Ethical and Value Issues in Psychotherapy with College Students

Abstract

Ethical and value issues in analytically-oriented psychotherapy are frequently problematic, especially when therapy involves college students. They may be broken down into three groups: (1) those issues involving cultural values and definitions of mental health; (2) those issues that relate to undisclosed goals maintained by the therapist that may differ from the patient's as well as recommendations for types of treatment; and (3) those issues which relate to the psychoterapeutic method, with its emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and its encouragement of openness of patient communication which may result in problems relating to confidentiality and privacy. Some of the clinical issues that arise with each group are discussed.