Challenges and benefits of ethical small-community practice

Ethical dilemmas and boundary challenges are parts of daily life for psychologists who live and practice within small communities. Although rural psychologists are most readily identified as 'small-community psychologists,' there are a number of other settings that can be considered small communities--colleges, communities of color/ethnicity/culture, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT), military, faith-based, feminist, criminal justice and corrections, suburban, disability, deaf/hearing impaired, chemical dependency, school districts, sport psychology, graduate training programs, and therapists who see other therapists as clients. Psychologists in these small communities strive to balance a traditional individualist perspective with a need to participate in and contribute to the overall wellness of the community in which they live and work. The 3 invited commentaries provide additional depth through their perspectives on rural, LGBT, and Latina/o community practice. Their insights model thoughtful and contemporary practice that challenges, enriches, and educates the larger field of ethical psychological practice. Keywords: ethics, small communities, LGBT, multicultural, rural DOI: 10.1037/a0021689