 |
Ethical Situations in Counselling
Author: Pedro Gondim  | Posted: 30-04-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 93 | Rating: (106)  (?) 
 A prominent aspect of counsellor training involves the analysis of ethical situations. Counsellors need to be malleable to the variety of situations in which the client’s personality traits and environmental circumstances are prominent barriers to the relationship’s progress.
Codes of practice, ethical guidelines and counselling micro-skills play a role in supporting the counsellor’s decision-making process towards the relationship; however, client and situation uniqueness are not the exception in the therapeutic process – they reign supreme. Effective counselling invokes the ongoing need for adaptability and critical analysis.
In this context, three situations which frequently give rise to ethical dilemmas are dual relationships, mandatory reporting and informed consent. Are you aware of the particular conditions which delineate each of these situations, and how to act upon them? This article provides a snapshot of the topic, along with some strategies for practising and student counsellors who are likely to face similar situations throughout their careers.
Dual Relationships
Dual relationships can be defined as social interactions between counsellor and client, in addition to their professional (or therapeutic) relationship. Because the relationship was initiated in a therapeutic environment – which invokes behavioural restrictions and requires particular decorum from both entities – clients and counsellors are likely to face natural obstacles when developing relationships outside of the counselling room.
As Corsini (2000, p. 447) states: “It is often awkward for both the therapist and the client when interactions occur outside the psychotherapeutic relationship. Some relationships, such as those that include sexual or financial involvement, clearly violate the ethical codes of almost all professional organizations. Others, such as allowing a client to buy the therapist a cup of coffee after a chance meeting in a restaurant, appear to be quite harmless. Most decisions are not this straightforward, however, and deciding whether to accept a Christmas gift or flowers for the waiting room can become a vexing dilemma”.
The main question to be asked is how much influence particular social interactions can wield in the professional relationship – that is, the counsellor’s perspective towards the client, and vice-versa. Simple interactions, such as a chat on the street or even the cup of coffee cited by Corsini are likely to have little influence over both entities’ mindsets, thus it is generally not perceived as a challenging situation. But certain situations which induce emotional attachment can be damaging to counselling goals and/or outcomes.
Mental health professionals diverge in opinions when it comes to dual relationships. However, the vast majority of therapists agree that dual relationships should be avoided, arguing that transference and counter transference are powerful responses that will inevitably influence the therapeutic relationship. Along with most ethical dilemmas, it is largely a matter of each case: context, individual personality traits and nature of the counselling relationship.
According to Karen Kitchener (1988), the types of dual relationships which were most likely to be detrimental to a therapeutic relationship included the following aspects: “incompatibility of expectations between roles; diverging obligations associated with different roles, which increases potential for loss of objectivity and; increased power and prestige between professionals and consumers, which increases the potential for exploitation”.
To surpass difficulties with dual relationships, counsellors ought to ascertain clear and realistic boundaries around the professional relationship with their clients. Such boundaries need to consider the needs and characteristics of each client, and how that will reflect in the overall relationship. Codes of practice and guidelines are important to set these boundaries; however, professionals must be sensitive to particular needs in each relationship and apply such knowledge to improve decision-making in the counselling process.
Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory reporting, or duty to warn, is one of the most sensitive topics in therapy and mental health. The bare existence of this concept already conflicts with ethical principles of confidentiality, thus deciding to report a client is a paradoxical pattern of thinking for any such professional. Nevertheless, it is an extremely important issue.
It can be defined as the necessity to break client confidentiality in order to protect the client or the community as a whole, when the client imposes a threat to his/her own safety, the community’s safety or the framework of law to which the community abides by. When laws and values conflict, which side should you take? Most cases of information disclosure in therapy are for the benefit of the client, such as sharing information with colleagues or supervisors in order to obtain an alternative opinion or perspective. However, when it comes to mandatory reporting, best interest of the community or society are preceded over the client’s interests. Thus, the default answer to the previous question is in fact, the law.
Needless to say, counsellors should be flexible when making decisions regarding mandatory reporting. There are several law frameworks which govern countries, states and regions, and each of them has its own agenda in respect to mandatory reporting requirements. Additionally, a wide variety of codes of conduct are also likely to influence the decision-making process for therapists and mental health professionals.
