1. Definition
Marriage counseling is a type of psychotherapy for a married couple or established partners that
tries to resolve problems in the relationship. Typically, two people attend counseling sessions
together to discuss specific issues.
Purpose
Marriage counseling is based on research that shows that individuals and their problems are best
handled within the context of their relationships. Marriage counselors are trained in
psychotherapy and family systems, and focus on understanding their clients' symptoms and the
way their interactions contribute to problems in the relationship.
Description
Marriage counseling is usually a short-term therapy that may take only a few sessions to work
out problems in the relationship. Typically, marriage counselors ask questions about the couple's
roles, patterns, rules, goals, and beliefs. Therapy often begins as the couple analyzes the good
and bad aspects...
Marriage counseling - Definition
Marriage counseling is a type of psychological counseling where a married couple meet with the psychologist, social worker or other
type of mental health professional for counseling to hopefully heal their marriage. When one of the partners refuses to go to marriage
counseling it is usually a sign that party is considering divorce. Marriage counseling can be seen as a type of mediation aimed at
conciliation. Some parties who get divorce use a similar process through divorce mediation to determine issues like custody, spousal
support and the division of property.
Many individuals refuse to seek counseling because of the feeling that they are admitting that their marriage has failed. However,
many couples in successful marriages seek counseling to resolve difficult issues, to confront their own psychological problems within
the context of couples therapy or to find a neutral space where they can work on their relationship. Some marriage counselors may
meet with the partners separately before meeting with them together, or may even have individual counselors who meet with the
partners and then have a group session with all the counselors and the partners.
What to Look For in Pre-Marriage Preparation
Here's a concise list of seven relationship skill and knowledge
areas that research has shown to contribute to the success and
endurance of marriage:
Compatibility
Expectations
Personalities and families-of-origin
Communication
Conflict resolution
Intimacy and sexuality
Long-term goals
Even if it isn't required, you should seriously consider the benefits of premarital
counseling:
1. It can reduce the risk of divorce by up to thirty percent
2. It can lead to a significantly happier marriage
3. It can help reduce the stress of planning a wedding
And if you're like many young couples and believe that love will get you through the
rough times, then you should take a minute to review a few divorce stats. With the

2. divorce rate hovering around fifty percent, it's clear that a successful marriage relies on
much more than just love.
While love is important, it won't be enough if you don't have the basic relationship skills
you need for a successful marriage. Lasting marriages require partners who respect
one another and know how to communicate with one another.
The idea behind premarital counseling is that you
need to strengthen your relationship before tying
the knot so that you will be fully equipped to deal
with the challenges and conflicts that every couple
inevitably faces at some point in their marriage.
When enrolling in premarital counseling, make
sure that your class or session covers the
following relationship issues: (Make an
appointment privately if your church or synagogue class doesn't cut it. This is important
stuff.)
Compatibility - With your spouse and future in-laws
Expectations - About work-family balance, careers, household responsibilities, time
spent together
Communication -With your spouse, parents, in-laws
Conflict Resolution - How to deal with big and small problems, financial matters,
constant bickering, meddling in-laws, etc.,
Intimacy and Sexuality - Frequency of sexual relations, making time, making love
versus just sex
Long-Term Goals - Personal, family, and career
Marriage preparation will teach you and your fiancée how to deal with these issues so
that they don't become toxic to your relationship. But counseling isn't only about
identifying problem areas, it's about celebrating your strengths as a couple. Sound
cheesy? So what - this is your future and it's important that you're prepared for it.
Chinese Psychological Society
Code of Ethics for Counseling and Clinical Practice

3. Chinese Psychological Society
January, 2006 (First Draft)
May, 2006 (Second Draft)
January, 2007 (Third Draft)
Contents
General Principles .......................................................................... 2
1. The Professional Relationship ................................................ 3
2. Privacy and Confidentiality ..................................................... 6
3. Professional Resposibility ........................................................ 8
4. Assessment and Evaluation.................................................... 10
5. Teaching, Training and Supervision .................................... 11
6. Research and Publication ....................................................... 13
7. Resolving Ethical Issues ......................................................... 15
Glossary of Terms ........................................................................ 17
Preamble

4. This Code of Ethics for clinical and counseling practice is established by Chinese
Psychological Society (CPS). This Code of Ethics serves the following purposes: it helps
all the clinical and counseling psychologists, those who seek professional services and
the general public to achieve a better understanding of the core ideas of the professional
ethics as well as professional responsibilities in the field of psychotherapy and
counseling practice. It serves an ethical guide designed to guarantee and promote the
standards of the service provided in the field of psychotherapy and counseling practice.
It helps to guarantee the rights and interests of those who seek professional service as
well as that of all the clinical and counseling psychologists. It helps promote the mental
health status and enhance the welfare and wellbeing of the general public, so as to
facilitate the development of a harmonious society. This Code of Ethics applies for all
the clinical and counseling psychologists registered in CPS and thus serves as a basis for
processing ethical complaints and inquiries initiated against those who register as a
clinical and counseling psychologist in CPS.
General Principles
Beneficence: The primary purpose of the service provided by clinical and counseling
psychologists is to benefit those who seek professional service. Clinical
and counseling psychologists should safeguard the rights of those who
seek professional service. They should strive to provide the appropriate
service to those needed and take great care to avoid harm.
Responsibility: Clinical and counseling psychologists should maintain the high
standard of their service and take responsibility for their own
conducts. They should recognize their professional, ethical and legal
responsibilities and maintain the reputation of the profession.
Integrity：Clinical and counseling psychologists should strive to promote the honesty
and truthfulness of their conducts in their clinical practices, research and
teaching activities.
Justice: Clinical and counseling psychologists should treat their work and those who
work in their own professional field as well as other professionals with
fairness and justice. They should take reasonable precaution to prevent
inappropriate conducts due to their own potential biases or the limitations of
their competencies and the techniques they use.

