A core text for ethical/legal issues courses or a supplement to marriage and family courses. The Third Edition of this comprehensive text on ethical, legal, and professional issues in marriage and family therapy offers a wealth of updated coverage, geared to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy standards. There are numerous case studies, and discussions of the differences between MFT as a distinct profession and MFT as a professional subspecialty. In addition, a completely new chapter explores contemporary ethical issues for which no formal precedent has yet been established. With its practical focus and planned, concise coverage, the book ensures students to gain both a theoretical background and an applications orientation. In each of the three major sections, chapters address "general" issues, as well as issues specific to marriage and family therapy. A concluding chapter in each section offers case illustrations that expand upon the material covered in the previous chapter. This two-step presentation helps students attain a greater understanding of how information is used in actual practice...and helps them more effectively internalize instruction.