Thou shalt not commit adultery.
-Exodus 20:14, KJV
Divorce Minister’s Take On the Ethics of AAMFT
For those who are unfamiliar, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is a–if not THE— major professional association for marriage therapists in the United States.
You can read their ethics statement by clicking (here).
Today’s post is to highlight a major oversight–IMO–in their code of ethics:
Nowhere in their code of ethics will you find a prohibition of adultery for their members except if the adultery partner is a client or somehow connected to a client.
As a pastor and faithful spouse, I find this oversight incredibly disturbing.
This professional association is essentially saying–by this glaring omission in their code of ethics–that they are willing to professionally endorse as a member in good-standing a marriage therapist who is actively committing adultery.
Think about that!
A member therapist of the AAMFT could theoretically be counseling an infidelity-ravaged couple while cheating on her own husband without any fear of being in violation of the AAMFT code of ethics (provided the affair partner isn’t a client or connected to one).
This is part of the reason Christian pastors view the secular counseling world with suspicion:
The AAMFT is not willing–apparently–to encode a personal ethic into their professional association for marriage therapists that all major religions agree upon–i.e. adultery is ethically wrong and thereby incompatible ethically for a professional dispense of marriage advice.
That said, I do appreciate the world of psychology and know good therapists exist. However, this is a major glaring ethical omission that faithful spouses need to be aware of when choosing to seek help.
Or …to have their case brought before a cheating judge (McLean County, Illinois)!
True. Very messed up.
Right! The plaintiff (petitioner) in a no-fault divorce case doesn’t have to provide any proof against the defendant (respondent). The defendant is guilty before entering the courtroom. In every other version of contract law, proof must be obtained and a remedy assessed for the breach. 1 Cor 6 makes it clear that we, as believers, aren’t to take our matters before a judge outside of the body. Paul says it’s better we be defrauded than have our matters brought before heathens. I wouldn’t want to be a divorce judge when it’s time to meet Jesus. Each covenant marriage to which he was an accomplice in breaking will testify against him.
While I think they may have supposed that it was implicitly understood that adultery was unacceptable at any time, it would be better if it was explicitly stated. I suppose you are not a member. Do you know any Members who agree, and would be able to propose such a change?
From my own experience, I have little trust in marriage counselors. If nothing else, I think the cost effectiveness of their services is very low.
OKRickety,
I’m not a member, but my cheating ex-wife was and is (to my knowledge). Ha!
Yeah, I am skeptical of the therapist establishment. However, I do know some excellent therapist as well. Dunno if they would be willing or able to move the sticks on this one with the AAMFT. This is part of the reason, I suspect many sincere Christian pastors keep tradition professional marriage therapists at arms length. It shouldn’t be THAT controversial to insist on the moral basics that their therapists aren’t engaging in adultery. You would think…