5. Respect: Clinical and counseling psychologists should show their respect to every single
person and respect the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality and self-
determination.
Ethical standard 1: Professional Relationship
Clinical and counseling psychologists should respect those who seek professional
service and establish good professional working relationship with them in consistent
with the CPS Code of Ethics. This working relationship should serve to encourage the
growth and development of those who seek professional service in ways that foster
their interests and welfare.
1.1 Clinical and counseling psychologists should not discriminate against those who
seek professional service based on age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and
political beliefs, culture, physical conditions, social economic status or any other
factors.
1.2 Clinical and counseling psychologists should respect the rights of those who seek
professional service for informed consent. Before and during the processes of
clinical service, clinical and counseling psychologists should first inform those who
seek professional service of the related information such as the purpose and aim of
this professional service, the nature of the professional relationship, the techniques
involved, the nature of the working process, the possible limitations of this
professional service, the possible involvement of the interests and rights of the third
party, the right of privacy, the possible harms and benefits caused by the
professional service.
1.3 Clinical and counseling psychologists should receive appropriate fees for their
professional service in consistent with the requirements of local governments or
their employing agency or institution. Before entering the professional relationship,
clinical and counseling psychologists should give clear explanation on the way of
establishing their fees to those who seek professional service. They should not
receive properties or obtain private fees or remuneration for rendering services,
since these conducts are likely to cause conflict, exploitation or impair the
professional relationship.
1.4 Clinical and counseling psychologists should recognize their own potential
influence on those who seek professional service. They should take steps to prevent
conditions that may impair trust in the professional relationship or cause
dependency on the professional relationship.

6. 1.5 Clinical and counseling psychologists should respect the personal values of those
who seek professional service. They should not make decisions for those who seek
professional service or impose their own values on those who seek professional
service.
1.6 Clinical and counseling psychologists should recognize the potential influence on
those who seek professional service due to their own advantageous status. They
should not take advantage of the trust or dependency put on them from those who
seek professional service to satisfy their own interests or needs，or that of the third
party.
1.7 Clinical and counseling psychologists should understand that the dual relationship
(e.g. develop familial, social, financial, business, or intimate relationship with those
who seek professional service) has the potential danger for exerting negative
influence on their professional judgment and may cause harm to those who seek
professional service. They should avoid entering dual relationship with those who
seek professional service. If a certain kind of dual relationship is inevitable, they
should take professional prevention measures, such as obtaining formal written
informed consent from those who seek professional service, seeking professional
supervision, maintaining records and files, to ensure that this kind of dual
relationship will not impair their own judgment and cause harm to those who seek
professional service.
1.8 Clinical and counseling psychologists should not develop sexual and romantic
intimate relationship of any kind with those who currently seek professional service
from them. They should not provide psychotherapy or counseling for those who
once had sexual or romantic intimate relationship with them. If the current
professional relationship breaks the professional boundary (e.g. developing a
sexual or a romantic intimate relationship with those who are seeking professional
service from them), clinical and counseling psychologists should end the
professional relationship immediately and take appropriate measures to handle the
situation (e.g. seek supervision or consult other colleagues).
1.9 Clinical and counseling psychologists are prohibited to develop any sexual or
romantic intimate relationship with those who once sought professional service
from them for a period of 3 years following the last professional contact. Before
engaging in those kinds of relationship after 3 years following the last professional
contact, clinical and counseling psychologists should consider carefully the nature
of the relationship to ensure that it is not an exploitive relationship and maintain
the related legal documents in written form.
1.10 Clinical and counseling psychologist should not end or suspend their professional
service arbitrarily. During the interruption such as going on errands, taking

7. vacation or leaving their working place temporarily, they should make proper
arrangements for the ongoing counseling and psychotherapy.
1.11 If clinical and counseling psychologists believe that they are not appropriate to
provide service to those who seek professional service, they should explain to them
with clarity and refer them to another appropriate clinical and counseling
psychologist or doctor, since they have responsibility for those who seek
professional service.
1.12 Clinical and counseling psychologists should achieve mutual understanding and
respect in their professional interactions. They should also establish active and
cooperative professional working relationship with their colleagues to promote the
quality of their services.
1.13 Clinical and counseling psychologists should respect professionals from other
disciplines. They should form an active and cooperative working relationship with
professionals from other related disciplines to promote the quality of their services.
Ethical standard 2: Privacy and Confidentiality
Clinical and counseling psychologists have responsibility to protect the privacy of
those who seek professional service. Meanwhile, they should also recognize that the
contents and the limitations of this privacy are protected and restricted by national laws
and regulations as well as the professional ethical principles.
2.1 At the initiation and throughout the process of their professional service, clinical and
counseling psychologists have responsibility to explain the principles of
confidentiality as well as its limitations to those who seek professional service.
Before the initiation of family therapy, group therapy or other kinds of
psychotherapy, they should establish the principles of confidentiality among the
counseling or therapeutic groups.
2.2 Clinical and counseling psychologists should fully understand the limitations of the
confidentiality. The exceptions of the confidentiality include: (1) Clinical and
counseling psychologists find out that those who seek professional service are in
danger of causing foreseeable and serious harm on themselves or identified others.
(2) Those who seek professional service are found to have diseases commonly know
to be both communicable and life-threatening and thus may cause harm to others.
(3) The cases of sexual abuse or other kinds of abuse involving minors are found. (4)
The disclosure of information is demanded by laws.
2.3 If the conditions mentioned in 2.2(1), 2.2(2) and 2.2(3) are met, clinical and
counseling psychologists have obligation to warn in advance the legal guardian of

