They do indeed have a professional obligation-it's their ethics codes that talk about their responsiblity to social causes and public health. It's not a mere inconvenience for some people or a matter of 'finding someone else'-it means they don't have access to services.

I'm not sure who said it was unethical not to offer access to all patients, I never said that it's unethical. But no, it's not like any business where you only do what's best for yourself. You have to take clients in consideration when making business decisions. That social responsibility does not delineate between those in private practice and those not self-employed.

And if you read the social worker ethics, they imply that if you don't live your life in a way that serves others, you have no business being in the profession. It seems like social workers make up the bulk of therapists now. Code of Ethics (English and Spanish) - National Association of Social Workers

My point is that as a profession, therapists themselves say they have social responsbility and should consider the welfare of clients unlike other businesses (not sure why people are saying that's not true when they themselves claim this) and as a profession, should contribute to addressing client access issues.

That means those who can should 'inconvenience' themselves just a little bit to try to offer access to services to clients of various backgrounds. There are some, like my therapist, who work more non-traditional hours than others to make up the slack for all of those therapists who are more self-centered.

It's a free country here; sure, no one HAS to help people. ER doctors and nurses don't get together with their professional organizations and unions and decide they are all going to work 9-5 and have ER techs only staff hospitals after hours. People don't get to work the hours they want when they choose certain professions where people's well-being rather than profit is the focus.

This issue actually degrades the credibility of the profession further. If they want to be like any other business, sure, just don't claim to support ethics codes and social responsiblity-don't join and get the benefits of professional organizations or health insurance. Maybe life coach jobs are more fitting for therapists who don't consider the welfare of the population they serve when they make their business decisions. I have no issue with them operating like a business owner and not a health care professional as long as they don't claim to be something they are not.