Ethical Decision-Making in Therapy

The power spiral is a guide to using role power wisely and well, and is of particular use to therapists. There are four aspects to the power spiral for use with ethical decision-making: gathering information, engaging compassion, resolving and repairing, and resourcing.

As a mental health professional, when you have any kind of ethical decision to make, consider the questions that guide you through the power spiral process. This process may also be helpful when you would like to harvest some learning by reflecting back on a decision or mistake you may have made.

Start by focusing your thoughts on the situation you want guidance on. Then imagine this situation in the center of a power spiral surrounded by the four aspects described next. Now imagine sitting in each of the directions of the spiral and consider questions such as the ones listed here. What insights emerge?

• What does your code of ethics say about this issue?
• What is the impact of the power differential?
• What other objective information is relevant?

• How does this issue affect you personally?
• Is shame de-resourcing either you, the person you’re working with in therapy, or both?
• What kind of transference or countertransference may be operating?

Some ethical decisions are involved with how to be in service to the person you’re working with and prevent harm, while others are related to how to resolve difficulties and repair harm.

Climate Change

Environmental Defense Fund

For years, it has felt like most of Washington has been burying their heads in the sand, ignoring the climate problem even as evidence mounts and dire predictions become reality. But this week, it became undeniably clear that the tide is turning.

It started Monday, as Senator Whitehouse—a longtime, tireless advocate for climate action—gave his 100th weekly climate speech on the Senate floor. Knowing that "opponents of responsible climate action do best in the dark," Whitehouse dedicated himself to pulling the Senate into the light:

"Time and time again, we hear, 'I'm not a scientist' from politicians refusing to acknowledge the evidence. We're not elected to be scientists. We're elected to listen to them."

But he's not alone in shedding light on the problem. Secretary of State Kerry's recent trip to Asia focused on the nuclear threat of North Korea and violent extremism around the world—and climate couldn't be left out of the conversation:

"It's time to put aside discredited scientific arguments and to focus on the facts, not just for our health and the health of our children, but for our planet's security as well," explained Kerry upon his return.

Today, President Obama continued that conversation, highlighting the national security threat climate change poses in his commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy:

"Climate change constitutes a serious threat to global security, an immediate risk to our national security, and make no mistake, it will impact how our military defends our country. And so we need to act—and we need to act now... In Miami and Charleston, streets now flood at high tide. Along our coasts, thousands of miles of highways, roads, railways and energy facilities are vulnerable. It's estimated that a further increase in sea level of one foot—just one foot—by the end of this century could cost our nation $200 billion."

Read the rest of the newsletter here.

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The Pledge