8. those who seek professional service or the identified third party involved. If the
condition mentioned in 2.2 (4) is met, clinical and counseling psychologists have the
obligation to follow the requirements of the law. However, before the disclosure of
any confidential information, clinical and counseling psychologist should demand
the formal written documentation or requirement from court or the parties involved
as well as the assurance from the court or the parties involved that this disclosure
will not cause direct or indirect harm to the clinical professional relationship.
2.4 Only after the written form of informed consent is obtained from those who seek
professional service, can clinical and counseling psychologists record the process of
counseling and psychotherapy through the use of tapes or videos, or demonstrate
the process to others.
2.5 Information and documentations related to the professional service provided by
clinical and counseling psychologists such as case records, assessment and
evaluation materials, correspondences, tape records, videotapes or other materials
are classified as professional information. These kinds of information should be kept
in a secure location and only authorized clinical and counseling psychologists can
access to them.
2.6 If clinical and counseling psychologists have case discussions of their psychotherapy
or counseling cases, or use clinical cases as illustration in teaching, research activities
and publications due to the needs of professional purpose, they should prevent the
identification of those who seek professional service by omitting the related personal
information (except that the formal written informed consent is obtained from those
who seek professional service).
2.7 Clinical and counseling psychologists should obtain formal written permissions
from those who seek professional service before the demonstration of the tape-
recordings or the videos of the sessions or the publication of the whole cases.
Ethical standard 3: Professional Responsibility
Clinical and counseling psychologists should observe the national laws and
regulations as well as professional ethical principles. They should also strive to achieve
an open, honest and accurate attitude in their communication and work. They should
base their professional work on the scientific researches and findings. They should
work with a responsible attitude within the boundaries of professional and personal
competence. They should continue to renew and expand their professional knowledge

9. and actively participant in self-care activities to maintain and promote their psychical,
social and mental well-beings to best meet their professional responsibilities.
3.1 Clinical and counseling psychologists should provide appropriate and effective
professional service to different groups of people within the boundaries of personal
competence and in consistent with the levels of their own education, training and
supervision experience as well as their work experience.
3.2 Clinical and counseling psychologists should fully recognize the importance of
continuing education. They should maintain the reasonable awareness of current
scientific and professional information in their working field. They should maintain
the competence of the skills they use and be open towards new knowledge.
3.3 Clinical and counseling psychologists should attend to their professional
competence and take reasonable steps to seek the help from professional supervision
if needed. If they can not find professional supervision, they should try to seek
professional help from their colleagues.
3.4 Clinical and counseling psychologists should engage in self-care activities. When
they are aware of any personal physical or mental problems that may cause harm to
those who seek professional service, they should seek supervision or the help of
other professionals. They should be alert of the possibility of causing harm, due to
their personal problems, to those who receive their services. If necessary, they
should limit, suspend or terminate their clinical practice.
3.5 When clinical and counseling psychologists have needs to introduce themselves in
their work, they should identify their professional qualifications, educational
degrees, and credentials in an accurate and honest manner. If advertisements or
presentations of their service are needed, they should present their professional
qualifications accurately. They should not depreciate other professionals, or
represent oneself or one’s own employing agency or institution in a false, misleading
or deceptive manner. Fraudulency is strictly forbidden.
3.6 Clinical and counseling psychologists should not take advantage of their
professional status to satisfy their personal interests, such as to satisfy their own
interests, sexual needs, and unfair exchange of properties or services, or to satisfy
those interests and needs of their family members. They should not take advantage
of the therapeutic, teaching, training and supervisory relationship to satisfy their
additional interests other than reasonable remuneration.

10. 3.7 If clinical and counseling psychologists need to report their professional work to the
third party (e.g. court, insurance company and etc.), they should present their work
in an honest, objective and accurate manner.
3.8 When clinical and counseling psychologists engage in their professional activities by
means of media (e.g. public lectures, demonstrations, radio or television program,
newspaper, printed articles, internet and etc.), or provide advice or comment as
professionals, they should be aware that their statements should be based on the
appropriate professional literature and practice, and respect the facts and objectivity.
They should also be aware that their statements and conducts should be consistent
with professional ethical principles.
Ethical standard 4: Assessment and Evaluation
Clinical and counseling psychologists should correctly understand the importance
as well as the role psychological assessment and evaluation played in clinical practice.
They should use assessment and evaluation properly. During the process of assessment
and evaluation, clinical and counseling psychologists should consider the personal and
cultural background of examinees. They should promote the welfares of those who seek
professional service by developing and using appropriate educational, psychological
and career assessment instruments.
4.1 The primary purpose of using assessment and evaluation is to promote the welfares
of those who seek professional service. Clinical and counseling psychologists
should not misuse assessment or evaluation in order to achieve financial interests.
4.2 Clinical and counseling psychologists can only use assessment instruments or
perform evaluation after they have received related training on psychological
assessment and have obtained appropriate knowledge and skills for specific
assessment instruments or evaluative methods.
4.3 Clinical and counseling psychologists should respect the rights of those who seek
professional service for understanding the results of their assessment and evaluation
as well as receiving the explanation and interpretation of their results. After
assessment or evaluation, they should give explanations of assessment or evaluation
results to those examinees in an accurate, objective and understandable manner.
They should strive to avoid the misunderstanding of the assessment or evaluation
results.
4.4 When scoring or giving explanation or interpretation by using certain tests or
assessment instruments, or utilizing certain evaluative methods, interviews or other

11. assessment instruments, clinical and counseling psychologists should use those
instruments and methods that have affirmed reliability and validity. If no data
concerning the reliability and validity of the assessment instrument or method are
available, they should explain the applications and limitations of assessment results
and interpretations. They should not make diagnosis entirely based on the results of
psychological assessments.
4.5 Clinical and counseling psychologists have responsibility to maintain the integrity
and security of psychological testing materials (i.e. testing manuals, assessment
instruments, contracts and test items) and other assessment instruments. They
should not reveal the related testing contents to non-professionals.
4.6 Clinical and counseling psychologists should use scientific procedures and
professional knowledge to develop assessment instrument, as well as to establish the
standardization, reliability and validity of the instrument. They should strive to
avoid biases and provide detailed explanation of its usage.
Ethical standard 5: Teaching, Training and Supervision
Clinical and counseling psychologists should aspire to develop meaningful and
respectful professional relationship. They should show a sincere, serious and
responsible attitude towards teaching, training and supervision activities.
5.1 The primary purpose for clinical and counseling psychologists to engage in
teaching, training and supervision is to foster the personal and professional growth
and development of students, trainees and supervisees and promote their welfares.
5.2 Clinical and counseling psychologists who engage in teaching, training and
supervision should be familiar with the professional Code of Ethics. They should
remind students and supervisees of their professional ethical obligations.
5.3 Clinical and counseling psychologists who are responsible for teaching and training
should take appropriate steps to properly design and arrange their courses and
teaching plans to ensure that teaching and training will provide appropriate
knowledge and practice experience as well as meet the requirements of teaching
goals or standards of the specific certificate.
5.4 Clinical and counseling psychologists who serve as supervisor should explain to
their supervisees the purpose, process as well as the method and standards for
evaluation of the supervision. They should inform their supervisees of the way for
dealing certain conditions during the process of supervision, such as emergencies,

