Psychology or Moral Policing? The Role of Values in Therapy

Values are an unavoidable part of human decision-making. They are not limited to specific choices or behaviours. According to Schwartz (2012), values are deeply held beliefs that guide action across contexts. They help individuals determine what is desirable or worthwhile, which in turn influences attitudes and behaviour in both subtle and explicit ways.

In therapy, every interaction is influenced by the values of the client and the values of the therapist, in addition to the therapeutic framework in which both are interacting. This influence of values isn’t just theoretical. Values have very real implications for the dynamics of power, autonomy, and ethics. The central question is not whether values should have any role in therapy (they inevitably do), but whether they serve the client’s well-being or cross the line into a form of moral policing.

The Myth of Value-Neutrality in Therapy

If you’re familiar with the history of the development of psychology, you can recall how it aspired to replicate the objectivity of the natural sciences. The therapeutic setting was meant to be neutral, technical, and free from subjective interference. Freud even compared therapists to surgeons to suggest that they should “put aside all their feelings” and be “opaque” to their patients, reflecting nothing but what is shown to them (Jackson et al., 2013). Similarly, B.F. Skinner’s behaviourism also saw therapy as ethically neutral. Its focus was only to be on modifying behaviour through reinforcement rather than engaging with moral or value-based reasoning.

This emphasis on neutrality was supported by the formalisation of therapy as a profession and its reliance on empirical methods. However, as several scholars have noted, value-neutrality in psychotherapy is not only difficult to achieve, but it may also be counterproductive. Philosophers like Hans-Georg Gadamer and practitioners such as Tjeltveit (1999) have argued that therapists inevitably bring their values into the therapy room. Their ideas about what can be called “health”, “improvement,” or “progress” are determined by their own moral frameworks and cultural contexts. These values influence everything from how therapists set goals and interpret the experiences of clients.

At present, most professionals and academicians have moved past the illusion of neutrality. It is now widely accepted that therapists work within a system of personal, professional, and cultural values, all of which affect their clinical decisions (Jackson et al., 2013; Cormack, 2010).

The Therapist as a Moral Agent

Once we accept that values are inherent in psychotherapy, the next step is to understand how they function in practice. Research shows that therapists vary in their level of awareness and management of their values. In a qualitative study involving therapists and clients in Chile, Bascuñán et al. (2023) identified four distinct approaches to values in therapy.

The Value-Neutral Technician:

Some therapists view themselves as neutral practitioners. They approach psychotherapy as a clinical task, applying evidence-based interventions without engaging with moral or personal beliefs. From this perspective, effectiveness is prioritised over ethical or subjective considerations. However, clients in the same study often reported that this form of neutrality was artificial or incomplete. A therapeutic relationship is not purely technical, and pretending otherwise may undermine its integrity.

The Psycho-Educator:

Other therapists adopt a more directive role. They guide clients toward behaviours they consider healthier or more adaptive, often using psychological research to support their stance. For example, a therapist may discourage physical punishment in parenting, citing psychological research as justification (Bascuñán et al., 2023). This is still a value judgment, albeit one grounded in professional norms and evidence.

The Reflective Practitioner:

A third group of therapists attempt to bracket their values. These therapists acknowledge that true neutrality is unattainable, but aim to avoid imposing their worldview. They remain engaged and self-aware while minimising their influence on the client’s choices. This approach aligns with recommendations that therapists adopt a posture of self-reflection and maintain openness about their biases (Jackson et al., 2013; Cormack, 2010).

The Transparent Human Participant:

Finally, some therapists recognise their values as both unavoidable and potentially helpful. Rather than concealing them, they integrate their values into the therapeutic process openly. They believe that authenticity can enhance the therapeutic alliance, provided their perspective does not overpower the client’s autonomy (Bascuñán et al., 2023). In this model, the therapist is seen not as a detached expert but as a fellow human being whose values can inform and support the client’s growth.

Guidance or Value Imposition as Soft Moral Policing?

All these variations in approaches lead us to an important ethical question: at what point does therapeutic guidance become moral policing?

Value imposition occurs when therapists directly or indirectly influence clients to adopt their values, attitudes, or beliefs (Aulia et al., 2024). This can be overt, such as telling a client how to live based on personal or religious convictions. But more often, it is subtle. Therapists might unconsciously steer clients toward outcomes that align with their worldview, assuming this is in the client’s best interest.

The ethical concern here is not merely professional overreach, it is about autonomy. Clients come to therapy in states of vulnerability. They may often be confused, in crisis, or seeking clarity. In such moments, the therapist’s input carries significant weight and authority. Research shows that clients frequently adopt therapist values without realising it, especially when those values are presented as “therapeutic” or “evidence-based” (Aulia et al., 2024; Bascuñán et al., 2023).

This influence can be especially problematic when therapists justify value imposition using the principle of beneficence. This is the idea that they are acting in the client’s best interest. For example, a therapist might try to convince a client to abandon a deeply held religious belief if they perceive it as psychologically harmful. Even when this comes from a place of concern, this approach can override the client’s moral agency.

