An Introduction to the AFCC Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy

Abstract

In this introduction to the AFCC Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy, we provide examples of situations that call for the development of these guidelines. This is followed by a brief overview of each of the ten guidelines, intended to provide a guide for best practices when therapists knowingly or unknowingly have a psychotherapy client who is involved in legal proceedings. These guidelines are intended for use by therapists, lawyers, and judges in navigating the complex interdisciplinary waters of court-involved therapy.

KEYWORDS:

• clients in litigation
• best practice
• confidentiality
• ethics
• court-involved
• informed consent
• guidelines
• interdisciplinary
• privileged communications
• multiple relationships
• psycho-legal
• psychotherapy

Notes

Portions of this article are adapted from: Fidnick, L., Koch, K., Greenberg, L., & Sullivan, M. (2011). Association of Family and Conciliation Courts white paper guidelines for court-involved therapists: A best practice approach for mental health professionals. Family Court Review, 49, 557–563.

Hon. Linda S. Fidnick, co-chair, Matthew Sullivan, Ph.D., co-chair, Lyn R. Greenberg, Ph.D., reporter, Christopher Barrows, Esq., Paul Berman, Ph.D., Hon. R. John Harper, Hon. Anita Josey-Herring, Mindy Mitnick, and Hon. Gail Perlman.

Ethical standards reviewed included the American Psychological Association Ethical Code and the ethical standards promulgated by the National Association of Social Workers and the American Association of Family Therapists.