This point–counterpoint session takes on how psychological disorders should be classified and what those choices mean for therapy. The discussion contrasts diagnosis-based categories with dimensional, transdiagnostic models that emphasize temperament, emotion regulation, and shared mechanisms across anxiety and mood disorders. Participants hear a thoughtful debate on vulnerability versus resilience, the role of self-efficacy and attachment, and how research on emotion, learning, and control can reshape both assessment and treatment. The session invites clinicians to rethink diagnosis not as an endpoint, but as a guide to more flexible, principle-driven intervention.
This panel addresses key ethical issues in psychotherapy, including the importance of clear goals, informed consent, and client autonomy. Topics include the limitations of diagnostic labels, challenges in cross-cultural work, and the impact of managed care on therapeutic integrity. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing ethics from law, promoting moral responsibility, and using education to support ethical decision-making in clinical practice.
Moderated by W. Michael Munion, MA.
