Ethical beliefs of mental-health professionals and undergraduates regarding therapist practices

Psychotherapists should be aware of any discrepancies of opinion between th emselves and those outside the mental-health profession regarding the ethic ality of therapist actions. In this study, the beliefs of mental-health pro fessionals and nonprofessionals (represented by undergraduate students) reg arding the ethicality of therapist behaviors were compared. Factor analysis of 82 specific therapist behaviors yielded th ree factors: nonsexual dual relationships, assertive or discomforting therapist actions, and sexual dua l relationships. A comparison of factor composite scores indicated that und ergraduates, in relation to professionals. rated nonsexual dual relationshi ps as more ethical and assertive or discomforting actions as less ethical. Although these effects may diminish with age, these results nonetheless sug gest that mental-health professionals may hold ethical beliefs that are inc onsistent with those who seek their services. implications of these finding s are discussed. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.