These ethical concerns can partially be addressed through the use of appropriate informed consent. Items that need to be included in an informed consent for psychotherapy include the nature and anticipated course of therapy, fees and payment, third party involvement, and limits to confidentiality (APA, 2002). Ethical standard 10.01a also compels psychologists to provide the client with an opportunity to engage in dialogue surrounding the informed consent process. Informed consent must be provided in a language that is readily understandable to the person from whom you are seeking consent (Fisher, 2003). This includes taking into account not only alternative languages but also educational and developmental levels. Pomerantz (2002) explores the concept of informed consent as an ongoing process throughout the life of treatment and that as a client's issues change or focuses change it is important to have continued dialogue regarding the nature and expectations of the treatment process. This can include frequency of sessions and activities for treatment engagement. In this case, the professional should discuss with the client the concerns regarding the substance use, the possibility of reporting...
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Fisher, C.B., (2003). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing Inc.
Pipes, R.B., Holstein, J.E., Aguirre, M.G., (2005). Examining the personal -- professional distinction ethics codes and the difficulty of drawing a boundary. American Psychologist, 60(4), 325-334
Pomerantz, A.M., (2002). Increasingly informed consent: Discussing distinct aspects of psychotherapy at different points in time. Ethics & Behavior, 15(4), 351-360.
