Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy

Book excerpt: This best-selling text for students, supervisors, and practitioners in marriage and family therapy examines the cultural, ethical, legal, and professional issues of marriage and family therapy using values as a beginning point for practice decisions. Organized in a four-part format, the book includes current cultural issues; examines ethical codes, problems, and domains; offers perspective on the latest legislation; and discusses issues of professional identity. Three chapters devoted to case studies add context and illustrate the complexities inherent in marriage and family therapy. One of these "casebook" chapters addresses ethical issues (Chapter 7), one deals with legal issues (Chapter 10) and one looks at professional issues (Chapter 12). In the fourth edition, emphasis is retained for classic ethical, legal, and professional concerns arming readers with more knowledge about: the personal, professional, and institutional layers of values affecting marriage and family therapists; managed mental health care; culturally responsive marriage and family therapy; the impact and use of technology in marriage and family therapy; and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its influence on marriage and family therapy practice.