A common basis for reporting a client is the imminence of danger for the individual (self harm) or others (e.g. an ex-partner). “Exceptional circumstances may arise which give the counsellor good grounds for believing that serious harm may occur to the client or to other people. In such circumstances the client's consent to change in the agreement about confidentiality should be sought whenever possible unless there are also good grounds for believing the client is no longer willing or able to take responsibility for his/her actions. Normally, the decision to break confidentiality should be discussed with the client and should be made only after consultation with the counselling supervisor or if he/she is not available, an experienced counsellor.” (Australian Counselling Association - Code of Conduct)
Informed Consent
Informed consent involves the communication of any information which matters to the client and which is pertinent to the therapeutic relationship. A building aspect of the client-counsellor relationships is the development of trust and rapport. A premise for creating trust and rapport is good communication. Good communication, conversely, is based on honesty. Thus, informed consent is not only an ethical requirement for the counsellor, but also a condition to achieve the collective goals of the relationship.
“Clients are entitled to know about all matters that affect them. They deserve to know the likelihood of harm (physical or mental) that could result from treatment, the possibility of side effects, the probability of success for treatment, the limits of confidentiality, whether student counselors will be involved, and the likely duration and cost of treatment.” (Corsini, 2000)
An effective way to ensure clients are adequately informed is to produce a standard information disclosure statement: a contract which comprises the counsellor’s and clients’ responsibilities and rights. A well-defined statement will provide the client with valuable information about areas such as: confidentiality, record-keeping, counselling management, relationship boundaries, and more. It is also a measurement which improves the quality of the service provided as it creates a clear framework of conduct for clients which are not acquainted with the process of therapy.
“Counsellors are responsible for reaching agreement with their clients about the terms on which counselling is being offered, including availability, the degree of confidentiality offered, arrangements for the payment of any fees, cancelled appointments and other significant matters. The communication of essential terms and any negotiations should be concluded by having reached a clear agreement before the client incurs any commitment or liability of any kind.” (Australian Counselling Association - Code of Conduct)
Reference List:
Australian Counselling Association (2002). ACA Code of Conduct. (4th version). Brisbane: Author. Corsini, R., & Wedding, D. (2000). Current Psychotherapies. (6th Edition). Belmont: Brooks/Cole. pp. 445-453. Kitchener, K. S. (1988). Dual role relationships: What makes them so problematic? Journal of Counseling & Development, 67(4), pp. 217–221.
Subscribe to our FREE eZine.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/psychology-articles/ethical-situations-in-counselling-139886.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Grief and Loss: Another Perspective
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Psychology
Grief and loss is a multifaceted counselling field based on the loss of someone or something. "Grief is our response to loss, particularly the death of a loved one. Grief can affect our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and beliefs, and our relationships with others. Many people experience...
Is Bulimia a Psychological Eating Disorder
By: Jennifer Baxt | 25/04/2008 | Psychology
An individual with bulimia will eat a good sized portion of food and then induce vomiting afterwards to get rid of the food they had just eaten.
Is There Free Online Therapy?
By: Jennifer Baxt | 06/05/2008 | Psychology
With one of today’s main focuses being money, few will offer a good or service for free. Fortunately, there are people who are serious about what they do and they care more for the work they do than they do about the almighty dollar.
How to Deal With Criticism Within Your Family?
By: Jennifer Baxt | 08/05/2008 | Psychology
It can easily be forgotten that a family is supposed to work together and provide support to all of its members. It is with that support and caring atmosphere that can help the children to grow up healthy and prepared for life.
How to Communicate With Your Family?
By: Jennifer Baxt | 12/04/2008 | Psychology
Families that do not spend much time together and where clear communication is lacking can have difficulty in remaining a strong family unit. Many do not realize it, but one of the first things needed to having a strong and happy family unit is communication.
Can Cleaning Help Maintain Good Mental Health?
By: Jennifer Baxt | 01/05/2008 | Psychology
Many have heard that maintaining one’s physical health can go a long way in helping to maintain a person’s mental health, because they go hand in hand with each other.
Getting Ready for a Family??
By: Jennifer Baxt | 10/05/2008 | Psychology
When first thinking about starting a family, there are a number of things that both parents have to think about before going ahead with it.
Creating the Counsellor Mindset: a Career Overview
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Psychology
Diverse values, specialist development, varied experiences, a unique mindset - mix it up and include a touch of interpretation and you have a human being with a social outlook. Leveraging differences between people is a daily necessity of living in societies, and leveraging our own perspective of the world – and others in it – is one of the utmost challenges in pursuing a healthy and balanced lifestyle...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Ashley Olsen and Lance Armstrong??
