Ethics and Psychology: Vignette Warehouse (39)

A Few Notes About These Ethical Dilemmas

First, these vignettes are meant to be teaching tools.

Next, most vignettes have more than one ethical issue that can be addressed. While confidentiality has been preserved, the dynamics of each case are isomorphic to a real clinical situation faced by a practicing psychologist.

Third, many ethical dilemmas are usually not choices between right and wrong, but among competing ethical principles geared toward doing good. Hopefully, the teacher will use the Acculturation Model to help blend professional, ethical obligations with personal values and beliefs.

Finally, since these are teaching tools, any teacher, supervisor, or mental health professional can use these vignettes as part of ethics education. These vignettes are not free to use without permission if you are making money from their use, such as continuing education activities as in lectures, podcasts, or publications.

While these teaching tools have been developed by psychologists, the vignettes are likely similar to those dilemmas faced in other mental health, counseling, or helping professions.

Dilemma 1: Psychologist in the Middle

Dilemma 2: A Suffering Caregiver

Dilemma 3: A New Referral?

Dilemma 4: A Psychologist in Turmoil

Dilemma 5: A Tricky Situation

Dilemma 6: Referral and Treatment Boundaries

Dilemma 7: An Invitation to Assess

Dilemma 8: A Session with the Spouse