1. American Psychological Association (APA) 2010
Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

2. Introduction
Ethics code has to do with professional work and not personal life.
Members of APA have to follow these codes; however, even if you are not members of APA the certification boards and licensure boards may hold you to these ethical standards.
Concerns of laws (criminal) and practice (civil) issues (ethics do not automatically equate to wining your civil case).
Not knowing the ethical code is NO excuse for lack of compliance.
First, do no harm

3. General Principles A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence:
Benefit those you work with
Do no harm
B: Fidelity and Responsibility
Do not exploit others
Be a citizen in community
C: Integrity
Be honest and truthful
Do not cheat or steal
D: Justice
Be just and fair
Remove bias
E. Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
Privacy, confidentiality
Right to self- determination
Cultural Respect

4. Standard 1: Resolving Ethical Issues
1.01: Misuse of Psychologist’s Work
If someone misuses your work, you must try to minimize the misuse.
1.02: Conflicts Between Ethics, Law, Regs, or Gov’t
When conflict 1) clarify the conflict, 2) make known the ethical issue, 3) take reasonable steps to fix it
1.03: Conflicts Between Ethics and Organization
When conflict 1) clarify the conflict, 2) make known the ethical issue, 3) take reasonable step to fix it
1.04: Informal Resolution of Ethical Violations
Bring issues to the person first (unless informal is inappropriate or confidentiality is an issue).

5. Standard 1: Resolving Ethical Issues
1.05: Reporting Ethical Violations
When cannot do informally: 1) refer to state or national committee, 2) refer to licensure boards
1.06: Cooperating with Ethics Committees
You must cooperate if you are asked
Be concerned about confidentiality issues
1.07: Improper Complaints
Do not file reckless complaints
1.08: Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents
Employers cannot make negative decisions because someone is being investigated
Employers can make decisions based on findings of investigation

6. Standard 2: Competence 2.01: Boundaries of Competence
Work within what you have trained to do: education, supervision, consultation, study, or professional experience.
If you have similar knowledge and it would hurt client to refer out you can work with them.
2.02: Providing Services in Emergencies
May provide services even without training if refer out ASAP.
2.03: Maintaining Competence
Must keep learning as new information is available.
2.04: Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments
Use scientific information to make decisions.

7. Standard 2: Competence 2.05: Delegation of Work to Others
Do not delegate to others with dual relationship issues with clients.
Only delegate work within the knowledge of your employee.
Provide appropriate supervision of their work.
Personal Problems and Conflicts
If your personal problems will impact your work do not even start it.
If you become aware of a personal issue, take steps to limit the problems that are going to come from it.

8. Standard 3: Human Relations
3.01: Unfair Discrimination
Do not discriminate against others.
3.02: Sexual Harassment
Don’t do it.
3.03: Other Harassment
Don’t do that either.
3.04: Avoiding Harm
Nope

9. Standard 3: Human Relations
3.05: Multiple Relationships
Past, present, and/or future (expected) relationships
If can expect impaired objectivity or effectiveness
If can harm the other person in any way
Make sure that you accurately represent any conflicting relationships.
3.06: Conflict of Interest
Don’t take on situations where your objectivity or effectiveness could be effected by a conflict of interest
Don’t take on situations where someone/group can be harmed by a conflict of interest.

10. Standard 3: Human Relations
3.07: Third-Party Requests for Services
Clarify what you will be doing and limits of it
3.08: Exploitative Relationships
Do not exploit others.
3.09: Cooperation with Other Professionals
Cooperate when it is in the best interest of the clients
3.10: Informed Consent
To provide any services must have it documented
In understandable language (and level)
For those incapable: 1) appropriate explanation, 2) assent, 3) consider their preferences, 4) consent from legal representative, 5) if court-ordered then let the client know

11. Standard 3: Human Relations
3.11: Psychological Services Delivered to or Through Organizations
Steps: 1) Describe what you are doing for them, 2) the intended recipients/ clients, 3) relationships of individuals w/in organization, 4) uses of and access to information obtained, 5) limits of confidentiality.
3.12: Interruption of Psychological Services
Make a plan for if there may be illness, death, or relocation of therapist.
Make a plan for if there is a relocation or financial change of client.

