If you are, for instance, in a relationship with your therapist, they are definitely in violation of ethical codes.
There are certain cases in which a therapist will recommend that you stop spending time with someone. Listen to your therapist’s reasoning in each case to determine if the person they encourage you to stop spending time with is truly harmful to your physical or emotional well-being.
Sometimes this isn’t an ethical issue, but just a sign of a bad match.
In some cases, the therapist must turn information over to third parties such as law enforcement. For instance, if you’ve committed a crime or if you are the victim of a crime and there is an imminent threat to yourself or others, your therapist might be required to turn that information over to the authorities. When you begin working with a therapist, they should lay out the limits of their confidentiality and disclosure practices, including how their records are stored. If your therapist does not share this information with you, you should not seek counseling with them. It is important to make sure that you understand the confidentiality agreement between you and your therapist, and recognize that this has certain limits. For example, if you express a desire to harm yourself or others, then your therapist is mandated to report this. Otherwise, everything you discuss should remain confidential.
You’ll probably see a psychologist, but if you’re working with a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist, they should have a medical degree (M. D. ). [5] X Research source There is no such thing as an unlicensed therapist. However, sometimes, you will be referred to a therapist in training, who is still being supervised and working under a licensed professional. If this occurs, the trainee should let you know as soon as you begin seeing them.
For example, if you have a heart problem, you don’t go to your foot doctor to treat it, you go to a cardiologist. The same type of specialty classifications apply to psychologists. If a psychologist says that they “do everything,” then this is a sign of an unethical practice. Consider how much the therapist knows about the conditions they specialize in. For example, if a therapist can train an autistic child to hug on command but doesn’t really understand autism or autistic people, that is a problem.
Withholding psychological testing results from you is another example of unacceptable secretive behavior.
Your therapist should address billing schedules and practices at the beginning of your treatment. If you are confused about a bill or have questions about how your bill is calculated, do not hesitate to ask your therapist.
Both you and your therapist should be on the same page about your needs and develop a plan – open to later amendment – that can help. An unclear or inadequate treatment plan would be one in which your therapist continues to suggest or provide therapy even after you stop benefiting from it. Alternately, an inappropriate treatment plan might inappropriately end your treatment before providing adequate help. It is impossible to say how long a treatment plan should last. Everyone has different emotional needs. The length of your treatment plan should be based on the depth of your particular emotional needs or issues. A questionable treatment plan is one that offers guarantees. [9] X Research source For instance, if your therapist says, “You’ll be guilt-free in 90 days, guaranteed,” you should assume they are unethical.
Improvement depends on the reason or reasons that prompted you to seek treatment. If you sought therapy because you were struggling with depression, for instance, a more positive mood or outlook on life might qualify as an improvement. If you’re in therapy for a lifelong condition (e. g. autism), consider if you’re gaining any skills or coping mechanisms. Your condition may be permanent, but you should be learning better ways to handle things.
For instance, a good therapist might hear you say, “I don’t think I have anything to offer” and suggest that your friends and family surely disagree. An unethical therapist, on the other hand, might hear you say “I don’t think I have anything to offer” and agree, “You’re right, you don’t seem to be very intelligent or kind. ” If you often leave your therapy session feeling worse than when you started, that should be a red flag that your therapist is not right for you. [12] X Research source
