The client's perspective: Ethical judgments and perceptions of therapist practices.

Abstract

In response to a questionnaire, 96 adults, both with and without experience as clients in therapy, judged the ethical appropriateness of 60 therapist practices. In addition, those who had been clients indicated whether the practices had occurred in their own therapy. The practices were organized into 6 groups that corresponded to major areas of professional ethics in psychology: confidentiality, dual relationships, informed consent and business practices, competence, sensitivity to differences, and interventions. Clients and nonclients alike showed a general understanding of ethical principles but uncertainty about many specific points. Some uncertainty stemmed from a misunderstanding about the nature, and particularly the risks, of therapy. Practices judged clearly appropriate were not reported to have occurred universally by the clients in the sample, and practices judged clearly inappropriate were reported to have occurred with some, albeit low, frequency. The results are discussed with regard to implications for ethics research and ethical practice.