Premium
Ethical issues in psychotherapy with adolescents
Author(s) -
Koocher Gerald P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.10215
Subject(s) - confidentiality , psychology , psychotherapist , competence (human resources) , ethical issues , social psychology , engineering ethics , political science , law , engineering
Treating adolescents in psychotherapy presents a number of unique ethical challenges. Because many adolescents who enter treatment have not yet attained the age of majority, reside in families that include other people with emotional difficulties, attend school, become involved with community agencies (e.g., the courts), and must generally take direction from adult authority figures, the role of the therapist becomes particularly complex. The unique dilemmas include developing specialized clinical competence, treatment contracting, choice of treatment modality, direction of the therapeutic process, and confidentiality. This article discusses the range of ethical concerns involved in treating adolescents and suggests strategies for optimal ethical care. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session.