2018 Student Ethics Competition Winners

In 2018, AAMFT held the third annual Student Ethics Competition. This competition is designed to encourage MFT students to foster an interest in ethics issues and enhance their ability to analyze and respond to the various ethics issues that they will undoubtedly encounter throughout their careers. In this team competition, participants submitted an essay analyzing and responding to a hypothetical scenario. There were two categories for the competition: a Doctoral category and a Master’s/Post-Degree Institute (PDI) category.

AAMFT received 7 submissions in the Doctoral category and 28 submissions in the Master’s/PDI category. The submissions were scored by current and former members of the Ethics Committee and current and former members of the Judicial Committee. After the final review of the score, the winning teams have been identified. The submissions from each winning team in each category will be posted here after the Conference.

The first-place winners will receive a cash award and be recognized during the Friday, November 16, 2018 keynote address during the annual conference in Louisville, KY. Conference registration, hotel and coach airfare will be paid by AAMFT. Join AAMFT in congratulating the winning teams on their excellent work!

Doctoral Category Winners:

1st Place: Natira Mullet and Lindsey Hawkins (Texas Tech University)

Read their winning paper here.

2st Place: Michelle Murray and Mary Nedela (Virginia Tech)

Read their winning paper here.

3rd Place: Jan Alfred B. Valdes and Julianne Hattaway (Alliant International University)

Read their winning paper here.

Master’s/PDI Category

1st Place: Abigail Graff, Jenna Dyck, and Michele Catalano (University of Winnipeg)

Read their winning paper here.

2nd Place: Michelle Oak and Angela Hall (Campbellsville University)

3rd Place: Nina Dippon (photo pending) and Nicole Eckles (Regis University)

Read their winning paper here.

View the winners from the 2017 Student Ethics Competition here.
View the winners from the 2016 Student Ethics Competition here.

Questions about the Student Ethics Competition can be sent to [email protected].

Legal and Ethics Fact Sheets

The AAMFT has developed a series of fact sheets concerning the legal and ethics issues that most frequently arise in a therapist’s practice. Each fact sheet provides general information on an important topic.

Code of Ethics

The AAMFT strives to honor the public trust in marriage and family therapists by setting standards for ethical practice as described in this Code. The ethical standards define professional expectations and are enforced by the AAMFT Ethics Committee. 

Legal and Ethics Columns

AAMFT’s Family Therapy Magazine (FTM) has featured many articles over the years on legal and ethical issues that marriage and family therapists frequently encounter. Written by AAMFT members and staff, these FTM articles provide valuable information on dealing with the major legal and ethical concerns faced by therapists.