Keeping progress notes on sessions is an example of:
a. aspirational ethics
b. positive ethics
c. mandatory ethics
d. fear-based ethics
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is c. mandatory ethics.
Explanation:
Mandatory ethics refer to the basic, minimum standards of professional practice that mental health professionals must follow to remain compliant with laws, regulations, and ethical codes. Keeping progress notes on sessions falls squarely under this category. Progress notes are official records documenting what occurs during therapy sessions, including client status, interventions used, and plans for future treatment. These records are not optional; they are legally and ethically required in most professional settings.
Professional organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA) mandate that practitioners maintain accurate and timely documentation. Progress notes serve several important purposes: they provide continuity of care, support clinical decision-making, protect client welfare, and are often necessary for insurance billing and legal protection. In cases of legal scrutiny (such as a subpoena or malpractice claim), well-maintained progress notes can be critical in demonstrating that appropriate care was provided.
Mandatory ethics, unlike aspirational or positive ethics, are about “must-do” standards. They focus on what is required rather than what is ideal. For instance, aspirational ethics encourage going beyond minimal requirements to achieve the highest level of ethical functioning, focusing on principles like beneficence and social justice. Positive ethics aim to help professionals move toward their best ethical selves rather than merely avoiding wrongdoing. Fear-based ethics, a problematic approach, involve acting ethically out of fear of punishment rather than commitment to client welfare.
Thus, keeping progress notes is not an example of striving for ideal ethical excellence (aspirational ethics) or promoting professional growth (positive ethics), nor is it about fear; it is about adhering to mandatory ethical standards that every licensed professional must follow to practice responsibly and legally.