The Ethical Private Practitioner

Abstract

Psychotherapy is increasingly being carried out in private practice settings across India. This highlights the need to understand and address ethical concerns, unique to private practitioners. The private practice setting is described as one with greater freedom to act, coupled with greater ethical responsibility. Ethical practices and challenges through the course of therapy from setting up a practice, advertising, informed consent, competence, documentation; through to termination and therapist unavailability are discussed. An attempt has been made to define the scope and limitations of private practice. Concerns around training, qualifications and continued professional development are explored with specific reference to the Indian setting; where creating a uniform standard of care is a special challenge. The business end of therapy and the impact on practitioner, client and therapeutic agendas are explored. A comprehensive and simple model for ethical decision-making is illustrated with an example. Where relevant, suggestions designed to help one build ethics into the structure of one’s professional life, have been made. The article is relevant for all mental health practitioners engaging in psychotherapy.