Third Order Ethics and Contextual Self-in-Relationship

Cultural and societal power processes inform what therapists believe to be ethical, right, and true, deeply impacting ethical decision-making. This chapter explores the impact of third order thinking on the ethics of everyday practice. This includes highlighting how attending to societal systems, power, and equity is core to ethical practice because these forces directly impact mental health and relational well-being. Therapists increase awareness of their own contextual self-in-relationship when they take a third order perspective. The chapter ends with a discussion of how doing so supports ethical, culturally responsible, and equitable practice .