Professional Ethics in Psychospiritual and Spiritual Care Practice

This course examines professional ethics in psychospiritual therapy, spiritual care, and related helping professions within Canadian clinical and institutional contexts. Emphasis is placed on ethical accountability, professional identity formation, and the responsible exercise of power in relationships of care. Students engage with ethical foundations; professional standards and codes of ethics; informed consent; confidentiality; boundaries; scope of practice; cultural and religious diversity; and professional responsibility. Particular attention is given to accountability within regulated mental health practice (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario - CRPO) and professional spiritual care practice (Canadian Association for Spiritual Care - CASC). Through reflective practice and applied case analysis, students develop ethically grounded professional judgment and learn to respond responsibly to complex situations involving vulnerability, meaning making, and relational power.