Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychotherapy

The chapter presents an overview of ethical and legal issues pertaining to the clinical practice of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is an English word of Greek origin, deriving from the ancient Greek words ‘psyche’ (ψυχή meaning ‘breath; spirit; soul’) and ‘therapia’ (θeραπeία meaning ‘healing; medical treatment’). Psychotherapy is a science which alleviates pain, suffering, stress or anxiety. Psychotherapy may also be used in combination with medicines to treat mental illness. Ethical and legal issues which are likely to be encountered in practice; like record keeping, confidentiality, boundary crossings and violations, medical negligence and other practical issues have been examined in this chapter. The ability to think rationally and apply general ethical principles to specific situations is vital. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an understanding of ethical and legal issues related to psychotherapy. However, it does not replace advice based on legal expertise.