By: AllisonG | 02-11-2007
Several media outlets have reported that Ashley Olsen and Lance Armstrong have been spotted at various hot-spots in New York City being more than just friendly. Do you believe it? Do you have any news about this?
Teachers and sexual misconduct with their students?? what's up?!?!?!
By: PracticalThinker | 02-11-2007
Authorities searched Thursday Nov. 1 for a 13-year-old boy and a female middle school teacher believed to be on the run from central Nebraska after police began investigating whether the pair had an intimate relationship.Kelsey Peterson, 25, a sixth-grade math teacher and basketball coach at Lexington Middle School, was placed on administrative leave last week. A judge issued an arrest warrant Monday charging her with kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.Court documents showed authorities had recovered several e-mails and letters in which the two professed their affection for one another.In letters, the boy called Peterson his "Baby Gurl" and said their relationship was "just not about the sex but that it was pretty good," according to court documents. Court documents say Peterson's school-issued laptop contained letters to the student, including one from April saying she loved him, thought he loved her, was "100 percent faithful" to him and would always be faithful.This is not the first time a teacher has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. There was Debra Lafave who was sentenced to house arrest and probation in 2005 after pleading guilty to charges that she had sex with a 14-year-old student. There was Wendie Schweikert, 37, who pleaded guilty to having sex with an 11-year-old student and in March 2007 was sentenced to 10 years in prison. There was Aaron Brevik, an elementary teacher and principal from Michigan, who was convicted of criminal sexual conduct in 2005 and is serving 5 to 20 years after being accused of using a hidden camera to film students in the gym locker room. There was the notorious Mary Kay Letourneau, who served a seven-year sentence for having sex with student Vili Fualaau, when he was 12. (She left her husband and 4 children to be with Fualaau.) They had two children and wed in 2005. In 2005, Pamela Rogers received an eight-year sentence for having sex with a 13-year-old student. She later sent suggestive photos to the boy and got two years added. Pamela Smart received a life sentence for plotting to kill her husband after he was shot in 1990 by a 16-year-old student with whom she had a relationship. And after her relationship with a 16-year-old student resulted in a pregnancy in 2004, Rebecca Boicelli went on maternity leave during the police investigation and found a job at another school nearby.Now my question..is there an epidemic going on here? What makes these adults think it's ok to have sex with CHILDREN????Do you think if these people were given real prison time (like 20 years to life), this kind of insanity would stop?
Why do we have habits?
By: HypnoFreak | 01-11-2007
what is the cause of habits and why do we even when we know these are bad for us keep them going?
This might be a silly qustion but can you be 2 weeks pregnant
By: baby1nikki | 01-11-2007
this might be a silly qustion but can you be 2 weeks pregnant?
Modern life and fight or flight?
By: HypnoFreak | 01-11-2007
due to our ever hectic modern day living, how do you feel this effects our fight or flight reaction?you may say not at all! but as we can't use our fight or flight basic instinct in modern life does this effect us psyically and mentally?eg if your boss theatens to fire you for being late, you get scared your fight or flight kicks in, you can't leap on you boss and beat him up, and you can't just turn and run out the door, you stand there (usually) and just take it. this can be said for hundreds of modern day situations, so how does this effect us? is this maybe a reason for a lot of illness and stress etc? what do you think??
Relationship between stress, anxiety, habits, and phobias?
By: HypnoFreak | 01-11-2007
what are the relationships between stress, anxiety, habits, and phobias?and how are these gained and even treated?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Psychology Articles
Who is Likely to be Victimized by Panic Disorder?
By: Robert | 03/09/2008
Panic Disorder is a type of anxiety disorders that is affecting a huge part of our population. Symptoms of this disorder could be extremely unpleasant and they can, literary in a matter of days, transform the lives of healthy folks into a nightmare. There are some individuals who are in higher risk group than the rest of the population to be hit by panic disorder but everybody might became a victim regardless of their sex, age or the social background.
Faqs on Non-verbal Communication/body Language
By: Hal G. Warfield | 03/09/2008
How important is non-verbal communication? How can I "read" people? Read on to find out.
Natural Law- is the Search for Absolute Justice
By: david dagan | 03/09/2008
Natural law- is the search for absolute justice. As it’s above all, it is the basis for laws. The idea of natural law started with Aristotle. At the beginning, the Roman law was only for the Romans.
