The document summarizes the code of ethics of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). It outlines 8 principles related to responsibilities to clients, confidentiality, professional competence, students/supervisees, research participants, colleagues, financial arrangements, and advertising. It also lists personal characteristics of effective family practitioners such as presence, assertiveness, courage, openness to change, and interest in client welfare.

1. AAMFT
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Code of Ethics
Blanca Perezarce-Serenil, Sonia Navarro, Tenisha Williams
BSHS 335
Beatriz Zayas
January 2, 2014

2. Agenda
 Introductions
 Principles I-VIII
 Personal Characteristics of Effective Family
Practitioners
 References
T.Williams

3. Principles

I- Responsibility To Clients
 II- Confidentiality
 III- Professional Competence and Integrity
 IV- Responsibility to Students and Supervisees
 V- Responsibility of Research Participants
 VI- Responsibility to the Profession
 VII- Financial Arrangements
 VIII- Advertising
("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)
T.Williams

4. Principle I
Responsibility to Clients
•
•
•
•
• Sexual Intimacy with
Former Clients and Others
• Reports of Unethical
Conduct
• No Furthering of Own
Interests
• Client Autonomy in
Decision Making
• Relationship Beneficial to
Client
Non-Discrimination
Informed Consent
Multiple Relationships
Sexual Intimacy with Current
Clients and Others
•
•
•
•
Referrals
Non-Abandonment
Written Consent to Record
Relationships with Third
Parties
• Electronic Therapy
(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)
("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)
T.Williams

5. Principle II
CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidence between client and therapist
 Disclose only if:
 Mandated by law: child
abuse, incest neglect of
children or
adults, information used on
civil or criminal cases.
 Written waiver ,such as
teaching , lecture, writing
that will benefit others.
 Harm to same person to
others., mandated by law
“duty to warn”

6. Principle III
Continuing
Education
 Prepared/up dated skills
 Interactions between
therapist
 Responsible to be
competent
(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)
S. Navarro

7. Principle IV
Responsibility to Students
and Supervisees
• Exploitation
• Therapy with Students/Supervisees
• Sexual Intimacy with
Students/Supervisees
• Oversight of Supervisee
Competence
• Oversight of Supervisee
Professionalism
• Existing Relationship with
Students/Supervisees
• Confidentiality with Supervisees
(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)
("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)
T.Williams

8. Principle V
Research Participants: Is a type of investigation done in a group
of participants in order to come to a conclusion.
 Methods of research:
 Protection to participant by being well
planned.
 Informed consent: information to
participant shows willingness to
participate.
 Participants have a right to decline at any
time during research.
 Confidentiality is a big part of the
research team as well. Unless there is a
prior consent sign by the participant.

9. Principle VI
Respecting
Colleagues
 Don’t share clients
 Report therapist
without license
 Contribute with
society:
 Donating service
(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,”
2011)
S. Navarro

10. Principle VII
Financial Arrangements
Financial Integrity
Disclosure of Financial Policies
Notice of Payment Recovery Procedures
Truthful Representation of Services
Bartering
Withholding Records for Non-Payment
(Corey, “Chapter 11, Ethical Standards in Couples and Family Therapy,” 2011)
("American Association For Marriage And Family Therapy", 2012)
T.Williams

11. Principle VIII
ADVERTISING : Informational resource to community.
 The advertisements should be:
 Professional that could represent
other therapist education, business,
education ,and experience as well.
 Convey information in media only
that is beneficial to the public.
 Not claim other agencies if you are
not affiliated to them.
 Be careful with using any
fraudulent ,false name or
misleading information.

12. Personal Characteristics
of Effective Family Practitioners
 Presence (Acceptance, Interest and Caring)
 Assertiveness and Confidence
 Courage and Risk Taking
 Openness to Change
 Paying attention to goals and purposes of a family
 Being sincerely interested in the welfare of others
 Tending to the spirit of the entire family
 Involvement, engagement, and satisfaction in working with
families
(Corey, "Chapter 11,Ethical Issues in Couples and Family Therapy," 2011)
T.Williams

13. References

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.aamft.org/imis15/content/legal_ethics/code_of_ethics.aspx

Corey, G., Scheider Corey, M., Patrick, C. (2011). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (8th ed.)

Background photo in slide 2,”Shadow of Family of Four,” courtesy of
www.canstockphoto.com - 141 × 150

Photo used in slide #3”Family of Three” courtesy of
www.weparent.com - 477 × 290
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Photo used in slide 3,”Afro-American Family,” courtesy of
www.americanprogress.org - 620 × 360 -
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Photo used in slide 3, “Woman and child,” courtesy of
colormyworldkids.org - 1280 × 857
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Photo in slide 6, “Boss woman standing in front of co-workers,” courtesy of
work.chron.com - 400 × 267
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Photo background in slide 9, “Money,” courtesy of paintzoomnews.com - 3504 × 2336