The Ethical Therapist A Guide to Confident Decision-Making in Clinical Practice

Introduction  1. Six Main Principles Of Ethics  2. The (Ethical) Therapeutic Relationship  3. Finances And Gifts  4. Confidentiality, Privacy, and Recordkeeping  5. Professional Obligations  6. Technology, Teletherapy, And Social Media  7. Self Of The Therapist (SOTT)  8. Best Practices for Being An Ethical Therapist or Counselor Collaboration 9. Case Vignettes  References

Biography

Lisa René Reynolds, Ph.D., is faculty at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), where she has served as chair of the Ethics Committee and is currently serving on the Judicial Committee.

“In a field saturated with codes, standards, and regulatory language, this book stands apart by teaching clinicians and counselors how to reason ethically in real time. Dr. Reynolds moves beyond black-and-white rule adherence to illuminate the interplay between legal mandates, aspirational ethics, therapist cognition, and practical decision-making. The clinical vignettes—ranging from multiple relationships to romantic transference and complex termination dilemmas —are nuanced, realistic, and pedagogically powerful.

Particularly compelling is the framework of identifying what feels “sticky” and then learning to “boil it down” into actionable ethical steps. This practical heuristic offers therapists something many ethics texts lack: a usable decision-making compass. Grounded in beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and veracity, the book consistently returns to its central thesis—the protection of the therapeutic relationship as an ethical mandate.

This is an invaluable resource for graduate students, supervisors, and seasoned clinicians alike."

William Hutter, PsyD, LMFT, Clinical Psychotherapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

 

“Ethics books often aim to maximize clarity, using simplistic examples that bear no resemblance to the real world. A therapist does something that clearly violates a rule; the client gets angry and complains. But real professional ethics are filled with gray areas and difficult choices that go beyond mandates and prohibitions. This book honors the complexity and messiness of trying to discern what's best in real-world ethical decision-making. As therapists, we're called upon to manage multiple issues and concerns at once; this book will help you think through more than just what you can and can't do. It will help you decide — and act on — what's best.”

Benjamin E. Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT, Author of Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs