Graduate programs in marriage and family counseling must adhere to ethical codes and standards for training students. A question arises concerning the amount of specialized training that should be included within the larger counselor education discipline. This article addresses the standards for training and competence as set forth by the Council…

Given increases in the use of technology in counseling, family counselors must become aware of the ethical considerations for infusing technology in their training and practice methods. Standards for Internet counseling practice, supervision practice, and the training of family counselors have not kept pace with the advances in technology. An…

Reviews literature on complex ethical and legal issues that may arise in counseling families (defining the client, welfare and rights of individuals versus those of family system, informed consent and manipulative therapeutic techniques, family members who refuse to participate, confidentiality, and family values). Concludes with specific…

Provides an overview of marriage and family counseling, including the growth of interest in this specialty within the American Counseling Association (ACA). Discusses the evolution of marriage and family counseling within ACA, standards for training, credentialing, and unique ethical considerations when counseling couples and families. (Author)

Identifies three special issues and considerations Marital and Family Therapy supervisors might face with the increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Issues include: (1) the importance of educating therapists regarding various aspects of the disease process and transmission; (2) the ethical and legal ramifications; and (3) the considerations provided to…

This document presents a review of the literature on salient ethical issues in marriage and family counseling. Issues addressed in the paper include: (1) defining the client and the welfare and rights of individuals versus those of the family system; (2) issues of informed consent and manipulative therapeutic interventions; (3) issues related to…

Training for interprofessional collaboration is important because professionals are increasingly required to work together in a coordinated and collaborative manner to meet the complex needs of clients. However, few published reports exist on interprofessional training for community counselors and marriage and family therapists. The authors…

Describes how one marriage-and-family-therapy (MFT) accredited program has been transformed as the result of a conscious decision to examine and modify the entire educational process. As a foundation for the transformation, faculty chose a "genderist" philosophy as the most effective approach. (Author/MKA)

Counselors whose specialty is marriage and family counseling develop a theoretical and research base and acquire countless hours of experience upon which to base their interventions. Most counselors and other helping professionals whose specialty is in another area do as well as they can lacking specific theoretical concepts and experience from…

This article illustrates a teaching case in which a marriage and family therapy (MFT) trainee learned to develop cultural sensitivity toward same-sex couples despite religious beliefs that put her at risk of discriminating against that population. The case took place during a marriage and family therapy ethics course in the spring of 2003. From…

This book, designed for graduate and doctoral level students as well as practicing professionals, provides a comprehensive look at the standards of law and ethics by which mental health professionals must abide. Issues related to ethics and law can be confusing as values and rules change based on client and context. For example, a school counselor…