Description:
Civilian mental healthcare providers working with military service members and veterans often face ethical challenges unique to this population. Personal and professional ethical practice is contingent on effective application of personal and cultural morals, and professional regulations and expectations. Comprehensive understanding of informed consent, boundaries of cultural and clinical competence, disposition-driven diagnoses, multiple relationships, and professional fitness are all discussed in breadth and depth in the context of civilian practitioners working with military-connected clients. Decision-making models are presented to address ethical dilemmas, with specific discussion of the role of dual-relationships within a clinical framework. Extensive, complex vignettes are discussed in workshop/group format to ensure comprehensive, nuanced discussion. This presentation is augmented by videos designed to prompt discussion and examples of applied ethical principles.
Learning Objectives:
- Define ethics as it relates to the role of the mental health provider.
- Identify five (5) ethical challenges common to mental health providers working with the military population.
- Discuss Gottlieb’s model for avoiding dual relationships.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical decision making process through interactive discussion of military case examples during the presentation.
Outline:
1. Definition of ethics
a. General terms
b. Professional code
c. Process
d. Personal
2. Define an ethical dilemma
a. Ethical Dilemma
b. Ethical Conflict
i. Gotlieb et al. (2010)
3. Common ethical challenges for civilians to be mindful of when working with military members and veterans
a. Boundaries of competence
i. Military culture
ii. Therapist training
iii. Areas of expertise
b. Informed Consent
i. Security clearance
ii. Changes in SOP
c. Disposition-driven diagnoses
i. Military regulations and ruleouts, and the therapist role
ii. Clients requesting a diagnosis
iii. Military requesting a diagnosis
d. Multiple/dual roles
e. Hotbutton diagnoses – suicide, substance abuse, PTSD
i. Conflicting goals
ii. Misunderstandings and stereotypes
f. Professional’s own fitness
i. Self-care
ii. Limitations
iii. Impairment
4. Decision-Making Process and Models
a. Themes of processes to make ethical decisions
b. Strategies for managing ethical concerns
i. Gottlieb’s 5-step model to avoid Dual Relationships
ii. Forensic Psychology ethical decision-making model
5. Vignettes, Discussion, and Workshop
a. Military Culture, Suicide Risk, Identity, and Best Practices
b. Substance Abuse, Dual Roles, Deployment-Ready Client
c. Confidentiality, Disposition-Driven Diagnosis
d. Best Practices, Therapist Training, Cultural Considerations