MFT 520 Ethics and Professional Issues in MFT

Ethics and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy provides students with a comprehensive understanding of ethical standards and legal responsibilities central to clinical practice. Grounded in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics, this course explores ethical decision-making models, professional boundaries, confidentiality, mandatory reporting, and informed consent. Through case studies and applied learning, students will develop skills to navigate complex ethical scenarios, ensuring professional integrity and client welfare. Emphasis is placed on cultivating ethical reasoning and adherence to legal standards within diverse clinical and research contexts.

Credits

3

Outcomes

1. This course will prepare students to:
2. 1. Distinguish the legal responsibilities and ramifications of clinical practice including confidentiality, mandatory reporting, and informed consent.
3. 2. Apply appropriate professional boundaries with clients, colleagues, and within their practice settings to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure ethical practice.
4. 3. Analyze ethical decision-making models to complex scenarios to ensure professional integrity and protect client welfare.
5. 4. Evaluate the ethical principles and standards set by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and how these principles apply to various clinical and research scenarios.