12. and interruption or termination of the supervisory relationship. They should give
regular feedbacks to supervisees during the process of supervision and avoid
situations where supervisees may cause harm to those who seek professional service
due to the negligence of the supervisor.
5.5 When clinical and counseling psychologists who serve as trainers or supervisors
evaluate the professional competence of students in training or supervisees, they
should take an objective attitude and give their evaluations in an honest, fair and
impartial manner.
5.6 Clinical and counseling psychologists who serve as trainers or supervisors should
clearly define the professional as well as the ethical relationship with their students
and supervisees. They are prohibited to form any counseling or therapeutic
relationship with their students or supervisees. Sexual or romantic intimate
relationships with their students or supervisees are also prohibited. They should not
form any supervisory relationship or counseling and therapeutic relationship with
professionals who are their relatives or have intimate relationship with them.
5.7 Clinical and counseling psychologists who serve as trainers or supervisors should
clearly recognize their advantageous status compared with their students or
supervisees. They should not take advantage of their status to exploit students or
supervisees or to satisfy the interests of their own or that of the third party.
Ethical standard 6: Research and Publication
Clinical and counseling psychologists are encouraged to engage in professional
research activities to make contributions to the development of their professional
disciplines as well as to facilitate and improve the understanding of related issues
within their disciplines. When conducting research, clinical and counseling
psychologists should respect the dignity of participants and be aware of the welfare of
participants. They should observe scientific standards and ethical principles governing
research with human research participants.
6.1 Clinical and counseling psychologists who conduct research with human
participants should respect the basic human rights. They should conduct research in
a manner that is consistent with pertinent ethical principles, laws, host institutional
regulations and scientific research standards with human participants. They should
take responsibility to ensure the security of their participants and take reasonable
precaution to avoid causing harm to participants’ interests.

13. 6.2 Prior to start their research, clinical and counseling psychologists should inform
participants or obtain informed consent from participants or guardians of
participants. They should explain to participants about the nature, purpose and
process of the research, the methods and techniques used in the research, the
possible discomfort, confidentiality and its limitations as well as the rights and
obligations of both researchers and participants.
6.3 Participants are free to choose not to participate in the research or withdraw from
the research. Clinical and counseling psychologists are prohibited to force people to
participate in their research. They can use involuntary participants only when they
are certain that the research will not cause harm to participants, and there is justified
need to conduct the research.
6.4 Clinical and counseling psychologists should not treat participants in a deceptive or
cheating manner unless alternative procedures are not feasible and the prospective
value of the research justifies the deception. If the research involves deception,
clinical and counseling psychologists should explain the reasons for this action
during the debriefing.
6.5 If control group is needed in intervention research, after the research, the
participants in the control group should be given appropriate treatment.
6.6 When writing research reports, clinical and counseling psychologists should provide
accurate explanation and discussion about their research designs, processes, results
as well as the limitations of the research. They should not use false or distort
information or data. They should not conceal those results that are not consistent
with their hypotheses or theoretical viewpoints. They should avoid biases or
prejudice in the discussions of their research.
6.7 When writing research reports, clinical and counseling psychologists should take
due care to disguise the identities of respective participants (except that the formal
written authorizations from participants are obtained). They should also take care to
ensure the confidentiality of the related research materials and keep them in safety.
6.8 Clinical and counseling psychologists should not plagiarize in their publication of
research paper or book. If they cite ideas or data of other researchers or authors in
their own research paper or book, they should acknowledge researchers or authors
cited as well as the sources of data.
6.9 If the research is jointly done with other colleagues, clinical and counseling
psychologists should give credit through appropriate means to other authors in
research paper or book published. They should not publish the research paper or

14. book as their personal work. They should acknowledge and give special credit
through appropriate means to those who have made special contributions to the
research paper or book. If the research paper or book is substantially based on
students’ course papers, dissertations or theses, the students should be listed as
principal authors.
Ethical standard 7: Resolving Ethical Issues
Clinical and counseling psychologists should observe pertinent laws and ethical
principles in their professional work. They should try to resolve ethical dilemmas and
communicate with people involved in a direct and open manner. They should seek
suggestion or help from their colleagues or supervisors if needed. They should
incorporate ethical practices into their daily professional work.
7.1 Clinical and counseling psychologists can obtain CPS Code of Ethics from CPS, or
licensure bodies. Lack of related knowledge or misunderstanding of CPS Codes of
Ethics is not a defense against a charge of unethical conducts.
7.2 Once they are aware of their negligence in their work or misunderstanding of their
responsibilities, clinical and counseling psychologists should take reasonable steps
to correct their conducts.
7.3 If there is a conflict between CPS Code of Ethics and pertinent law and regulations,
clinical and counseling psychologists should make known their commitments to
CPS Code of Ethics and try to resolve the conflict. If this conflict can not be resolved,
clinical and counseling psychologists may adhere to the requirements of law and
regulations.
7.4 If the demands of their employing agency or institution pose a conflict with CPS
Code of Ethics, clinical and counseling psychologists should specify the nature of
this conflict and make know their commitments to CPS Code of Ethics. They
should resolve this conflict reasonably while keeping their commitments to CPS
Code of Ethics.
7.5 If they find that their colleagues have violated a professional ethical principle,
clinical and counseling psychologists should attempt first to resolve the issue
informally with colleagues. If this informal attempt fails, they should report
violations through a proper means. If the violation is apparent and has already
caused substantial harm, or this violation can not be solved through appropriate
informal means, or can not be solved at all, clinical and counseling psychologists
should report this violation to CPS Workgroup for Ethics in Clinical and Counseling

