Paradoxical Strategies: The Ethics of Intervention

For many therapists the use of paradoxical techniques raises significant questions about professional ethics. The increasing use of paradoxical techniques in therapy lends a note of urgency to the debate. We discuss the ethics of coercion in therapy, informed consent regarding treatment, competency of the therapist, and trust in the therapeutic relationship as they relate to paradoxical strategies. We argue that most of the objections to paradoxical techniques are the result of a lack of understanding of a systemic view of behavior.