Class, be sure to use headers for the two sections.
1) Assessment in Marriage and Family Therapy
What is assessment? What role does assessment play in the field of MFT? How will assessment be integrated into your professional identity and practice as a couple and family therapist? Read Lavee and Avisar (2006), “Use of Standardized Assessment Instruments in Couple Therapy: The Role of Attitudes and Professional Factors,” and discuss your own attitudes and professional factors that influence your views of assessment. What role does assessment play in your future career as a couple and family therapist?
(PDF linked below)
2)Applying Legal and Ethical Guidelines to Children and Adolescents
Using the information from the materials in this unit, the code of ethics from AAMFT, your state of residence, and the Ethical and Legal Scenarios interactive exercise (all linked in the Resources), consider the following case example:
Case Example
State: Flordia
AAMFT: https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx
You are a family therapist working in a local community center that offers after-school activities. Tommy is a 14-year-old male who attends the center regularly. He is a quiet boy but appears to have many friends. Sometimes kids will come to your office and tell you that someone is in trouble. You have heard about Tommy multiple times, but he is never willing to speak with you. For the third time this week, one of Tommy’s friends comes in with the same concern. Tommy’s dad has been getting drunk at night and beating up Tommy’s mom. T
ommy is angry about this and has told his friends that he is going to “take care of” his dad this weekend. His friends are afraid for Tommy’s safety. He has a seven-year-old sister at home. His 17-year-old brother left the home six months ago after he had an altercation with his father. Tommy agrees to speak with you and admits that he has a plan to harm his father this weekend but will not share the details.
In your post, discuss what your ethical responsibilities are as a marriage and family therapist in Florida residence pertaining to this case example. Identify relevant AAMFT codes of ethics in this post. What possible obstacles or concerns might there be regarding implementing and adhering to these specific ethical codes?
