About the Book
The profession of educational therapy has a detailed Code of Ethics governing standards of practice, responsibilities of members, and relationships with clients and allied professionals. Yet, there is no accompanying Practice Guide for applying these tenets to one's own work, as there are in other "helping" professions. Applicable models of Ethical Decision Making (EDMs) have not been discussed, evaluated, or detailed in any other publication. Clear breaches of ethics may be readily apparent, but less clearcut ethical "dilemmas" can be very troublesome. Ethical Decision Making in Educational Therapy: A Practical Guide is a unique and important guidebook for professionals, instructors, and supervisors in the field. It categorizes the issues commonly experienced in an educational therapy practice while presenting engaging, real-life scenarios embedded with ethical quandaries. The book provides clear guidelines for problem-solving ethical issues with integrity. The effects of workplace context, experience, and self-reflection are reviewed. Ethical Decision Making in Educational Therapy: A Practical Guide is an essential book for those in university training programs, for practitioners new to the field, for those experiencing an ethical dilemma, for supervisors, and for those preparing to take the Association of Educational Therapist's ethics exam to become Board Certified.
About the Author :
Marion Marshall, BCET, is an Emerita Professor; and part-time faculty member of the School of Education, Notre Dame de Namur University, California, USA. Risa Graff is a Board Certified Educational Therapist, based in Olympia Fields, Illinois, USA.
Review :
'There are many fine publications and books in the field of Educational Therapy. This one is an absolutely essential addition to the literature.'- Kaye Ragland, Ed. D., LMFT, BCET, FAET. Past President, Association of Educational Therapists.'Marion Marshall and Risa Graff are leaders in the field of educational therapy. Their firm grasp of the complexities of ethical issues and their abilities to help practitioners identify and wrestle with dilemmas with such clarity make this a 'must read' for all educational therapists as well as allied professionals. With the Association of Educational Therapists approaching its 50th anniversary, this book is particularly timely, and stands as a testament to the dedication of a profession that is gaining significant international recognition. This book will, hopefully, be mandatory reading in university certification programs and supervision settings to be sure all educational therapists maintain the highest level of ethical integrity demanded by those within the Association.'- Lori K. Dver, MA, BCET, FAET, Past President of AET'Marshall and Graff's new book, Ethical Decision Making in Educational Therapy: A Practical Guide, bridges a critical gap for educational therapy practitioners and those in allied helping professions. This book integrates historical context, theoretical foundations, and practical strategies for ethical decision-making in educational therapy, deepening insight into the ethical landscape that shapes our work. The authors provide a comparative analysis of ethical frameworks from allied professions, revealing both common threads and distinctive elements of ethical practice across disciplines. The chapters are well-researched and thoughtfully presented, shedding light on the issues commonly encountered in practice and encouraging therapists to reflect when navigating ethical dilemmas. The process of using ethical decision-making models (EDMs) is modeled throughout the book using relevant and engaging scenarios, potential barriers, and guiding questions for self-study and supervision. Marshall and Graff offer a comprehensive guide and practical contribution to educational therapy, giving voice to practitioners' ethical responsibility in their interactions with students, families, and professional colleagues. Their work challenges practitioners to remain proactive and reflective, reinforcing that ethical decision-making is an ongoing, dynamic process integral to effective practice.'- Juli Bowman, M.Ed., BCET, John Hopkins University'Chapter 3, Applying Ethical Thinking to Everyday Practice in Marshall and Graff's Ethical Decision Making in Educational Therapy: A Practical Guide provides essential tools for professionals navigating ethical dilemmas in educational therapy. The Decision Tree (p. 62) and Boundary Framework (p. 75) help practitioners distinguish between practice concerns and ethical issues, assess goodness of fit, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries. The inclusion of real-life examples makes these frameworks particularly useful and applicable. As the first published work dedicated to ethical decision-making in educational therapy, this book is an invaluable resource for those pursuing a Master's degree or certificate in the field, for those who supervise, as well as for professionals entering through alternative pathways. Both the book and this chapter serve as essential guides for every educational therapist seeking to uphold ethical integrity in their practice.'- Pamm Scribner, President, AET'Ethical Decision Making in Educational Therapy: A Practical Guide is a highly important book. It is the first book dedicated to the discussion of ethical issues which can arise in the practice of educational therapy. I believe that it will be seen as a definitive work on this topic for years to come. It is thoughtful, well-organized, and replete with sensitive observations concerning the experience of students and parents. The authors offer reader profound support by identifying essential practices for minimizing ethical difficulties. They highlight the importance of, and complexities inherent in, maintaining proper boundaries in clinical relationships. They underscore the importance of the educational therapist learning to track emotional reactions in professional relationships and in cultivating a disposition of openness and ongoing self-examination. They discuss the value inherent in seeking consultation regularly, and especially when faced with ethical dilemma. Wisely, they view good self-care as integral to maintaining these other practices.'- Dr Charles A Ahern, in The Educational Therapist, Spring 2025, Vol. 46, Number 1
