Ethics in Counseling and Psychotherapy,
7th Edition

Elizabeth Reynolds Welfel, Mark M. Leach

ISBN-13: 9780357936184
Copyright 2026 | Published
625 pages | List Price: USD $193.95

Welfel/Leach’s “Ethics in Counseling and Psychotherapy,” 7th Edition, prepares you to effectively deal with complex ethical and legal issues. The 10-step model for ethical decision-making guides you through complicated ethics cases and challenging dilemmas. This edition places greater emphasis on the non-rational and emotional factors that affect ethical decision-making and practice. Coverage includes legal research and the professional literature of major topics in ethics (consent, confidentiality, competence to practice and multiple relationships) and in applied settings (community mental health, private practice, schools and teaching/research). Among other changes, this edition integrates the abundant recent scholarship on competent practice with diverse clients and the role of technology, social media and online counseling in ethical practice.

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Part I: A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ETHICAL VALUES AND STANDARDS.
1. Introduction to Professional Ethics: A Psychology and Philosophy for Ethical Practice.
2. A Model for Ethical Practice: Using Resources to Enhance Individual Judgment and Ethical Resolve.
3. Ethical Practice in a Multicultural Society: The Promise of Justice.
Part II: MAJOR ETHICAL ISSUES FOR COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS.
4. Competence to Practice: Building a Foundation for Doing Good and Avoiding Harm.
5. Confidentiality: Supporting the Client's Right to Privacy.
6. Informed Consent: Affirming the Client's Freedom of Choice.
7. Sexual Contact with Clients, Students, Supervisees, and Research Participants: Violations of Power and Trust.
8. Nonsexual Multiple Relationships and Boundary Issues: Risking Objectivity and Client Welfare.
9. Interventions with Groups, Couples, and Families: Unique Ethical Responsibilities.
10. The Ethics of Assessment: Using Fair Procedures in Responsible Ways.
Part III: WHEN PREVENTION FAILS: ETHICAL RESPONSES TO UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR.
11. Responsibilities for Self and Colleagues: Reporting, Recover, and Rehabilitation of Misconduct.
Part IV: ETHICAL ISSUES IN SPECIAL SETTINGS.
12. Ethics in Community, College, Addiction, and Forensic Settings: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest.
13. The Professional School Counselor: Applying Professional Standards to the Educational Culture.
14. The Ethics of Supervision and Consultation: Modeling Responsible Behavior.
15. Counselors and Therapists as Teachers and Researchers: Integrity, Science, and Care.
Appendix A: American Counseling Association, Code of Ethics.
Appendix B: American Psychological Association, Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Appendix C: Ethical Standards for School Counselors.
Appendix D: List of Specialized Ethics Codes and Guidelines in Mental Health Disciplines.

  • Elizabeth Reynolds Welfel

    Dr. Elizabeth Reynolds Welfel is a Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Cleveland State University (CSU), where she served full time on the faculty for 26 years. Prior to her tenure at CSU she was a member of the counseling faculty at Boston College. She earned her doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She has published and lectured extensively on the ethics of professional practice for mental health professionals throughout her career. She is also the co-author of THE COUNSELING PROCESS: A MULTITHEORETICAL INTEGRATIVE APPROACH (with Lewis Patterson), co-editor and co-author of THE DUTY TO PROTECT: ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (© 2009, APA Books®), and co-author of several other books on ethical and legal issues in practice. She was awarded Cleveland State's Distinguished Faculty Award for her teaching and research in ethics in 2004.

  • Mark M. Leach

    Mark M. Leach, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Louisville. He has been the Director of Training at two universities and a Department Chair. He earned his doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the University of Oklahoma and completed an internship at the University of Utah. Much of his scholarship has revolved around psychological ethics on both national and international levels. His research also includes work in the area of forgiveness and the influence of religion and spirituality on various psychological variables. He has engaged in work for the American Psychological Association and the International Association of Applied Psychology in various capacities, including being Vice-Chair of the Ethics Code Task Force charged with developing the next version of the APA ethics code. In addition to teaching and research, he has worked with clients in different capacities over many years, been an expert witness and has been a consultant, reviewer and an international visiting scholar.

  • The text includes the ACA and APA guidelines for professional practice and updated content on all major ethical issues and unique ethical challenges in specialized services.

  • Updated ethical decision-making model and cases pay fuller attention to the emotional and non-cognitive factors involved in ethical decision-making.

  • Chapter 3 has updated literature and expands the discussion of responsible work with diverse clients, culturally competent practice, social justice and ethical client advocacy.

  • Expanded content on mental health information privacy issues related to managed care and federal regulations prepares students to deal responsibly in community settings.

  • The text includes more analysis of the relationship between technology and ethics, including ethical issues emerging from online communication and social media and the ethics of distance practice.

  • In-depth coverage of the role of personal values in ethical practice and the difficulties professionals face due to systemic problems with mental health services in the U.S. is included.

  • The 7th edition provides extensive case examples and case analysis of ethical issues covering a wide range of situations and age groups, from childhood to the aged.

Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

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