Ethical and Legal Issues in Abnormal Psychology

Mary Shuttlesworth2 minutes read

The APA establishes ethical standards for professionals in psychology, covering areas such as resolving ethical issues, competence, confidentiality, and informed consent. Psychologists must possess competence to assess, conceptualize, and intervene with clients, with additional competencies required for psychologists working in legal settings.

Insights

  • The American Psychological Association (APA) sets ethical standards covering a wide range of areas in psychology, including competence, privacy, confidentiality, and treatment standards.
  • Psychologists must maintain competence in assessing and intervening with clients, with additional requirements for those working in legal settings, while also ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the duty to protect in cases of harm.

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Recent questions

  • What does the American Psychological Association establish?

    Ethical standards for psychology professionals.

  • What is the importance of informed consent in therapy?

    Outlines treatment goals, processes, and client rights.

  • What is the significance of confidentiality in therapy?

    Ensures client information remains private.

  • When is privileged communication in legal settings applicable?

    Protects client-therapist confidentiality in legal contexts.

  • What is the duty of psychologists regarding harmful intentions expressed by clients?

    Duty to warn or protect in extreme cases.

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Summary

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APA Ethics Code: Standards for Psychologists' Practice

  • The American Psychological Association (APA) establishes ethical standards for professionals in psychology.
  • These standards cover areas like resolving ethical issues, competence, human relations, privacy, confidentiality, advertising, and public statements.
  • The APA Ethics Code also addresses record-keeping, fees, ongoing education, research conduct, assessment, and treatment standards.
  • Psychologists must possess competence to assess, conceptualize, and intervene with clients.
  • Additional competencies are required for psychologists working in legal settings, like forensic psychology or child protection evaluations.
  • Informed consent is crucial in therapy, outlining treatment goals, processes, client rights, responsibilities, risks, techniques, fees, and confidentiality limits.
  • Confidentiality in therapy ensures client information remains private unless written permission is granted.
  • Privileged communication in legal settings protects client-therapist confidentiality, with exceptions in custody cases, mental disability defenses, and abuse cases.
  • Psychologists have a duty to warn or protect if a client expresses harmful intentions towards a specific person, breaking confidentiality in extreme cases.
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