EP90 Panel 09 - Key Ethical Considerations - Jay Haley, MA; Rollo May, PhD; Thomas Szasz, MD; Jeffrey K. Zeig, PhD

Description:

Educational Objectives:

1. To compare and contrast clinical and philosophical perspectives of experts.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Certainly! Here's the corrected and condensed version with the proper names:

• Panel Introduction

  • Bill O'Hanlon moderates a discussion on ethics in psychotherapy with Jay Haley, Rollo May, Thomas Szasz, and Jeff Zeig.

• Jay Haley on Therapy Ethics

  • Emphasizes fair exchange, client welfare, and avoiding harm.

  • Advocates for an ethical therapy organization with clear principles.

  • Criticizes compulsory therapy and treating unwilling clients.

• Rollo May on Ethical Practice

  • Critiques therapist self-promotion and marketing-focused credentials.

  • Notes the lack of a universal ethical code for psychotherapists.

  • Shares a case of overextended therapy, warning against therapist dependency on clients.

• Thomas Szasz on Ethics and Freedom

  • Rejects traditional mental illness and therapy models.

  • Sees therapy as applied ethics; stresses freedom and responsibility.

  • Opposes involuntary hospitalization and the insanity defense.

  • Argues therapists should warn of potential harms, not just give informed consent.

• Jeff Zeig on Training and Boundaries

  • Raises concerns about evolving ethical codes and rigid training standards.

  • Shares conflict over training non-doctoral students in hypnosis.

  • Highlights dual relationships in therapy and questions rigid consent models.

  • Stresses the need for therapists to stay relevant to client needs.

• Ethical Challenges in Training and Consent

  • Panel debates ethical standards in therapist licensing and training.

  • Informed consent discussed in the context of family therapy and client collaboration.

  • Emphasizes balancing ethical codes with client-centered practice.

• Voluntariness and Mental Illness

  • A medical trainee questions ethics in treating brain diseases and decision-making.

  • Szasz criticizes psychiatry’s coercive ethical standards.

  • Tension noted between legal guidelines and ethical flexibility.

• Insurance and Diagnoses

  • Ethical concerns over assigning diagnoses for insurance purposes.

  • Zeig and Szasz share approaches to collaboratively selecting diagnoses with patients.

  • Highlights practical challenges in balancing ethics with insurance systems.

• Final Reflections

  • Panel underscores transparency, collaboration, and client relevance.

  • Audience questions touch on defining problems and ethical dilemmas in long-term or incurable cases.

  • Emphasis on evolving ethics and the need for continued dialogue in psychotherapy.