The point of my post was to say that the Code is there to protect patients. If the therapist uses a code to harm patients and benefit themselves, then they are misusing it and it's a red flag. Yes, anyone can twist words, but knowing it's there to protect US, can alert us to when it's being misused.

Ethical codes were put in place with the intent to protect clients, and guide the therapists' behaviors. Again, they are governed by the principles of beneficence (do good) and nonmaleficence (do no harm). If a patient thinks that the therapist is harming them OR not working in their best interest, then it might be a red flag.

It might very well be that some therapists use their respective codes of ethics to protect themselves and other therapists (which isn't bad in of itself - just think of the government, citizens, and the US constitution). Obviously there are provisions that protect the therapist (e.g., therapist may terminate if threatened by client or client's family), and prevent against *frivolous* lawsuits/complaints.

That being said, such as with any document of rules and any set of people, therapists may use it to justify their questionable behavior (same as the AMA code - American Medical Association).