12. Standard 4: Privacy and Confidentiality
4.01: Maintaining Confidentiality
Take reasonable precautions (in all mediums) to maintain confidentiality
4.02: Discussing the Limits of Confidentiality
Discuss these with client ahead of time.
If through electronics, must describe how this changes confidentiality.
4.03: Recording
Get permission before recording

13. Standard 4: Privacy and Confidentiality
4.04: Minimizing Intrusions on Privacy
Only describe in reports or orally information that is germane to purpose
Should talk about clients only in relation to your work with those who appropriate
4.05: Disclosures
Can disclose with appropriate consent
Can disclose when allowed by law: 1) for professional services, 2) professional consults, 3) protect folks from harm, 4) obtain payment
4.06: Consultations
Do not release confidential info unless consent provided
Only discuss info relevant for help to client

14. Standard 5: Advertising and Other Public Statements
5.01: Avoidance of False or Deceptive Statements
Do not make public statements that are false or misleading
5.02: Statements by Others
Do not compensate others for a news item
Paid advertisement must be clearly identified
5.03: Description of Workshops and Non-Degree- Granting Educational Programs
Make sure that advertisements/ fliers are accurate
5.04: Media Presentations
Public advice 1) based on professional information, 2) meet other ethical standards, 3) indicate no relationship established.

15. Standard 5: Advertising and Other Public Statements
5.05: Testimonials
Cannot ask for ones from current clients
Cannot ask for ones from vulnerable populations
5.06: In-Person Solicitation
Do not engage in in-person solicitation of business to those who are vulnerable to undue influence.
Except: to provide disaster or community outreach
Except: implementing collateral contacts to benefit an already engaged client (e.g., family therapy).

16. Standard 6: Record Keeping and Fees
6.01: Documentation of Professional and Scientific Work and Maintenance of Records
Create, control, maintain, disseminate, store, retain, and dispose of records to: 1) help with other service providers in the future, 2) replicate research studies, 3) meet institutional requirements, 4) ensure billing accuracy, 5) ensure legal compliance
6.02: Maintenance, Dissemination, and Disposal of Confidential Records of Professional and Scientific Work
Maintain confidentiality in creating records and keeping databases
Plan on what to do with records in case therapist leaves
6.03: Withholding Records for Nonpayment
Don’t do it

17. Standard 6: Record Keeping and Fees
6.04: Fees and Financial Arrangements
Reach an agreement ASAP about fees and billing
Fees should be 1) correctly represented, 2) legal
If they cannot pay, you need to discuss with the client any plans and steps to be taken
6.05: Barter with Clients / Patients
Can only do it if it is not clinically contraindicated and nonexploitative
6.06: Accuracy in Reports to Payors and Funding Sources
Accurate nature of services and fees
When applicable, provide diagnosis and service provider
6.07: Referrals and Fees
Payment based on services provided and not on the referral itself

18. Standard 7: Education and Training
7.01: Design of Education and Training Programs
Trainers ensure that the programs provide the appropriate knowledge and experiences to meet licensure and certification
7.02: Descriptions of Education and Training Programs
Trainers ensure accurate and current program descriptions and requirements
7.03: Accuracy in Teaching
Trainers: ensure accurate course syllabi and that modifications to it are made known to the students
7.04: Student Disclosure of Personal Information
Do not require students to disclose personal information about previous experiences unless 1) this is listed in the admissions requirements, 2) needed to evaluate problems that might keep them from performing their duties

19. Standard 7: Education and Training
7.05: Mandatory Individual or Group Therapy
Trainers allow for students to get this from non-program affiliated therapists if this is required.
Faculty responsible for evaluation do not provide any required therapy.
7.06: Assessing Student and Supervisee Performance
Trainers establish a process for feedback at the beginning of the semester
Trainers evaluate students based on their actual performance.
7.07: Sexual Relationships with Students and Supervisees
Don’t do it.

20. Standard 8: Research and Publication
8.01: Institutional approval
Get IRB approval prior to research
8.02: Informed Consent
Must include several specific pieces of information about the study and the rights of the participation.
8.03: Informed Consent for Recording Voices and Images in Research
Must get consent unless 1) in naturalistic setting, 2) includes deception that is later disclosed during a debriefing.
8.04: Client/ Patient, Student, and Subordinate Research Participants
Protect participants who are vulnerable (students, clients, etc.)
Must give a choice when research participation is course requirement

21. Standard 8: Research and Publication
8.05: Dispensing with Informed Consent for Research
Can do only 1) would do harm, 2) part of normal educational or occupational practices, 3) anonymous or naturalistic which will not harm the participant
8.06: Offering Inducements for Research Participation
Do not provide excessive financial or other incentives (coercions) or provide any incentive without full disclosure.
8.07: Deception in Research
Avoid it if possible
Avoid it at all of there will be physical or emotional pain
Debrief ASAP and allow subject to remove their data from study if they wish.

