Analysis of family therapy ethics

The overall objective of this study is to further the dialogue on family therapy ethical dilemmas, and in particular ethical anomalies. The author poses unasked questions and provides new interpretations of current dilemmas, based on the perspective of two alternative ethical frameworks. Chapter one provides a historical review of family therapy ethics and outlines some core ethical issues and anomalies in the current practice of marriage and family therapy. Chapter two addresses a central methodological question of whether a professional versus a common ethical framework is preferable for analyzing family therapy's ethical concerns. A common ethical framework is proposed in this study because it provides a constructive alternative to the predominant cultural ethic of emotivism and utilitarianism. Chapter three outlines the two ethical frameworks chosen, Alasdair MacIntyre's reformulated Aristotelian ethic of virtue and Nell Noddings' relational ethic of caring. In chapter four these two ethical frameworks are applied to an analysis of one ethical anomaly: the concern over the truth and truthfulness of certain marriage and family therapy practices. A unitary criterion for truthfulness emphasizing the importance of frankness, sincerity, and genuineness is proposed. Two different justifications for exceptions to truthfulness are explored, one based on the test of publicity, and another based on the test of attainability. This author suggests that the family therapy practices of reframing, relabeling, prescribing, and restraining can and should be used in ways that remain truthful in word, intent, action, and being. Finally, chapter five concludes by advocating for a greater reliance on philosophical ethics and by exploring how the use of multiple ethical perspectives can contribute to the increased quality of family therapy ethics studies.