15. Psychology or other appropriate authorities, so as to maintain the reputation of the
profession as well as to protect the interests of those who seek professional service.
If clinical and counseling psychologists are uncertain whether a specific situation or
conduct is an ethical violation, they may seek consultation from CPS Workgroup for
Ethics in Clinical and Counseling Psychology or other appropriate authorities.
7.6 Clinical and counseling psychologists have responsibility to assist the attempts of
CPS Workgroup for Ethics in Clinical and Counseling Psychology to investigate
possible unethical conducts and to take actions towards such conducts. Clinical and
counseling psychologists should be familiar with pertinent procedures and policies
for processing complaints of ethical violations.
7.7 CPS Code of Ethics is against filing complaints of ethical violations in an unfair and
injustice manner or as a means to take revenge.
7.8 CPS Workgroup for Ethics in Clinical and Counseling Psychology is affiliated to
CPS. The functions of this workgroup are to enforce CPS Code of Ethics, to accept
filings of complaints of ethical violations, to provide explanations and
interpretations related to CPS Code of Ethics, as well as to process cases of
professional ethical violations.
Glossary of Terms
Clients Who Seek Professional Help: it refers to a client or a patient, or other
kinds of people who seek professional help for counseling or psychotherapy.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist: It refers to a professional practitioner who
has learned the professional knowledge of clinical psychology or counseling
psychology in a systematic way; received the professional trainings on the skills of
counseling and psychotherapy as well as supervisions over his/her practice on
counseling or psychotherapy; is currently practicing counseling and psychotherapy;
meets the related register criteria for clinical and counseling psychologists in the
Criteria; and has valid registration in CPS. The Clinical and counseling psychologist
includes the clinical psychologist and the counseling psychologist. In the Criteria, the
specific definition of the clinical psychologist or counseling psychologist depends on
how the academic degree program the candidate received defines itself.
Clinical Psychology: It is one of the branches of psychology. It provides both
knowledge of psychology and means of utilizing the knowledge to understand and
promote mental health, physical health and social adaptation of individuals and
groups. Clinical psychology has its emphasis on research about psychological problems
of individuals and groups, in addition to treatment of severe mental disorders.

16. Counseling: It refers to a process of providing help to clients who seek professional
help because of their general psychological problems, based on good counseling
relationship, and conducted by professionally trained counseling psychologists, using
related theories and techniques of counseling psychology. It aims to eliminate or
alleviate the psychological problems of clients who seek professional help in addition to
promoting their good adaptation and integrated development.
Counseling Psychology: It is one of the branches of psychology. It utilizes the
knowledge of psychology to understand and promote mental health, physical health
and social adaptation of individuals and groups. Counseling psychology has its
emphasis on individual’s general complaints in his/her daily lives in addition to
promoting individual’s good adaptation and coping.
Dual Relationship: It refers to a condition when besides the therapeutic
relationship, a clinical and counseling psychologist engages with clients who seek
professional help in another kind of interpersonal relationship that has the
characteristics such as interests and intimate emotional interaction. If two or more than
two kinds of social relationship besides the therapeutic relationship are presented, it is
then called multiple relationships.
Exploitation: In this Code of Ethics, it refers to acts of an individual or a group that
take possess of others labor production without payment, or take advantage of any kind
of material, economic and psychological resources belonging to others to make profits
or to achieve psychological satisfactions, under the condition of violating others’ wishes
or not making others informed of the acts.
Psychotherapy: It refers to a process of providing help to clients who suffer from
mental disorders, based on good therapeutic relationship, and conducted by
professionally trained clinical psychologists using related theories and techniques of
clinical psychology. It aims to eliminate or alleviate the psychological problems or
mental disorders of clients who seek professional help in addition to promoting the
healthy and integrated development of their personalities.
Supervisor: It refers to a senior clinical and counseling psychologist who currently
serves as a teacher, a trainer and a supervisor in the field of clinical and counseling
psychology; meets the related register criteria for supervisors in the Criteria as well as
has valid registration in CPS.
Welfare: In this Code of Ethics, it refers to seeking the health, psychological growth
and well-being of clients who seek professional help.
Premarital Counseling
What is it and what to expect
written by : Jennifer Foust M.S., LPC
Pre-marital counseling is exactly what it sounds like, participating in counseling before entering into a marital
commitment. Specifically, there are two goals of pre-marital counseling. The first is to help couples develop a

