Steinman, Richardson and McEnroe (1998, pp.3-10) discuss several ethical "traps" that can detract from clear ethical decision-making. The first involves the notion that solutions to ethical problems take nothing more than common sense and objectivity. In reality, many decisions must be based on more, especially legal andethical standards. Objectivity is an unobtainable ideal in most situations; the therapist cannot escape from his or her own distorted worldview or personal needs and is also inevitably part of the ethical problem. Unacknowledged personal needs can often influence the most "objective" decision-making, therefore it is essential that therapists constantly monitor their own needs and also consult with others to be aware of personal biases. A second ethical trap involves the lack of distinction between professional codes of ethics and personal values or morals. A therapist cannot use personal values and morals to make ethical decisions in the professional arena, as sometimes these are in conflict. When this is the case, personal values and morals must take a back-seat to what is ethically mandated. A third ethical trap involves the assumption that there are no ethical absolutes, and that all ethical decisions are situation-specific. The reality of ethical behavior is as follows: 1) there are some ethical problems that can only be solved by a consideration of the circumstances in which they occurred, such as accepting gifts from clients; 2) there are some ethical mandates that are fairly firm, but there are designated circumstances under which exceptions are acknowledged, such as in the area of confidentiality; and 3) there are some ethical mandates for which there are never any exceptions, such as in sexual contact with client.