Ethical Decision-Making in Marriage and Family Therapy: An Introduction of a New Model

Abstract

Ethical decision-making within marriage and family therapy is complex and often convoluted due to the relational-systemic nature of the clinical services provided. The aim of this article is to provide an overview for a new model for ethical decision-making in marriage and family therapy. This new model, entitled the Butterfly Model, will then be applied to a case vignette for illustration. It is hoped that the Butterfly Model can provide marriage and family therapists with a guide for ethical decision-making that is tailored more for the relational-systemic work they engage in.