22. Standard 8: Research and Publication
8.08: Debriefing
Provide a prompt opportunity for participants to obtain information about the research or if not possible take measures to reduce or minimize harm.
8.09: Humane Care and Use of Animals in Research
Care for animals in a legal, humane, manner by those trained to minimize discomfort and understand research.
8.10: Reporting Research Results
Do not fabricate data and issue corrections if you find that data is incorrect after publication
8.11: Plagarism
Don’t do it.

23. Standard 8: Research and Publication
8.12: Publication Credit
Take credit for only work that you did
Student’s dissertations ensure #1 author position
8.13: Duplicate Publication of Data
Do not publish previously published data even if they were the previous authors
8.14: Sharing Research Data for Verification
Data cannot be horded from research competitors unless confidentiality prohibits it.
Research competitors can only use data from another researcher for the strict purposes of review.
8.15: Reviewers:
Respect the confidentiality of those who submit work for review

24. Standard 9: Assessment 9.01: Bases for Assessment
Data-driven
If accurate comprehensive data not available indicate limits of what you report.
9.02: Use of Assessments
Use valid and reliable tests in the manner they were designed.
Test only in the appropriate language for client.
9.03: Informed Consent for Assessment
Informed consent is required except 1) mandated by law, 2) testing is routine part of education or occupation, 3) trying to determine competency for providing informed consent
Inform about nature and purpose of assessment in appropriate language understandable by test taker.
Be careful when working with interpreter that they follow testing/assessment ethical guidelines.

25. Standard 9: Assessment 9.04: Release of Test Data
Raw test data and notes during examination should be released with care as they may “do harm”
Do not release to other than those approved by client unless court ordered.
9.05: Test Construction
Test developers do so using sound psychometrics
9.06: Interpreting Assessment Results
Take into account the person you tested as well as the data when interpreting results

26. Standard 9: Assessment 9.07: Assessment by Unqualified Persons
Don’t do it.
Don’t let others do it.
9.08: Obsolete Tests and Outdated Test Results
Do not base your decisions on these.
9.09: Test Scoring and Interpretation Services
Describe the aspects of the assessments that you provide for others (e.g, psychometrics of tests).
Use these types of services only after you have verified that they use psychometrically sound methods and are qualified.

27. Standard 9: Assessment 9.10: Explaining Assessment Results
Take reasonable steps to explain results in a way that the client (or consumer of the data) can understand
If you cannot provide the information, then let the person know BEFORE conducting the assessment
9.11: Maintaining Test Security
Make reasonable efforts to not provide test materials to others.

28. Standard 10: Therapy 10.01: Informed Consent to Therapy
Let clients know what to expect from therapy, confidentiality limits, and fees.
If you are doing a “non-researched” therapy, you need to let client know.
If you are training, you must let client know and provide name of supervisor.
10.02: Therapy Involving Couples or Families
Be clear which individual(s) are your clients
If you have to take on conflicting roles (e.g., divorce) then you need to clarify your roles and withdraw from previous roles if needed.
10.03: Group Therapy
Define your roles
Define limits of confidentiality
10.04: Providing Therapy to Those Served by Others
Proceed with caution and be wary of conflicts

29. Standard 10: Therapy
10.05: Sexual Intimacies with Current Therapy Clients/ Patients
Don’t do it.
10.06: Sexual Intimacies with Relatives or Significant Others of Current Therapy Clients/ Patients
Don’t dump your client to be able to do it.
10.07: Therapy with Former Sexual Partners:
10.08: Sexual Intimacies with Former Therapy Clients/ Patients
Must wait at least two years after termination of treatment
Even after two years, you hold burden of proof that 1) 2 years have passed, 2) nature and intensity of therapy, 3) why you terminated treatment, 4) client’s personal history, 5) client’s mental status, 6) likelihood of harm to client, 7) statements cannot have been made during treatment that by ending it that a sexual relationship would be fine posttreatment.

30. Standard 10: Therapy Interruption of Therapy: Terminating Therapy:
Transition your clients appropriately if you are changing jobs or moving.
Terminating Therapy:
Client no longer needs service
You are threatened or endangered by client or a person with whom client has a relationship
Prior to termination provide pretermination counseling and suggest alternatives to the client if needed.