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Book Review: Healing the Incest Wound by Christine A. Courtois, PhD

Review by James A. Chu, MD. Healing the Incest Wound, originally published in 1988, was a landmark achievement in the modern era of trauma psychiatry and psychology. Christine Courtois, PhD is one of the pioneers who helped rediscover the long-neglected effects of pandemic childhood sexual abuse and to introduce treatment models that could help incest [...]

Is there a Duty to Warn When Working with HIV-Positive Clients?

Stephanie Chervenak Asks: I am curious about ethical considerations when treating individuals who are HIV positive. What are my responsibilities as a clinician if I know that my client (HIV positive) is engaging in risky/unsafe sexual practices with someone? In this case, the other person’s life is endangered. This issue always stumps me, thank you [...]

Book Review: Choose to be Happily Married, How Everyday Decisions Can Lead to Lasting Love

By Staci Weiner, Psy.D. Apple Psychological, LLP. www.applepsychological.com. Choose to be Happily Married, How Everyday Decisions Can Lead to Lasting Love by Bonnie Jacobson, Ph.D., Publisher Adams Media, May 2010. This is a relationship road map; a manual for relationships that leads to successful communication, listening skills, and ultimate connection between two people. Illustrating twenty-five [...]

Ask the Ethicist: Couples Therapy in an Abusive Relationship

Question by Faith Prelli. I have a client (18yr female) who I have seen twice a week for 8 months who is currently in a relationship plagued with intimate partner violence. This has been dubbed “mutual combat” by several of my co-workers, but in exploration with her, it appears as though the severity of his [...]

Ask the Ethicist: The Ethics of Making or Not Making Medication Referrals.

Question By Jennifer Weinstein. Currently, there is a push for people to be on medication, and clients often come in stating that they want medication. This is especially true in multidisciplinary environments where psychiatrists and APRNs work alongside psychotherapists. However, some people do not have this mindset. For therapists who believe that medication only needs [...]

Ask the Ethicist Blog

Ask the Ethicist is a feature on the website of the APA Division of Psychotherapy that provides a forum for asking questions involving ethics and professional practice issues. All psychotherapists face ethically challenging dilemmas and situations in their professional work, whether it be in providing psychotherapy, in conducting research, in supervision or consultation, or in [...]

Excellent Resources for Clients Seeking Therapy

Psychotherapists are always looking for good places to send clients to get simple, quick information about seeking treatment for a wide range of symptoms. The Canadian Psychology Association maintains a nice resource of Psychology Works Fact Sheets which may be of use.