INTRODUCTION
A – FUNCTION OF ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
B – FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
- Competence
2. Integrity
3. Sensitivity and Tolerance
4. Sensitivity to Individual and Cultural Differences
5. Social Responsibility
6. Professional and Scientific Responsibility
ETHICAL STANDARDS
THERAPIST QUALIFICATIONS
1. Moral, Ethical, and Legal Standards
2. Benefit to the Client
3. Benefit to Trainees
4. Benefit from Research Cases
GENERAL STANDARDS
ETHICAL RULES
A – FUNCTION OF ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
- To distinguish members who are inadequate or unethical in their profession.
2. To regulate in-profession competition.
3. To protect professional ideals.
4. To organize the relationships of profession members with other members of the group and with society.
Ethical principles have guiding statements defined by the profession or organization regarding which behaviors are acceptable, depending on their purposes and functions. These are ethical codes. They have some fundamental functions. They ensure that the competencies required by professionals are shared among society and professional members, and they guide professionals by defining ethical behaviors in the profession. In other words, ethical rules are guiding standards for professional practices.
The Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association aims to protect the rights of its members/therapists and clients by proposing standards for professional practices. Ethical rules apply to psychotherapy, supervision, and research conditions. The Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association requires its members to always adhere to these ethical rules and all general professional ethical rules.
B – GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The purpose of general principles is to ensure that mental health professionals working in sexual health science conduct their professions in accordance with the highest ethical standards. These principles are:
- Competence
Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association provide services in psychotherapy in accordance with both the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association’s competence standards and the professional standards of other institutions they are involved with. Therapists aim to conduct their services with the highest level of competence. They know the limits of their expertise and practice only in areas appropriate to their educational level and formation. When faced with a situation that exceeds their competence, they seek help from existing scientific, professional, and technical resources. - Integrity
Therapists of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association are careful to be aware of the strong and weak aspects of their own feelings, beliefs, value systems, and needs and how these may reflect on their professional work. A therapist’s essence and behavior should be consistent, meaning their thoughts and actions should align. They aim to establish transparent relationships with their clients, respecting principles of honesty, sincerity, and confidentiality. - Sensitivity & Tolerance
Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association are aware that being merely sensitive is not enough in human relationships; it is necessary and important to respect the personal rights and dignity of colleagues and clients. They acknowledge the value of every individual in the world. Therapists trust in a person’s ability to solve their own problems and genuinely believe in the freedom of individuals to make their own decisions. Even if it leads to legal and administrative challenges, they strive to protect the confidentiality of client information and minimize or prevent potential harm to individuals. - Sensitivity to Cultural Differences
Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association are respectful and sensitive to individual and cultural differences. Clients may have different thoughts, ideologies, beliefs, and values than the therapist. In such cases, therapists strive to provide services without discrimination. They neither consciously take sides nor criticize or engage in disputes regarding such biases. Therapists accept everyone who approaches them and provide service with understanding. They do not view any cultural structure as superior to another. Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association do not engage in any professional practices that are inhumane or discriminatory (based on race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, nationality, ethnic identity, physical and/or mental disability). - Social Responsibility
Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association conduct their work with a sense of social responsibility. Psychotherapy fundamentally involves a service oriented towards human beings. Therefore, due to the nature of the services provided in the field, the primary duty and responsibility of therapists is towards the individual. Therapists strive to help individuals develop awareness, solve their problems, find happiness, and achieve self-fulfillment within increasingly complex societal living conditions. By ensuring the happiness of individuals, they also contribute to the happiness of society. - Professional and Scientific Responsibility
Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association always adhere to the ethical rules of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association and all general professional ethical rules in all professional activities in the field of sexuality. Therapists of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association are also concerned with whether their colleagues adhere to scientific and professional ethical rules and standards. When necessary, they warn their colleagues to prevent inappropriate behaviors and report the situation to the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association.
C – ETHICAL STANDARDS
- THERAPIST QUALIFICATIONS:
a) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association must receive training in accordance with the standards of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association and relevant laws for education, therapy, and supervision.
b) Therapists should be familiar with various theories explaining the structure of the human psyche and psychological issues.
c) Therapists should understand the diversity of sexual beliefs and attitudes prevalent in society that may affect the client and the differences in individuals’ value judgments.
d) Therapists are responsible for the selection of treatment methods. However, it is also the therapist’s duty to inform the client about all possible treatment types and options.
e) Therapists should know and inform the client in a timely manner about the limits of their own qualifications and competencies. If their qualifications do not benefit the client, they should refer the client to other therapists.
f) Therapists should not create a situation where the client might misunderstand their own qualifications and should clearly explain their education, experience, skills, and competencies at the beginning of the therapy process.
g) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should not work with or assist unqualified or unethical individuals in their professional practices.
h) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should not intentionally keep false records or prepare inaccurate reports.
i) Therapists must refer clients to appropriate individuals in a timely manner if there are emotional or physical issues that could harm the client. - MORAL, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL STANDARDS:
a) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should recognize that their personal needs may affect their actions and decisions in the therapeutic relationship, regardless of their experience and education, and therefore should have appropriate supervision.
b) Therapists should avoid entering into dual relationships that could harm the client.
c) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should always avoid actions that could harm the legal and social rights of the client.
d) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should report complaints and investigations regarding their professional practices to the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association Management/Ethics Committee within 1 month. - BENEFIT TO THE CLIENT:
a) At the beginning of the professional relationship, therapists should provide information to the client about the nature of the psychological issue, the characteristics and rules of the treatment to be applied, and the effectiveness of therapy for the issue.
b) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should keep all information obtained from the client confidential and even maintain confidentiality of their professional relationship with the client.
c) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association may only disclose information obtained from the client under the following conditions:
1. If the client provides written consent specifying the type of information to be disclosed, the purpose of its use, who it can be disclosed to, including the client’s name and date, and voluntarily grants this permission,
2. If there is a clear threat to the life or safety of the client or others,
3. If there is a legal obligation.
d) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association must obtain written consent from the client if they wish to use the client’s confidential information for education, research, or publication.
e) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should share confidential information only with professional individuals like supervisors or consultants. They are also responsible for ensuring that these professionals maintain the confidentiality of the information obtained during supervision or consultation.
f) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should keep records of their professional practices. These records should be stored securely.
g) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should ensure the security of their records in the event of their death or a health issue that prevents them from practicing.
h) If serving couples or families, members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should also protect the confidentiality rights of each member within the group.
i) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should balance the confidentiality rights of child or adolescent clients with the right of parents to know appropriately.
j) If the client requests information about therapeutic interventions received from another professional, members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should provide information that could benefit the client.
k) Therapists should seek consultation or supervision regarding the treatment plan when necessary for the benefit of the client.
l) Members of the Yüz Yüze Mental Health Association should not engage in any dual relationships with the client or those closely related to the client.
m) Even if the client desires,