Professional Orientation and Ethics in Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy
Stephen V. Flynn, PhD, LPC, LMFT-S, NCC, ACS
Discover essential systemic theory, techniques, ethical decision-making models, and legal considerations to help navigate professional practice.
Professional Orientation and Ethics in Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy is designed to provide emerging practitioners with a thorough orientation to the profession, an in-depth review of systemic practice, and an analysis of relevant ethical and legal issues. The textbook provides a detailed review for graduate students, covering topics like professionalism, the history of systemic theory and therapy, leaders and legacies of the field, systemic philosophy, therapeutic models and skills, diversity and social justice issues, wellness, and telehealth standards. Professional Orientation and Ethics also deeply explores key ethical and legal considerations in therapy, addressing issues like advocacy and its significance to clinical work, the effects of racism, discrimination, and hatred on systemic practice, navigating dual role relationships, ethical maturity, and ethical gray areas in systemic work. Additional topics include relational ethics, divorce, custody issues, adolescent suicide, internet and screentime issues, and navigating intimate partner violence, all within modern demands like therapeutic technology and disaster-based contemporary issues. Purchase includes online access via most mobile devices or computers.
Key Features: 
- Explore content that aligns with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education standards to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.
- Discover essential ethical and legal considerations surrounding technology use and teletherapy practices.
- Examine case studies that illustrate specific ethical and legal dilemmas, highlighting common ethical dilemmas and offering guidance on alternative actions.
- Investigate how couple, marriage, and family identities intersect with professional and ethical considerations impacting vulnerable populations.
- Address ethical practices in combating racism, hatred, and discrimination concerning underrepresented couples, families, and youth.
- Read insights from diverse practitioners in each section with real-world applications of theory.
- Engage with various activities, readings, videos, and links to enhance the overall learning experience.
Dedication
Author Bio
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1. Overview and Orientation to the Profession
Chapter 2. Philosophy and Pragmatics of Systemic Work
Chapter 3. Professional Roles and Collaboration
SECTION II: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND ETHICS
Chapter 4. Working with Marginalized Communities
Chapter 5. Therapeutic Technology
Chapter 6. Wellness, Resilience, Burnout, and Impairment
SECTION III: ETHICS AND THE LAW
Chapter 7. Ethical Decision Making
Chapter 8. Understanding the Law
SECTION IV: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES AND PRACTICE
Chapter 9. Ethical and Legal Issues Relevant to Couple Therapy
Chapter 10. Ethical and Legal Issues Relevant to Family Therapy
Index
Instructor eBook desk copies are available. Follow the two quick and easy steps below.
- Click the "REQUEST DESK COPY" button
- Complete the simple request form and click submit.
Upon approval, you will be granted eBook access on our Springer CONNECT platform. You will receive an email with instructions when your access is available.
All your books and their included resources will all be in one place with one log in.
- LMS Common Cartridge - All Instructor Resources
- Instructor Manual
- Test Bank
- Sample Syllabus
- Instructor Chapter PowerPoints
- CACREP and COAMFTE Mapping
Includes the following instructor materials:
Please visit our Resourcesfor Educators page for more information.

- Release Date: August 28, 2025
- Paperback / softback
- 444 Pages
- Trim Size: 7in x 10in
- Number of Illustrations: 37
- Features: 45 LD; 10 HT
- ISBN: 9780826190314
- eBook ISBN: 9780826190321
- Series: The Couple, Marriage, and Family Practitioner