Professional Ethics
The analysis and determination of how members of a group of professionals ought to act when judged against a system of values
Values
Beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living, can be of an individual or a group
Code of Ethics
Normative thinking about shared values that guide expectations for professional conduct
Morality
Our perspectives of right and proper conduct and involves evaluation of actions on the basis of some broader cultural context or religious standard.
Levels of Ethical Practice
Mandatory Ethics (standards) and Aspirational Ethics (codes)
*if in conflict, adhere to mandatory ethics
Mandatory Ethics
level of ethical function where therapists comply with minimum standards, acknowledging the basic “musts” and “must nots.” Can be written or unwritten. e.g. CRPO Standards of Practice
Aspirational Ethics
The highest professional standards of conduct to which therapists can aspire. e.g. Ethical Codes
Value of Power Differential
- Confidence in their caregiver’s knowledge, training, and expertise
- Security, safety, and protection
- Role boundary clarification and maintenance
- Assessments of progress
- Sensitivity, respect, fairness, and care
- Provision of direction, focus, treatment, guidance, and support
- Overview and access to a bigger picture and wider view of persons and situations
- Chain of accountability
- Facilitated accomplishment of task and purpose
- Final decision-making authority for therapeutic process rests in therapists
Forms of Power
-Legitimate Power
-Referent Power
-Expert Power
Legitimate Power
-comes when given RP title
-formal
-can enforce conformity
-position
Referent Power
-based on establishing and building the therapeutic alliance
-non-coercive
-grounded in trust and respect
-earned over time
Expert Power
-something we hold within us
-knowledge
-training
-skill
-experience
-cases for therapist credibility
Competency
skills, knowledge and judgement
entry-level proficiency of RP
uses competencies in an informed manner and does not normally require immediate supervision/direction; achieves outcomes consistent with generally accepted standards; and seeks supervision/refers when in unusual and difficult to resolve or complex situations
5 Categories of CRPO Competencies
- Foundations
- Collegial& Interprofessional Relationships
- Professional Responsibilities
- Therapeutic Process
- Professional Literature & Applied Research
Resources for Decision Making
- Internal (decision making skills and model, knowledge of ethics and laws (and how we interpret them), moral principles, intentionality/power, courage of your convictions (intuition and guilt), guidance of the Holy Spirit, experience)
- External (code of ethics, professional standards, laws, agency policies, insurance, client, supervision, consultation/peers, PD)
4 features of a Code of Ethics
- Based on principles that are valued by the members of the proffesion and society.
- Principles have universality - apply to all individuals under similar circumstances
- Appropriate actions can be taken using reasoning.
- Actions lead to outcomes that are accepted by society
*all codes are to protect clients not the therapist
Values/Principles of CRPO Code of Ethics
-Autonomy & Dignity of all persons
-excellence in professional practice
-integrity
-justice
-responsible citizenship
-responsible research
-support for colleagues
Limitations of Codes of Ethics
- can be too rigid
- can be too aspirational
- can be too black and white when life is messy
- may not cover everything explicitly, still leaves room for personal judgment
Law vs. Regulation
Law = the minimum standard society will tolerate. Enforced by the government.
Regulation = legal and ethical practice of regulated health professionals. Establishes the scope of practice and how laws will be enforced by provincial regulatory bodies (e.g. CRPO)
Law is the lowest bar/standard we must adhere to, regulation is the practicality of the law
Laws pertaining to Psychotherapy in Ontario
-Regulated Health Professionals Act, 1991
-Psychotherapy Act, 2007
-Affirming Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Act, 2015
-Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017
-Missing Persons Act
-Long Term Care Homes Act, 2007,
-Retirement Homes Act, 2010
-Health Care Consent Act (HCCA), 1996
-Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), 2004
-Substitute Decision Maker Act, 1992
-Criminal Codes
Duties of Regulatory Bodies
- Determine standards for admission into the profession
- Screen applicants applying for registration (Ontario), certification or licensure
- Regulate the practice of psychotherapy to protect the public
- Quality assurance (e.g. CRPO quality assurance exam every 2 years)
- Conduct disciplinary proceedings (following investigation of complaints)
How CRPO protects public interest
- maintaining a Public Register of members;
- holding registrants accountable for their conduct by investigating and addressing all complaints;
- providing funding for therapy and counselling in the event a client is sexually abused by an RP;
- developing, establishing and maintaining requirements for registration and renewal;
- developing Professional Practice Standards For Registered Psychotherapists and the Code of Ethics;
- ensuring the ongoing competence of members through the Quality Assurance (QA) Program; and
- taking action to prevent non-members from using restricted titles.
3 Types of Ethics
- Principle Ethics (What should I do? - focus on what is right and wrong and actions)
- Virtue Ethics (Who do I want to be? relates to our own moral qualities and virtues, Am I okay doing this? Does it fit with who I want to be as a person/Christian?)
- Relational Ethics (How will my actions manifest consideration and care for others? looking at the situation systemically and considering who besides the client and therapist will be impacted)
