Family or individual therapy: the ethics of modality choice

The authors examine the ethical issues in choosing between individual and social unit (marital and family) therapies. Although usually neglected in the literature, these ethical questions are important and complex. A general systems perspective is used to provide a framework for ethical analysis. The core of the ethical problem is shown to be the interdependence and irreducible conflict inherent between the individual and social unit levels. The authors outline a general systems approach to identification and consideration of these ethical issues in clinical practice.