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Ethics
in Psychotherapy and Counseling:
A Practical Guide (6th edition)—John Wiley & Sons
Paperback, Kindle, Wiley eBook—Published July, 2021
Below are 1) endorsements, 2) table of contents, 3) brief author bios & 4) link to publisher's page for ordering the book or for requesting an evaluation copy.
Praise for the 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling
"The 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling is a practical and indispensable guide for clinicians. The volume is filled with up-to-date information and actionable steps on ethics including telehealth and social media. What sets the book apart is its consistent attention to an ethics grounded in dignity, respect, and human rights. I am excited about its release!”
—Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP, 2021 President, American Psychological Association
"This is the best psychology ethics book on the market; a must-have resource for any applied psychologist or mental health professional. The internationally recognized scholars and practitioners use research, case examples, legal decisions, and diversity-related topics to bring ethical dilemmas to life. This volume makes me excited to teach on ethics."
—Helen A. Neville, PhD, Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
“The 6th edition is a stunningly good book. If there is only one book you buy on ethics, this is the one.”
—David H. Barlow PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry Emeritus; Founder, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD), Boston University
"No other ethics text comes close to matching its comprehensiveness. The 6th edition is a paradigm of excellence and should be required reading for all mental health practitioners.”
—Derald Wing Sue, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Education Teachers College, Columbia University
"This 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling takes ethical reasoning and practice to a new level by addressing the complexity of video conferencing and the use of digital tools while emphasizing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. An absolute must-read for all clinicians."
—Martin Drapeau, PhD, Professor, McGill University; former editor of Canadian Psychology
“Like all areas of human functioning, ethics is influenced by culture. Yet, during my psychological training over 20 years ago, the recognition and inclusion of topics related to culture and other diverse aspects of the human experience (e.g., race, gender, religion, sexual orientation) in ethics were marginalized, if they were mentioned at all. In this 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling, the authors have updated an already classic book that is responsive to the emergent needs of this historical moment."
—Kevin O. Cokley, PhD, Professor of Educational Psychology and African and African Diaspora Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
"The authors of this 6th edition continue to represent the 'conscience of psychology.' The inclusion of new and important material makes this the essential handbook of ethics in contemporary psychology.”
—Bonnie R. Strickland, PhD, Former President, American Psychological Association
"This is a MUST READ for both beginning and seasoned clinicians. KUDOS!"
—Don Meichenbaum, PhD, Research Director of the Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention, Miami
"Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling has always been the volume I turn to when confronted with a complex risk management question with ethical implications. It has never let me down. As changes in technology and the changes in the health care system precipitated by the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, and the rapid growth of telepsychology generated by the COVID-19 pandemic; mental health professionals will be confronting, with little guidance, unique problems with considerable ethical ambiguity. In this time of rapid change, this comprehensive but down to earth [6th edition] will become an even more essential resource."
—Eric Harris, JD, PhD, Risk Management Consultant, The Trust (formerly American Psychological Association Insurance Trust)
"If you're one of the tens of thousands of psychologists who already own previous editions of this iconic volume, get the new version without delay. Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas and Adames have more than updated the previous edition: their new material on two topics of importance to psychology - social justice and Telehealth - have earned it a spot in every psychologist's library."
—Douglas C. Haldeman, PhD, John F. Kennedy University
"The 6th edition is a compassionate, must-have resource for both students and seasoned professionals. Its emphasis on the importance of self-knowledge, moral courage, humility, cultural awareness, and sound ethical reasoning makes a significant contribution to our understanding of what it means to be ethical."
—Carole Sinclair, Ph.D., Member and former Chair, Committee on Ethics, Canadian Psychological Association
“One of the most impressive aspects of the most recent edition of this book, the original of which was published in the last century, is the clarity, thoroughness, and compassion with which the authors respond not only to the traditional ethical dilemmas confronted by psychologists and counselors, but also the speed with which they rise to the occasion of new challenges and quandaries. From who else would we have expected to see an ethics book that already engages in a thorough, informative, and socially just discussion of the question of on-line delivery of services in the COVID era then from these authors? I have counted myself fortunate to have always had their sage counsel in writing, at my side throughout the more than forty years of my own career. All practicing therapists need to own and read this book, and it makes a timely addition to the reading list for an ethics class in this new decade, already replete with conundrums that no therapist from my cohort trained in the 1970s could have possibly imagined.”
—Laura S. Brown, PhD, ABPP, Psychotherapy Consultant and Forensic Psychologist in Private Practice, Seattle WA, and Clinical Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
“In this best-in-show textbook, Pope and Vasquez have added two co-authors (Chavez-Dueñas and Adames) to the 6th edition, to provide a practical guide to ethics in psychotherapy and counseling. In a changing world beset by a pandemic and the need for new approaches to social justice, where Zoom calls, FaceTime and other innovations challenge the field, this book will be an essential guide for the therapist and clinical researcher.”
