LibGuides: MFT-6201 v4: Week 7 Resources

Week 7 Resources

Ethical Issues in Couples and Family Therapy

Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2024). Ethical issues in couples and family therapy. Issues and ethics in the helping professions (11th ed., pp. 451-479). Cengage Learning.

Chapter 11 provides a foundation for the exploration of the unique legal and ethical issues of seeing couples and families.

Access your Redshelf book in the Getting Started module of the course or click on Bookshelf in the top navigation bar of the course.

Marriage and Family Therapy CA Clinical Licensing Exam Prep

Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS). (2021). Marriage and family therapy CA clinical licensing exam prep, Volume 1 and 2.

Read the section on laws related to marriage, domestic partnership, and child custody. This is a resource you will use throughout the course. These sections apply directly to this week’s topics.

Access your Redshelf book in the Getting Started module of the course or click on Bookshelf in the top navigation bar of the course.

California Family Code
California legislative information. (n.d.). California family code.
This resource provides information about California laws related to marriage, divorce, child custody, and more. Review what is covered and keep this as a resource.
Conflicts: Treating Multiple Members of a Family
Leslie, R. (2008, April). Conflicts: Treating multiple members of a family. CPH & Associates.
This resource discusses issues of recording keeping and confidentiality when working with multiple members of a family.
Secrets or No Secrets: Confidentiality in Couple Therapy
Kuo, F.-C. (2009). Secrets or no secrets: Confidentiality in couple therapy. American Journal of Family Therapy, 37(5), 351–354.
This article explores secrecy in couple therapy from ethical and clinical perspectives.
Facilitated Disclosure versus Clinical Accommodation of Infidelity Secrets: An Early Pivot Point in Couple Therapy. Part 2: Therapy Ethics, Pragmatics, and Protocol
Butler, M.H., Seedall, R.B., & Harper, J. M. (2008). Facilitated disclosure versus clinical accommodation of infidelity secrets: An early pivot point in couple therapy. Part 2: Therapy ethics, pragmatics, and protocol. American Journal of Family Therapy, 36(4), 265–283.
This article explores whether infidelity should be disclosed in couple therapy and provides a model for how disclosure can be handled.
Domestic Violence and the Duty to Make Mandated Reports
Johnson, A. (2017). Domestic violence and the duty to make mandated Reports. CAMFT.
This article reviews the responsibilities of MFTs regarding intimate partner violence. Familiarize yourself with this resource, use it as needed, and keep it for further reference.
Safety Planning
Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus County. (n.d.). Safety planning.
This guide will be useful to have and use with victims of IPV. Familiarize yourself with this resource, use it as needed, and keep it for further reference.
Managing Conflict during Divorce
Blaisure, K., & Saposnek, D. T. (n. d.). Managing conflict during divorce. AAMFT.
This resource describes the roles MFTs can play in mediation, collaborative divorces, co-parenting counseling, and parenting coordination.

Course & Professional Resources

In addition to this week’s readings, review the "Course & Professional Resources” tab for specific ethical codes and considerations when it comes to working with couples and families.

Optional Weekly Resources

Infidelity Part Two: Esther Perel on Secrets
Perel, E. (2012, October 22). Infidelity Part Two: Esther Perel on secrets. [Video] YouTube.
• This 5-minute YouTube video provides a different perspective on secrets in couple’s therapy as shared by Esther Perel. Whether or not you choose to implement a “no secrets policy,” you will need to be very clear about your process and be thoughtful around the ethical and legal considerations of either approach. As a new clinician, you will likely follow the policies set out where you work and/or the expectations from your supervisor.

User’s Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics

Caldwell, B. E. (2015). User’s guide to the 2015 AAMFT code of ethics. American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

This book takes each AAMFT ethical standard and provides a case example and commentary regarding the application of the standard to the case. This will help you develop critical thinking and skills in applying the code of ethics to actual situations. Refer to this resource as needed.

Access your Redshelf book in the Getting Started module of the course or click on Bookshelf in the top navigation bar of the course.