Title Details

Melba J. T. Vasquez is a psychologist in private practice. She served on the APA Ethics Committee, the APA Ethics Committee Task Force for Revision of 1992 Ethics Code, and the APA Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility. She is the 2011 President-Elect of the APA.

1. What Do I Do Now?

2. Ethics in Real Life.

3. Ethics and Critical Thinking.

4. Trust, Power, and Caring.

5. Therapy in the Digital World: Ethical Challenges of the New Technologies.

6. Competence and the Human Therapist.

7. Creating Strategies for Self-Care.

8. Creating a Professional Will.

9. Codes and Complaints in Context: Historical, Empirical, and Actuarial Foundations.

10. Responding to Ethics, Licensing, or Malpractice Complaints.

11. Steps in Ethical Decision Making.

12. Different Conclusions: Example from the Interrogation Controversy.

13. Beginnings and Endings, Absence and Access.

14. Informed Consent and Informed Refusal.

15. Assessment, Testing, and Diagnosis.

16. Sexual Relationships with Clients.

17. Nonsexual Multiple Relationships and Other Boundary Issues.

18. Culture, Context, and Individual Differences.

19. Confidentiality.

20. Recognizing, Assessing, and Responding to Suicidal Risk.

21. Supervision.

APPENDICES.

A. American Psychological Association: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Amended, 2010).

B. Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists, Third Edition.

C. Ethics Codes & Practice Guidelines for Assessment, Therapy, Counseling, & Forensic Practice.

REFERENCES.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS.

Author Index.

Subject Index.

"A stunningly good book.... If there is only one book you buy on ethics, this is the one."
—David H. Barlow, Ph.D., ABPP; Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Boston University

"The fourth edition continues to be the gold standard.... A must read in every counseling/therapy training program. It is that good and valuable."
—Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Teachers College, Columbia University

"A must have for therapists at every step of their career from student to wise elder."
—Bonnie Strickland, Ph.D., Former President, American Psychological Association

“This fourth edition of the best book in its field has much timely new material.... A brilliant addition is an exploration of how reasonable people can conscientiously follow the same ethical principles yet reach different conclusions..... An essential source book."
—Patrick O’Neill, Ph.D., former President, Canadian Psychological Association

"Essential for all practicing mental health professionals and students..."
—Nadine Kaslow, Ph.D., ABPP; President, American Board of Professional Psychology

"I particularly enjoyed the chapter on ethical practice in the electronic world, which was informative even to this highly tech-savvy psychologist. The chapter on responses to the interrogations issue is destined to be a classic... Bravo! Mandatory reading"
—Laura Brown, Ph.D. ABPP; 2010 President, APA Division of Trauma Psychology

"There's no better resource to have at your fingertips..."
—Eric Drogin, JD, Ph.D., ABPP; former Chair, APA Committee on Professional Practice and Standards & APA Committee on Legal Issues

"Two of psychology's national treasures, Drs. Ken Pope and Melba Vasquez, walk the walk of psychotherapy ethics. Simply the best book in its genre."
—John Norcross, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor of Psychology & Distinguished University Fellow, University of Scranton

"I love this book! And so will therapists, supervisors and trainees. In fact, it really should be required reading for every mental professional and aspiring professional.... And it is a fun read to boot!"
—Stephen J. Ceci, Ph.D., Cornell University

"A splendid book.... This is essential reading for all those in psychotherapy and related fields."
—Clifford Stromberg, Esq., Partner, Healthcare Law, Hogan & Hartson, Washington, DC

"It should be part of every therapist's basic library."
—Allen Webb, Ph.D., ABPP, Former President, American Board of Professional Psychology

"A classic must-have book for all psychologists that just keeps getting better with each edition...."
—Nadya Fouad, Distinguished Professor, University of Wisconsin; Editor, Counseling Psychologist

"Pope & Vasquez have done it again....an indispensable resource for seasoned professionals and students alike."
—Beverly Greene, Ph.D., ABPP, St. John's University

"A wonderful, helpful guide to the complexities of modern-day ethics. As hard as it is to imagine, this revision by Drs. Pope and Vasquez of their land-mark text is even more timely, insightful, and important."
—Patrick Deleon, Ph.D., Former President, American Psychological Association

"At last the working clinician has concrete, down-to-earth help to resolve issues of ethics and professional responsibility that one confronts daily. This book is a must for faculty. . . should be required for all clinicians in training."
—Jerome Singer, Ph.D., ABPP, Yale University

"An updated version of a classic text on ethics in psychology. Drs. Pope and Vasquez provide the reader with an outstanding set of tools for enhancing ethical behavior in an increasingly complex professional world."
—Ronald F. Levant, Ed.D., Former president, American Psychological Association

"A wonderfully insightful and unique book for all therapists, supervisors, and students; an affirmation of our rich scientific and professional heritage and values."
—Jack Wiggins, Ph.D., Former President, American Psychological Association