In its most problematic form, value imposition becomes a soft form of moral policing. The therapist becomes not only a mental health professional but also a moral authority. They may frame their values as universal truths, and in doing so, they may view any differences as pathological or dysfunctional.

Consequences of Moral Policing in Therapy

Ethical and Clinical Consequences

When therapists introduce their values into the process, they risk breaking the core principles of psychotherapy: trust, safety, and collaboration. Clients may feel judged, dismissed, or subtly pressured to conform. In some cases, they may internalise values that do not align with their personal, cultural, or situational context, which can result in confusion, shame, or alienation.

Cultural Misalignment and Marginalisation

These risks are amplified when working with clients from marginalised or culturally diverse backgrounds. What a Western-trained therapist defines as “healthy” or “normal” may conflict with collectivist traditions, religious beliefs, or lived experiences of the client (Cormack, 2010). Without cultural humility, therapy can become a tool for assimilation, reinforcing dominant norms rather than respecting differences. Interventions may unintentionally invalidate the client’s identity under the guise of psychological care.

Undermining Autonomy and Consent

Value imposition compromises the client’s autonomy and may violate the principles of informed consent. Even when motivated by care, the therapist’s actions can cause harm. As Aulia et al. (2024) note, the therapist’s responsibility is not to persuade or direct, but to support. The therapeutic space should protect the client’s ability to construct their meaning, not replace it with the therapist’s framework.

Working with Values in Therapy

Managing Values Responsibly

Since values are inescapable in therapy, the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate them, but to manage them with ethical awareness. Several strategies support this process. One is value transparency. This would involve openly sharing one’s value orientation and core assumptions early in the therapeutic relationship. This allows clients to assess alignment and make informed decisions about fit (Bascuñán et al., 2023).

Another key practice is ongoing reflexivity. Therapists must continuously examine how their beliefs shape their clinical decisions. Supervision and peer consultation are essential spaces for this reflection. As Cormack (2010) highlights, ethical practice requires an active engagement with the tension between personal values, professional commitments, and client needs.

When value conflicts cannot be ethically resolved, referral is a responsible course of action. Choosing to refer a client does not signal failure; it reflects a respect for the client’s autonomy and the boundaries of one’s professional role.

Rethinking Autonomy in Therapy

Respect for client autonomy is central to ethical psychotherapy. It is important to note that autonomy is not a fixed or uniform concept. Bascuñán et al. (2023) identify several forms of autonomy observed in therapeutic practice: informed autonomy, guided autonomy, relational autonomy, and responsible autonomy.

Informed autonomy emphasises equipping clients with knowledge to make reasoned choices. Guided autonomy allows therapists to challenge and support clients while preserving their decision-making power. Relational autonomy recognises the role of social relationships and interdependence. Responsible autonomy involves helping clients consider the broader impact of their choices. Each form may be appropriate in different contexts, but their use should be deliberate and negotiated. When therapists subtly override autonomy, they risk reproducing the dynamics of control that therapy is meant to address.

Cultural Frameworks and Ethical Boundaries

Psychotherapy is not culturally neutral. Many established models are rooted in Western, individualistic ideals. Constructs such as self-actualisation, independence, and authenticity are often positioned as universal goals, but they may not align with the values of clients from collectivist or religious cultures (Cormack, 2010).

This misalignment can turn well-intentioned guidance into moral policing. When therapists interpret cultural or spiritual expressions through the lens of pathology, they risk invalidating core aspects of the client’s identity. A commitment to family, authority, or tradition may be essential to the client’s worldview, not a symptom to be treated.

To avoid this, therapists must cultivate cultural humility. Mental health, like all human experience, is shaped by context. The therapist’s role is not to define what constitutes a “good life,” but to help clients define it for themselves, on their terms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, values are inseparable from psychotherapy. They shape how therapists understand problems, set goals, and evaluate progress. But the presence of values does not have to compromise the integrity of the therapeutic process if they are managed ethically. The real risk emerges when therapists, knowingly or unknowingly, impose their values on clients in the name of guidance. When this happens, therapy can shift from support to control, becoming a subtle form of moral policing.

Ethical practice requires more than striving for neutrality. It calls for self-awareness, transparency, and consistent respect for the client’s autonomy and understanding their unique context. Therapists must recognise the power they hold and use it responsibly, ensuring that therapy remains a space for dialogue, not moral policing.

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FAQs

1. What if a therapist and client strongly disagree on values?

If the disagreement affects the work, the therapist should handle it with care by being transparent, staying respectful, and sometimes referring the client to someone else if necessary.

2. Why is autonomy important in therapy?

Autonomy means the client has the freedom to make decisions that are right for them. Respecting autonomy helps build trust and supports long-term change that fits the client’s values and life.

3. What should I do if I feel judged by my therapist?

You can bring it up in the session if you feel comfortable. A good therapist will take your concerns seriously. If things don’t improve, it may be worth looking for a better match.

4. Can therapy still work if the therapist and client have very different worldviews?

Yes, as long as there’s mutual respect and the therapist is skilled at navigating differences. Sometimes those differences can even lead to valuable insight and personal growth.