17. framework for discussing issues that all couples must grapple with. Specific topics that will be covered are the
following: money, sex, parenting, work, in-laws, daily household needs, and friends. The second goal is ensuring that
couples have the skill set needed to resolve their differences.
Many people don’t think of attending counseling unless they have a specific problem or concern. Some people are
apprehensive about the idea of seeing a therapist, particularly when everything is going well. Many people believe
only couples in trouble go to counseling. Pre-marital counseling is geared towards healthy couples. The reason
couples seek out pre-marital counseling is because it helps them prepare for the adjustments to married life. Whether
you have been married before or never been married and whether you already live together or have never lived
together, getting married is an adjustment. Even couples who have been together for many years may find it to be a
big adjustment. Some couples who live together before marriage are surprised how their relationship feels different
after the ceremony. WHILE YOU MAY NOT HAVE CHANGED, THE OUTSIDE WORLD TREATS YOU
DIFFERENTLY. Anticipating this transition as well as being aware of how you tend to cope with change can be very
helpful.
The first task is to help couples identify potential concerns in their relationship. The second task is to help couples
develop the skills needed to resolve their disagreements. It is our belief that the key to a successful marriage is not
about how a couple fights, but rather how a couple resolves a fight.
The benefits of pre-marital counseling is that there is an outside person who is challenging each of you to explore
different issues that on your own, you might not have even considered important to discuss. For example:
What is your expectation of marriage?
What role do you see yourself playing?
What role do you see your partner playing?
How much time do you spend with your parents, siblings and friends?
What type of relationship is each of you expecting to have with ones’ in-laws? Should they be allowed keys
to the house?
How are you going to handle your finances? Are you going to have one checking account or more? Who is
going to be in charge of paying the bills? How will you negotiate recreational spending?
How will you make time for each other regularly, especially if you work a lot or have children? How will you
make time for intimacy and sex?
How will you divide the household needs such as cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, and laundry?
Each person coming into a marriage brings along a set of expectations for what married life is like and how it is
supposed to be. These expectations often come from our parent’s relationship, other families that we have spent time
with, or cultural and religious beliefs about what a committed relationship is supposed to look like. You may not be
aware of these expectations and just assume that everyone feels and thinks about marriage the same way that you
do. More importantly, you may assume that your partner has the same ideas and expectations that you do. Pre-
marital counseling helps each of you acknowledge the contract that you are making to the other out loud. For
example, I am marrying Joe because he wants a large family and will allow me to be a stay at home mom. I am
marrying Sue because she will save me from being lonely. Or I am marrying my partner because she/he makes good
money, and I never want to worry about money again. Pre-marital counseling helps you identify your hidden contract
– what typically does not get said.
To test your awareness of the marital contract, try the following exercise: On a piece of paper, write down your
ideas of the ideal marriage. Include how much time you would spend with your partner doing things together, how you
would share daily responsibilities, how you would handle children (if you desire to have them), how often you would
have sex, etc. Also think about others’ relationships that you know of that you admire and what it is about them that
you like and write those things down. Then write down what you don’t want your marriage to look like. Again, think
about some relationships that you know of and think about what characteristics that have that you don’t like. Ask your
partner to complete the same exercise. When you are both finished begin the exercise again, but this time write down
the answers to the way that you think you partner will answer them. Then share your ideas with each other. Discuss
the ways in which you accurately predicted your partner’s answers. In what way were your partners’ answers similar
to yours, and how were they different? By voicing and discussing your expectations and beliefs, couples can prevent
many unnecessary problems and misunderstandings. Counseling can also be very effective in helping couples
communicate about these expectations and beliefs in a safe non-threatening environment. Even couples who are
more aware of their own and their partners’ expectations can benefit from counseling to negotiate any potential
difficulties.

18. Premarital Counseling . . . . . .
What is pre-marital counseling? If you're reading this, it's likely that you're about to embark
on a new life with someone special. Pre-marital counseling is one way to help insure that your love
is protected in ways that help it flourish and grow.
By taking the time to explore the reasons you came together, your similarities, your differences,
your hopes and your dreams, as well as your expectations of one another, it is sometimes possible
to avoid the disappointments that many couples face with the passage of time.
Pre-marital counseling offers the opportunity to explore your differences in a relatively safe,
supportive, constructive environment. And while some couples may choose to postpone their
union until key differences can be resolved, most couples find that pre-marital counseling helps to
prepare them for the kind of life they would like to build together.
What happens in pre-marital counseling? There is no one standard program for pre-marital
counseling. Pre-marital counseling programs differ in everything from the number and length of
sessions provided to their content and configuration (i.e., whether counselors meet with individuals
in a relationship or if they simply meet with the couple as a whole). As with most forms of therapy,
pre-marital counselors and clergyman typically personalize their approach to accommodate their
own personal style and the needs of the people they serve.
After twenty-plus years of doing couples counseling, I've developed a healthy respect for the
fragility of relationships that is reflected in the pre-marital counseling model I have chosen. My
work has led me to believe that most relationships fail for one of two reasons: 1) people are
unaware of or choose to ignore core differences in who they are and what the want from life; 2) and
perhaps more importantly, people lack the skills to resolve their differences and grow through the
inevitable disappointments that life hands them. It is my belief that many otherwise wonderful
relationships fail because people are both unaware of their differences and lack the skills to resolve
them in constructive ways.
Pre-marital Counseling Model. My model of pre-marital counseling evolved in an effort to address
the threats to happiness outlined above through a combination of:
1. Assessment and exploration of personal goals and individual differences
2. Skills training in key relationship areas and
3. Development of a long-term plan of action to help you keep your love alive.
You will be asked to complete surveys designed to identify your similarities, differences, personal
strengths, personal weaknesses and expectations of your relationship; to review essential
relationship skills and practice them between sessions; and actively participate in the development
of an ongoing plan to help you protect your love.
How often will you need to come? I typically ask people to commit to five 45 minute sessions
for pre-marital counseling. The actual number of sessions can vary upward or downward
depending on your previous relationship experience, skill level, goals and/or present concerns.
The cost of the basic five session program is $765.00. Additional sessions are $145.00/45 min.
session.
Feel free to contact me at my office for more information: (425) 455-5400.
Post-Marital Counselling
The program offers the benefits of a workshop, but does so in a three-hour private session. It will
be like having your own personalized workshop. You will be given a workbook to take home with
you afterwards. The workbook includes some experiential learning activities and explanatory.
In this Couple-to-Couple session (we work as a husband-and-wife co-Counselling team), you will
have the opportunity to discuss openly any personal concerns that you may have.