Right Use of Power: the Heart of Ethics
By: Cedar Barstow | 31/08/2008
The basic ethical question is: Is what I am doing in the best interest of my client? With this question in mind, the preponderance of ethical decisions are made moment to moment in the ordinary process of sessions with your clients. Commitment to the best interests of your clients is the often unnamed and yet constant foundation that guides your interventions. Everyday ethical decisions involve both personal integrity and professional responsibility.
Right Use of Power: Ethics as Soul Work
By: Cedar Barstow | 31/08/2008
I think of ethics as right use of power. In fact, right use of power and influence is the biggest container for ethics since it includes social consciousness and personal development.
Right Use of Power: in Roles, Relationships, and Trust
By: Cedar Barstow | 31/08/2008
Right use of power and influence is surely one of the most important issues facing us in our emerging globally interdependent world. Interest in right use of power takes us in the dynamic realms of roles, relationships, and trust. We engage with finding out how we impact others and then with developing the skills and compassion to be more and more effective. This is inspiring and valuable process.
How Do the Prayer Block Pain Signals Reaching the Brain?
By: Dr.Psypo | 31/08/2008
This article explain the science behind the magical healing power of prayer and meditation. It all mediated through chemical interplays of endorphins, enkephalins etc
The Use of Narrative Therapy in the Transformative Work of Grief
By: Beth Patterson | 30/08/2008
Helen Keller has said that “the only way to get to the other side is to go through the door.” This is certainly true in the work of transforming grief into healing and growth. This process involves allowing ourselves to feel the intense emotions of grief – sadness, anger, despair and other difficult emotions, as well as tapping into our internal strengths and external sources of support and ultimately finding new ways to stay connected to our departed loved ones.
More from Pedro Gondim
Coping With Change - Strategies and Approaches
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Self Improvement
Change is a certainty in everyone's life. The manner in which people deal with change also changes. Through learning and life experience, individuals develop varied levels of flexibility towards transition, and these levels commonly dictate the person's ability to productively cope with life's challenges. Thus, readiness and ability to change are popular topics in therapeutic contexts such as counseling, life coaching and mentoring.
Neuroscience: What is Brain Plasticity?
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Science
Neuroscience has changed considerably in the past 20 years. An example of change over period is the concept of brain plasticity. Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to rewire itself, relocating information processing functions to different brain areas and/or neural networks. Two decades ago, it was believed that brain networks were static after its initial formation period. Now that belief has changed...
Tips and Strategies to Build Rapport With Clients
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Psychology
In previous we’ve discussed the 'business-side' of counselling: marketing tips and business guidelines which can help counsellors build a successful practice. Most therapists possess an innate desire to help others, and because of this emotional involvement, sometimes it can be challenging to convert the potential into practical results.
Building a Successful Counselling Business: Tips and Guidelines
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Small Business
In a previous article we discussed the importance and applications of marketing in counselling. There was a particular focus on the initiation of a counselling practice. Although marketing has an important, and often overlooked, role in developing a counselling business, there are several other fundamentals that are just as important to build a successful practice.
Marketing in Counselling: Tips for a Successful Practice
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Small Business
Professionals in the health and allied industries, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, etc, often work from their own self-employed businesses. In Australia, a considerable section of the industry is self-employed, whilst many other professional counsellors who have not yet become their own bosses, aspire to do so. In this article, we discuss one the most critical aspects of starting and perpetuating a business: marketing.
Narrative Therapy: Concepts and Applications
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Psychology
Your life is a narrative, counted and recounted from many different perspectives, and by diverse people. There are settings, themes, characters and plots – just like in any movie, book, historical account or legendary fable. In this article we review the approach of Narrative Therapy and how it can be effectively used by counsellors to assist individuals improve their lives.
Self-disclosure: Underpinnings and Applications
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Psychology
Are you a very important person? Sure you are. The reason for this answer is the same to almost everyone in this planet: we like talking about ourselves, we enjoy being listened, we praise our achievements, and we are very much into introspection. Although we are ultimately social beings, most humans are both consciously and subconsciously determined to improve themselves...
The Word: Fear
By: Pedro Gondim | 30/04/2007 | Psychology
Fear is a common and dictating aspect Fear is a common and dictating aspect of human behaviour. It is such a common reality to be afraid, that we have literally hundreds of words describing a particular fear which someone has reported suffering from. There are enough words to create a Phobia Dictionary. In this article, we will analyse the underpinnings of fear, an impressive (and often disconcerting) human emotion.
|
|
Education 
