As open conversations around the topic of mental health become less stigmatized, it is also important to hear therapists’ points of view. In today’s episode, Madeline, Bronwen’s close friend who happens to be a therapist-in-training, joins us to talk about ethics and therapy. We hear about how Madeline’s own experience being in a treatment facility for an eating disorder inspired her to become a therapist. We then get into some of the ethics in the space, like having dual relationships, confidentiality, and boundaries. While some of these areas, like confidentiality, have more concrete rules than others, there are still so many gray areas that can be subjectively interpreted. Madeline talks about the value of having an experienced supervisor and mentors to help you navigate these ethical conundrums. Our conversation also covers topics like boundaries, physical touch, along with guidelines on what to do if you are starting therapy. This was a great conversation that only scratched the surface of this fascinating topic, so tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Elements of Madeline’s treatment experience which led her to become a therapist herself.
• Madeline's experience giving online therapy, and the challenges, particularly with eating disorders.
• The fear that many therapists feel around the myriad of rules and ethics in the field.
• What a dual relationship is and why it is a big no-no in therapy.
• How therapists, who are in rural areas with high chances of dual relationships, can deal with this issue.
• Some of the things that therapists are not supposed to do.
• While confidentiality is central to therapy, there are some instances when it has to be broken.
• The importance of having a supervisor or mentor to navigate the ethical challenges.
• A look at the Tarasoff Case and the implications of this ruling.
• What boundaries mean in the context of therapy.
• Sometimes, the relationship with the therapist, rather than the intervention, is what sparks change.
• It is important to understand that all clients are different and have different needs.
• The rules around physical touch in therapeutic relationships and the importance of consent.
• Touch can be healing for people with trauma.
• Physical touch is also very culturally specific and related to the context.
• Pointers around what you should and should not do when you go to a therapist.
• The different levels of ethics in therapy and how they apply to clients not being able to pay.
• Differentiating between abandonment and termination.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Body Keeps Score

Them’s the Rules

Check out the Them's the Rules Website!