psychotherapists run their practice guided by a strict code of regulations and ethical principles. Dedication to ethical and professional excellence is one way to describe what they do. Also, they are sworn to commitment to service, advocacy and public participation. This does not stop clients from unethical treatment by psyhotherapist, at least unscrupulous ones.
As a client, it is of utmost importance to fully grasp the importance of law and ethics to a mental health profession. Ethics and law is what the profession is founded on. Ethics is to therapy what gods are to religion. One cannot exist without the other. This is what makes breach of ethics a crime so despicable. Indeed, the crime is punishable by the licensing board, the professional body or the legal framework.
So what exactly is unethical treatment? It may involve confidentiality breach, where the psychotherapist reveals information concerning your sessions without your consent. Also, any romantic or sexual gestures from the therapist are a no-no. Encounters outside the practice are also prohibited. Friendships and any other type of relationship likely to affect the psychotherapist performance or harm the client are also considered unethical.
Inaccurate billing is also not allowed. The therapist should begin treatment by explaining to their clients how and what will be billed among other financial policies. It is ethically wrong for them to bill a service which is already covered for. Besides, he or she should not exaggerate the diagnosis of a patient or underwrite it to protect their perceived image.
If you feel your ethical rights have been breached in the above or others ways, there are several options available. But, first and foremost, you need to confirm and be completely sure that indeed your right to ethical therapy has been breached. You do not want to destroy someones career over a hunch. Talk to someone whom you trust or a lawyer to know your next step.
So whats next? After establishing your right to ethical therapy has been breached there are several options available. For instance, you may decide to confront them. Discussing with the therapist about their questionable behavior may be awkward for some. So, you may decide to file a complaint with their licensing or professional bodies for investigations. Alternatively, you may file a lawsuit if your lawyer recommends so or terminate your treatment with the particular doctor.
For starters, if you are in a crisis or your life is threatened, involve law enforcement right away. If you wish to terminate the program, do not just abandon it or stop receiving their phone calls. Terminate in an amicable and adult manner. Inform the therapist that they breached your rights and consequently you wish to withdraw from the program.
It is difficult enough having to live with emotional wound and pain. Talking to a total stranger is also not easy; it takes courage and an enormous call for trust and that why this privacy should be protected at all cost. This is why anyone who takes advantage of their clients should not be allowed to practice. By reporting, we get rid of them one by one.
As a client, it is of utmost importance to fully grasp the importance of law and ethics to a mental health profession. Ethics and law is what the profession is founded on. Ethics is to therapy what gods are to religion. One cannot exist without the other. This is what makes breach of ethics a crime so despicable. Indeed, the crime is punishable by the licensing board, the professional body or the legal framework.
So what exactly is unethical treatment? It may involve confidentiality breach, where the psychotherapist reveals information concerning your sessions without your consent. Also, any romantic or sexual gestures from the therapist are a no-no. Encounters outside the practice are also prohibited. Friendships and any other type of relationship likely to affect the psychotherapist performance or harm the client are also considered unethical.
Inaccurate billing is also not allowed. The therapist should begin treatment by explaining to their clients how and what will be billed among other financial policies. It is ethically wrong for them to bill a service which is already covered for. Besides, he or she should not exaggerate the diagnosis of a patient or underwrite it to protect their perceived image.
If you feel your ethical rights have been breached in the above or others ways, there are several options available. But, first and foremost, you need to confirm and be completely sure that indeed your right to ethical therapy has been breached. You do not want to destroy someones career over a hunch. Talk to someone whom you trust or a lawyer to know your next step.
So whats next? After establishing your right to ethical therapy has been breached there are several options available. For instance, you may decide to confront them. Discussing with the therapist about their questionable behavior may be awkward for some. So, you may decide to file a complaint with their licensing or professional bodies for investigations. Alternatively, you may file a lawsuit if your lawyer recommends so or terminate your treatment with the particular doctor.
For starters, if you are in a crisis or your life is threatened, involve law enforcement right away. If you wish to terminate the program, do not just abandon it or stop receiving their phone calls. Terminate in an amicable and adult manner. Inform the therapist that they breached your rights and consequently you wish to withdraw from the program.
It is difficult enough having to live with emotional wound and pain. Talking to a total stranger is also not easy; it takes courage and an enormous call for trust and that why this privacy should be protected at all cost. This is why anyone who takes advantage of their clients should not be allowed to practice. By reporting, we get rid of them one by one.
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