19. You'll explore some of the challenges that newlyweds -- and in fact, all couples -- face. You will
learn how to grow together as individuals, while maintaining an emotionally close and committed
relationship. And you'll come away from the session with new insights and valuable skills to help
move your relationship forward.
If there are issues that you still need to address once you have completed the program, you may
continue by visiting us periodically for a Couple to Couple session.
The First Session
Step One: Intake
It is useful to collect some basic information at the start of the first session, such as the number of years the
couple has been together, the current living situation, special health issues, prior counseling experiences,
employment, and special interests. While the therapist is recording this information, he or she should make a
mental note of how the partners relate to one another. The intake also offers the couple a chance to become
comfortable with the therapist.
Step Two: Goals and Why Therapists Are Not Referees
Couples often arrive at the session believing that each partner will be laying out his or her “position” and the
therapist will act as a referee to decide who is right. The therapist should inform them that it is not a matter
of one person being right or wrong, since both partners make sense from their perspective. Rather, they will
be learning a new method of communication so they can better understand each other in the office and
incorporate this process into their relationship at home. We tell them the process will work if they “are
willing to try on some new ideas.” By pointing out the importance of the “we” and not the “me” in their
relationship, they begin to understand that we expect both to participate by making changes. This means
that counseling is a joint venture to better understand the relationship rather than an adversarial one.
Step Three: How Our Brain Impacts the Dishwasher
Talking to the couple about basic brain functions and how the 100 billion neurons in their brains make
decisions helps them to think of therapy as a conscious exercise. They should become detectives trying to
figure out how to help “this couple,” who happens to be themselves, just as they might be athletes learning
how to build their muscles at the gym.
We talk to the couple about the neurons housed in the analytical area of their brain, the neocortex, which
helped them find the way to our office, vs. the neurons of their emotional brain, the limbic system, which
they use to experience joy, love, and ecstasy, as well as anger, sadness, loneliness, and fear.
We let them know that when Kenneth says to Marilyn: “That’s no way to load the dishwasher,” he may be
thinking he is speaking from his analytical brain to hers, but in fact, he is stirring her limbic system. She
reacts emotionally and, in turn, stirs his emotions. This small incident can blowup into their War of the
Roses.
Step Four: The Sun
Appreciations are to a relationship as the sun and rain are to a flower. They trigger the happy neurons in the
limbic system and bring couples closer together. The following is a simple exercise to foster positive
changes:
• Ask the couple to face one another. (The path to the heart is through the eyes.)
• The first partner (the sender) is asked to state one thing he or she likes about his or her partner. For
example, “I really love your sense of humor and how you enliven parties with your jokes.”
• The second partner (the receiver) mirrors this appreciation. “So you really appreciate how I have a sense of
humor and entertain friends at a party?”
• Then we ask the sender to deepen the appreciation by using the sentence stem, “This is so special to me
because…” He or she says, “This is so special to me because it makes me feel warm and cozy and I am
proud I married you.” The receiver again mirrors the comment.
• The process is repeated with the second partner offering an appreciation.
Most couples who come to therapy have not heard appreciations from their partner for months or years, so
this exercise sets the tone for rebuilding warm feelings and trust. Couples are asked to offer at least one
appreciation each day at home and prepare one to begin each therapy session. They are told that
appreciations should not be wrapped in frustrations, such as, “I appreciate that you finally took out the
trash.”
Step Five: A Conscious Relationship
A conscious relationship requires each person to recognize their own role and reactivity levels when
conflicts arise, as well as to become aware of their partner’s thoughts and feelings. After living with conflicts

20. for so long and having to defend their own ego against attacks, the therapist needs to help them to truly
listen and understand what their partner is thinking and feeling.
The following exercise works amazingly well to help one partner get into the mind of the other:
• Again the couple faces each other. The sender is asked to offer a one-sentence “guess” as to why he thinks
his partner decided to come to this appointment. For example, “I think you came to this session so the
therapist can teach me how to be nice to you.”
• Regardless of whether it is true, the receiver mirrors it: “So you think I came to therapy so you’ll learn how
to be nice to me?”
• The sender keeps adding more reasons, such as, “I think you are also here because you love me and want
our marriage to survive.” This, too, is mirrored by the partner.
• After the sender completes all his or her guesses and each are mirrored, the receiver is then asked to add
to or correct the sender’s guesses. The partner may say, “It is true I’m here to save our marriage, but it’s not
a matter of being nice to me. It is more a matter of learning how to talk to each other.”
This guessing game for both partners becomes a vehicle for looking into each other’s minds in a safe way. It
also reveals some of the major issues that will be explored in future sessions. The process helps couples
understand how their own behavior has a positive or negative impact on the relationship.
Step Six: Summarizing the Session and Preparing for the Future
To end the session, each partner is asked for their thoughts about the session and what they can personally
do before the next appointment to improve the relationship. This information helps the therapist plan for the
future.
The therapist should also advise the couple to do the following:
• Offer each other at least one formal daily appreciation.
• Avoid “atomic bomb” issues when they are at home and save these issues for office sessions.
• Avoid talking to friends or family about their conflicts since others are likely to support only one’s point of
view and that will further emotionally separate the couple. Instead, they may just inform a few who need to
know that they are receiving counseling to improve their relationship.
Future Sessions
In future sessions, couples need to continue learning to understand each other’s desires, feelings, and
thoughts. The Imago Relationship method of therapy developed by Harville Hendrix, PhD, is a powerful
process for this purpose. It uses the mirroring technique along with couples validating and empathizing each
other. For example, a partner may state, “It makes sense you would be upset that I came home at 7 because I
had told you I would be home at 6, and this probably made you feel anxious, lonely, and angry.”
Therapists can coach couples to use this stem: “It makes sense that you would be upset because...” and ask
the sender to think of the reasons. Again, it helps couples to think outside themselves and improves the
relationship. People begin to understand that their partner truly loves and cares about them as a dear friend.
Along with continual dialogue and mirroring, there are a variety of other communication tools that can be
used during sessions. One is constructing genograms to enable partners to understand how each developed
values through their families. The genogram, which displays on a board a family tree going back to
grandparents, reveals the lifetime growth of an individual’s feelings and behavior. Couples often experience
revelations that improve their understanding of their current relationship when they explore their genogram.
Another useful communication tool is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator that helps couples understand how
character differences can cause conflict yet serve to energize the relationship. Couples begin to realize that
having different character traits adds spice to a relationship that may otherwise be bland.
As couples listen and express more positive feelings, they develop trust and feel closer. Neural scientists
find this physically changes brain neurons, with more “loving cells” being created and fewer cells holding
anger. Hendrix puts it this way: “Through daily repetition of positive behaviors, our old brain [limbic system]
repatterns its image of our partners, and we again become a source of pleasure for each other.”
Beverly and I leave couples with a new rule to replace the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule states: “Do unto
others as you would have them to do unto you.” This doesn’t work very well when I order anchovies on
Beverly’s pizza (which I love, but she is not fond of), and she buys yogurt for me (which she loves but which
causes havoc to my taste buds).
Instead, we ask couples to adopt the Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they would like you to do unto
them.” It’s amazing how one motto can bring happiness and harmony over many, many years.