"A wise and useful book which should be in every practitioner's library and be required in all clinical and counseling training programs."
—David Mills, Ph.D., former Director, APA Ethics Office

"An excellent analysis of the meaning of ethics in the everyday life of practicing therapists."
—Patricia Keith-Spiegel, Ph.D., former Chair, APA Ethics Committee

"This classic ethics text provides invaluable resources and enables readers to engage in critical thinking in order to make their own decisions. This superb reference belongs in every psychology training program's curriculum and on every psychologist's bookshelf."
—Lillian Comas-Diaz, Ph.D., Former President, APA Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice

"Ken Pope and Melba Vasquez are right on target once again, a book that every practicing mental health professional should read and have in their reference library."
—Jeffrey N. Younggren, Ph.D., Risk Management Consultant, American Psychological Association Insurance Trust

"Drs. Pope and Vasquez have done a masterful job in helping practitioners think through how to respond to complex ethical dilemmas and assume personal responsibility for their actions. This book also provides an excellent articulation of best practices in negotiating and clarifying complex ethical dilemmas. The authors explore the complexities of ethical decision-making in creative ways that encourage mindful awareness and continual inquiry. They use an active approach with scenarios followed by a set of questions to explore each topic. This is an essential book for every clinician—from trainees to seasoned practitioners. It will have a powerful impact on the field for many years to come by providing practitioners a solid foundation and road map upon which to provide competent and ethical treatment."
—Linda Garnets, Ph.D., UCLA

"This dynamic edition invites the reader into an active questioning process that goes well beyond ethics codes and standards. The engaging autonomy-based approach empowers practitioners to discover “the most ethical and positive response to a unique client with unique needs and resources in a unique context."
—Carol D. Goodheart, Ed.D., 2010 President, American Psychological Association

“The talents of Drs. Pope and Vasquez relative to their abilities to translate difficult and sensitive material into a user friendly resource, continues to shine forth in this latest work. Their appreciation of the multiple contexts (multicultural, social, political, historical, and intra-personal) within which ethical decision-making is framed and their attention to the emotion-laden human component that fuels a professional’s response to the ethical circumstances and dilemmas they confront adds a shining touch to their impeccable scholarship. This text represents an invitation to mental health professionals across levels of academic and clinical experiences to sharpen their service-provider talents and tools and a response in the affirmative to these distinguished authors is highly encouraged.”
—William D. Parham, Ph.D., ABPP, President, Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17 of the American Psychological Association; Dean, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, John F. Kennedy University

"An excellent blend of case law, research evidence, down-to-earth principles and practical examples from two authors with outstanding expertise. Promotes valuable understanding through case illustrations, self-directed exercises, and thoughtful discussion of such issues as cultural diversity."
—Dick Suinn, Former President, American Psychological Association

"The Pope and Vasquez text will stand as a premier reference source for ethics codes, practice guidelines, and leading edge topics of expanding practice. The authors do a masterful job of blending relational aspects of practice (e.g., power, trust, cultural and contextual differences, self-care, and boundaries) with areas of continuing competency development (e.g., practice in electronic services, evolving skills in assessment and evaluation, and procedures for responding to complaints). The result is a power house of resources and tools for practice today and into the future."
—Linda Campbell, Ph.D., University of Georgia

"This unique volume provides invaluable ethical guidance for psychologists engaged in professional practice. The scenarios and accompanying questions added to most chapters will prove especially helpful to those who offer courses and workshops concerned with ethics in psychology."
—Charles D. Spielberger, Ph.D., ABPP; Former President, American Psychological Association

"An outstanding book. The chapter on testing, assessment, and diagnosis is heartening; it identifies the ethical responsibilities as well as dilemmas and pitfalls we face as practitioners."
—Philip Erdberg, Ph.D., ABPP, Former President, Society for Personality Assessment

"A comprehensive and practical guide for practitioners who strive to have an ethical, competent and caring practice, this book is a practical resource those who aspire to be excellent psychotherapists and counselors. Useful and relevant, it will not gather dust."
—Jessica Henderson Daniels, Ph.D., ABPP, Childrens Hospital, Boston; APA Board of Directors

"This is an excellent, well-written blend of scholarship, common-sense, and wise counsel that is easy to read and full of practical illustrations likely to benefit both the novice and experienced psychotherapist."
—Gerald Koocher, Ph.D., ABPP, Dean of the School for Health Studies at Simmons College; Former President, American Psychological Association

"A necessary book for those who want to take their risk management strategies to the next level."
—Eric Harris, J.D., Ph.D., Risk Managment Consultant, American Psychological Association Insurance Trust

"Useful to every psychologist. I expect it will land on everyone's bookshelf as a well-thumbed source of important information on such topics as working with suicidal clients. We will use it in training at our Center."
—Norman Farberow, Ph.D., ABPP, Co-Founder and Co-Director, L.A. Suicide Prevention Center