—Patrick O’Neill, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology (Acadia); Former President of the Canadian Psychological Association
“The 6th edition offers masterful guidance on ethical dilemmas, self-reflective critical thinking, blind spots, challenges of a pandemic and the migration to videoconference treatment, and more. The authors parse culture and context, as well as human rights and addressing oppression in psychotherapy. All of it leads us further down the road toward social justice and improved healthcare. What a feat!”
—Carol D. Goodheart, Ed.D., Former President, American Psychological Association
"With the addition of coauthors Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas and Hector Y. Adames, the 6th edition of Kenneth S. Pope and Melba J.T. Vasquez’s outstanding book transports us into today’s ethical challenges and conundrums. The engaging format continues to educate us about traditional ethical concepts while encouraging us to examine, reflect, and question our own ethical awareness. The extensive contributions regarding working competently with clients in a culturally diverse society, moral distress, and the concepts of emotional competence and power are especially eye-opening. Readers are kept focused on challenging decision-making but also on who they are or should aspire to be as self-reflective, competent practitioners. But this book is not just for students. Indeed, it is a must-read for all providers of mental health services."
—Patricia Keith-Spiegel, PhD, Past-Chair, American Psychological Association Ethics Committee
“The 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling updates and expands upon an established classic. It is an indispensable resource for clinicians of any discipline. This book’s engaging prose and straightforward styling will make it an easy read at your leisure, while its pithy examples and cultivated wisdom will make it your first stop in a crisis. Buy it now, and keep it where you’ll always be able to find it.”
—Eric Y. Drogin, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic), Harvard Medical School; Former Chair, American Psychological Association Committee on Professional Practice and Standards
“The turn of this decade has thrust mental health professionals into a new world of practice. The foundational concepts of ethical practice such as confidentiality, informed consent, and multiple roles are no longer enough. The extraordinary expectations for mental health professionals’ new level of competence have no template at this time. This text squarely hits the four unchartered areas in our new world of practice: (a) what mental health professionals need to know to ethically engage in remote practice/videoconferencing (e.g., apps, social media), (b) significant changes in the APA and Canadian Code of Conduct enacted in the last three years, (c) how to respectfully respond to and treat clients living in systemic oppression, and (d) how to culturally enact competency and social justice in your practice. The fundamentals across research, practice, and training are also significantly revised. This text is unquestionably the cutting-edge primer for our new world of practice and is an essential companion for mental health professionals.”
-Linda F. Campbell, PhD, Professor, The University of Georgia
“Pope and Vasquez demonstrate why they are leading ethics scholars in the 6th edition of their book, Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide, by adding to the authorship of the book two outstanding ethicists, Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas and Hector Y. Adames. The trilogies of pandemics, racism, and economic challenges made it necessary to change our approach to ethics. Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas, and Adames add the pandemics, telehealth, hackers, cultural humility, and broad diversities to challenge the reader's thinking on ethics, moral courage, and doing the right thing. This book goes to the head of the line in my new purchases. I will use the 6th edition in my classes and presentations!”
—Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, ABPP, Past President, American Psychological Association; Professor, Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research
"The latest iteration of this must-read resource for psychotherapists and counselors now includes contributions by two new co-authors, broadening perspectives and providing expanded COVID-era content on serving clients in a politically volatile socially distant world. The 6th edition has increased attention to telehealth and on ethical practice in the context of hot social issues. Substantial new material addresses ethical practice across the full range of differences among people, social justice, human rights, and societal oppression arising from racism, religious prejudice, and sexism/heterosexism. This well-crafted resource provides an enhanced level of ethical awareness to both experienced and novice practitioners."
—Gerald P. Koocher, Ph.D., ABPP, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Bioethics Center faculty member; former President, American Psychological Association.
“This impressive book is a superb resource on ethics in psychotherapy and counseling. In its 6th edition, expert practitioner-scholars Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas, and Adames, expand psychotherapy ethics into an inclusive and multifocal field. A powerful blend of case scenarios, research findings, valuable theory, and practical information provide a compass to navigate ethical challenges in psychotherapy. The authors masterfully show how to remain critically aware, thoughtful, creative, and evolving within our ethical responsibilities. I highly recommend this outstanding book to practitioners, researchers, students, and to interested members of the public.”
—Lillian Comas-Díaz, PhD, Clinical Professor, George Washington University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
“As the latest stop on the road of excellence that began at the first edition, in the 6th edition of the classic text the authors have massively updated this practical guide with notes on COVID, virtual psychology, ethics changes in clinical codes and other developments. By adding two additional authors and three new chapters, this deeply thoughtful work continues to serve as a guide through tangled ethical dilemmas.”
—Thomas G. Gutheil, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
“This extraordinary 6th edition by Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas, and Adames
continues their wonderful tradition of outstanding scholarship, day-to-day practicality, and responsiveness to the ever-changing health care environment, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, telepsychology practice, and interjurisdiction compacts. They nicely capture the manner in which clinicians of today must grapple with psychotherapy’s complex realities. Readily readable, brilliant, and inspirational.”