21. Qualities of a Healthy Marriage
Several social scientists, in examining “healthy marriages,” have identified a number of traits, qualities and skills of
people who had been able to maintain successful, satisfying relationships. These people:
1. Share a healthy philosophy of life with clear ideals
2. Are growing in friendship and respect as well as love for each other
3. Share many interests and activities together
4. Enjoy each other’s company
5. Are trusting and trustworthy, are interpersonally honest yet tactful
6. Are interdependent
7. Are proud of each other’s achievements, and give realistic praise
8. Are interested in and respect each other’s work
9. Share in decision making
10. Try to share and make monotonous work interesting, such as household chores
11. Have realistic hopes linked to attainable goals
12. Take responsibility for decisions and behavior

22. 13. Will, if education is needed to reach goals, patiently delay marriage to continue their schooling
14. Have a mindset which sees problems as challenges to be solved
15. Have usually been seriously interested in at least three other possible mates before making their final choice,
and have affected “break-ups” in non-destructive ways
16. Are able to live within their financial means
17. Are ware of their weaknesses and show efforts at constructive change
18. Use criticism wisely, but maintain a balance in which there is more praise than criticism
19. Are "real" people, genuine and authentic
20. Find that the growing relationship helps each person become more sure of him/herself
21. Engage in healthy physical activities – get adequate nutrition, exercise and sleep
22. Restrict their use of sarcasm, nagging, embarrassment and complaining
23. Enjoy talking and listening to one another, even when discussing areas of conflict
24. Experienced courtships that were not frantic or rushed (over 60% of the early divorces were due to hurried
marriages- where the couples were very young, not well acquainted, and where the engagement period was
very short)
25. Are empathic and attempt to understand and meet their partner’s needs
26. Did not elope (4/5 of couples who elope, divorce)
27. Enjoy giving of themselves to others – they desire to give as well as to get
28. Used their courtship time to thoroughly get acquainted, and grow in love
29. Carefully consider the issues that face them, evaluating the pros and cons of alternatives. They try not to
jump to hasty conclusions regarding important relationship issues
30. Marry out of respect and affection, not out of pity or sympathy
31. Enjoy each other’s families, in spite of their possible faults
32. Talked through a number of sexual issues during their engagement period
33. Enjoy a healthy, non-destructive and appropriate use of humor
34. Are satisfied with the amount of affection demonstrated in their relationship
35. Try to change personal habits that are irritating to their spouse
36. Try not to dwell on past mistakes, but look ahead to ways of avoiding similar situations in the future
37. Are able to forgive and receive forgiveness from one another
Love
Support
Tolerance
Communication
Realistic expectations
Caring
Nurturing
Sense of humor
Commitment
Respect
Know how to handle conflict
Problem solve together
Interdependence
Caring
Enjoy one another
Have fun together
Suggested Reading
Marriage Qualities Survey
Keys for Success
Elsewhere on the Web
Daily Temperature Reading
Related Articles
Marriage Qualities Survey Results
Is a Second Time Around Realistic? -- Make Your Second Marriage Successful

23. Marriage, - QuickTips
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The Importance of Marriage Counseling
Sunday, 18 February 2007 - Sandra Stammberger
In a marriage, no one cannot escape from the reality that quirks appear sometimes. This is
normal for a marriage to encounter this matter. However, there are few couples who cannot
handle the situation but are willing to save their relationship. In this matter, they will still choose
a decision to keep their relationship. Marriage is very important most specially if there are kids
in the family. If they can't handle it, they can ask somebody to help them. They should seek
professional help from marriage counselors.
Marriage is obviously a tough thing to handle. In many cases one partner will seek professional
advices more than the other. This is very important and also a good way to handle marriage
problem. It is healthy that one has the strength to undertake marriage counseling by attending
sessions, opens up the problem, listens carefully with the professional advises and follow it
correctly.
Counseling is a form of confrontation that talks about the problem on marriage. Couple
sometimes experience difficulties in dealing with the married life. A counselor is of good help to
them as he or she opens up and touches lives to bring out things that in many ways affect the
harmonious relationship of both parties.
It is very important to choose a marriage counselor to which you can relay all your marriage
problems. You should feel comfortable with this person so you can convey trust in the counselor.
You must check the credentials of the person you want to help you with your concern. You
choose clear out your mind before going to counselors. It is also important to ask yourself with
the reason why you want to undergo counseling. Aside from that you must set the things that you
want to achieve. You must be willing to give your best to be able to help yourself as well.
Before you undergo this kind of counseling, you must be determined to change whatever is
available for you to change. You must be willing to change yourself for the better. Get away with

24. your anxiety and listen carefully to what the counselor tells you. A good persona guides a person
who is under anxiety to the process of making the needed changes.
Many people want to experience instant gratification without undergoing the different process.
This is impossible; one must be willing to undertake processes to successfully attain the main
goal. Of course, it will take time and persuasions. But soon after, you will experience the benefit
of it. It is important to realize that your problem is not happening all the time therefore it will
really take time to overcome it.
The most important thing in a successful marriage is having faith and trust to one another.
Whatever issues that a married couple experiences, they can overcome it if they want them to.
You should always believe that problems can be solved for the improvement of your
relationship. In this point counseling is needed badly to keep the marriage together.
Counseling is a very useful tool in seeking the most reasons to keep the marriage. You should
realize that perfection also does not exist in a married life. So, what ever the situation is, always
involve yourself in the counseling process. Have faith, be patient and life a happy married life.