—Pat DeLeon, PhD, former President, American Psychological Association
"Voilà!! Pope and Vasquez and their insightful new co-authors, Drs. Chavez-Dueñas and Adames, share their layers of insight and wisdom that only come from years of both science and therapeutic practice. Their 6th edition continues to be the definitive source for understanding the increasingly complex nature of ethical decision making in psychotherapy. This edition particularly addresses cutting edge issues in the ethical landscape that have become ever more challenging, including the subtle and delicate nuances across cultures, contexts, and individual differences, with particular attention to race, gender, religion and sexual orientation. This edition also discusses the nuances of ethical dilemmas related to the shifts in our cultural context, specifically the impact of the COVID-19. Moreover, the authors are to be commended for squarely promoting a social justice perspective within ethics with three totally new, and outstanding chapters that provide in-depth discussions of ways of aligning our practice with social justice and human rights; issues that are too often overlooked or forgotten. Bravo to authors Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas and Adames on this excellent and timely contribution to our professional literature!!"
—Puncky Heppner, PhD, Distinguished Curators Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri
"The 6th edition has been impressively expanded and updated. Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas, and Adames have combined their remarkable personal and professional experiences. Using a blend, of case law, research evidence, and ethics principles the authors comment on topics such as COVID-19 and ethics, language and ethics, and malpractice and ethics. With diversity among the authors, a social justice perspective adds a special quality."
—Dick Suinn, PhD, Former President, American Psychological Association
"The 6th edition of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide has been updated from the earlier editions to include, among other additions, materials related to the COVID-19 pandemic with materials related to virtual sessions over Zoom, FaceTime, etc. Drs. Pope and Vasquez have been joined by Professors Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas and Hector Y. Adames in producing this invaluable resource."
—David. H. Mills, PhD, Former Director, American Psychological Association Ethics Office
“Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas and Adames’ foundational text guides us through an unflinching look in the mirror to wrestle with our ethical reflection. They do so with grace and caring, while holding to a fierce commitment to advancing social justice, and honoring the interlocking complexities of culture, oppression, and power. Yet beyond a call for reflection, it is ultimately a call to action that empowers readers to translate an ethical code into a lifelong practice of ethics.”
—Alvin N. Alvarez, PhD, Dean, College of Health & Social Sciences, San Francisco State University
"Talk about timely! Drs. Pope, Vasquez, Chavez-Dueñas, and Adames have responded to a clarion call to provide leadership and guidance to practitioners of the healing arts whose expertise, grounded in sound ethical and legal judgement, will be tapped differently in this era of COVID-19, reawakened social protests, and appalling national leadership. This 6th edition represents a go-to reference for mental health professionals seeking calm in the storms of chaos, controversy and confusion."
—William D. Parham, PhD, ABPP, Professor, Counseling Program Director, School of Education Loyola Marymount University; Director, Mental Health and Wellness Program National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
Table of Contents
Foundations
1 Helping Without Hurting
2 Ethics in Real Life
3 Ethics Theories & Codes
4 Dignity & Respect
5 Trust, Power, Caring, and Healing
6 Competence, Humility, & the Human Therapist
7 Culture, Context, and Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling
8 Steps in Ethical Decision Making
9 Moral Distress and Moral Courage
Common Sources of Problems
10 Ethics, Science, & Pseudoscience
11 Ethical Fallacies
12 Pitfalls in Ethical Judgment
13 Language and Ethics
14 Ethics Placebos, Rationalizations, and Excuses
Special Topics
15 Beginnings and Endings, Absence and Access
16 Informed Consent and Informed Refusal
17 Creating —and Using—Strategies for Self-Care
18 Creating a Professional Will
19 Responding to Ethics, Licensing, or Malpractice Complaints
20 Assessment, Testing, and Diagnosis 21 Confidentiality
22 Recognizing, Assessing, and Responding to Suicidal Risk
23 Supporting Human Rights and Addressing Oppression in Psychotherapy
24 Therapists in a Digital World: Teletherapy, Electronic Records, And Social Media
25 Sexual Attraction to Patients, Therapist Vulnerabilities, and Sexual Relationships with Patients
26 Nonsexual Multiple Relationships and Other Boundary Crossings: the Therapeutic, the Harmful, the Risky, and the Inevitable
27 Steps to Strengthen Ethics in Organizations: Research Findings, Ethics Placebos, and What Works
The Authors
Kenneth S. Pope is in independent practice as a licensed psychologist. He has chaired the ethics committee of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He received the 2015 Canadian Psychological Association John C. Service Member of the Year Award.
Melba J. T. Vasquez is a licensed psychologist in independent practice in Austin, Texas. She has served on various ethics committees and task forces and served as the 2011 President of the American Psychological Association.
Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas is a licensed psychologist and professor in Chicago, Illinois. She earned the 2018 Distinguished Citizen Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association.
Hector Y. Adames is a licensed psychologist and professor in Chicago, Illinois. He has chaired the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs of the American Psychological Association.
HERE'S A LINK TO WILEY'S PAGE FOR ORDERING THE BOOK OR FOR INSTRUCTORS' REQUESTS FOR AN EVALUATION COPY