Summarize the five ethical guidelines for integrating spirituality into counseling. Discuss the ethical concerns that each guideline is attempting to address.
According to Craig Cashwell and J. Young (2011) one of the five ethical guidelines are (1) Religion and spirituality are widely practiced in the United States - “researchers have found that 96% of people leaving in the United States believe in a higher power, more than 90% pray, 69% are members of a religious community” (p. 13). Furthermore, on 7.5% of the United States population identify themselves as non-religious. However, many people engage in a form of spiritual practice that may not include a higher power or does not involve participation in an organized religion.
In addition, this guideline is addressing professional responsibility and respect for people’s rights and dignity according to the American Psychological Association code of ethics.
Counselors are to uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify professional obligations, and accept responsibility for their behavior. Furthermore, counselors are to respect the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, etc. Cultural, individual, and role differences need not be overlooked.
Next, (2) Overall wellness and a spiritual worldview are highly compatible - Spirituality is arguably a central aspect of wellness and an important developmental phenomenon. Rejecting or ignoring the clients’ religious/spiritual lives is culturally insensitive and could be considered incompetent and unethical practice (Cashwell & Young, 2011). Furthermore, a respect for diversity is a concern that this guideline is addressing. It is very important that counselors not discriminate based on race, culture, sexual orien...
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...s affect the client’s daily life. This will help the counselor properly diagnose and treat the client. However, it is still important for the counselor to be aware of his or her own religious/spiritual values because self-disclosure may be of some importance to client in therapy. In addition, there are criticisms of this approach that include unconditional acceptance of client’s viewpoint that might blur the lines between mental illness and religious belief. However, I believe the counselor may be able to make a wise decision between mental illness and religious beliefs.
Works Cited
Sanders, R. K. (1997). Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Therapist, Pastors & Counselors. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Cashwell, C. S. and Young, J.S. (2011). Integrating Spirituality and Religion Into Counseling: A Guide to competent practice. Alexandria, VA
In essence, McMinn’s intradisciplinary integrated approach to Christian counseling is more than a “toolbox of set strategies for change” instead it is a “deep, abiding, formative work of God’s Spirit,” within the counselors lives (p 31-32). McMinn (2007) explains his theoretical map is cognitive therapy along with developing a strong therapeutic relationship and trust with our clients is not only essential to the effectiveness of counseling, but also is vital to applying his approach of the integration of psychology, theology, and spirituality into counseling. By McMinn using his theoretical cognitive therapy map he can build upon it to integrate the concerns of the spiritual growth wellbeing of our clients as well as their wellbeing of mental
A difficulty that has occurred commonly is that a definition of spirituality cannot be agreed on. In a broad explanation of both religion as well as spirituality, religion constitutes the organization of faith, implementing prayer, ministry and theology. Spirituality could be viewed as a more individualized experience with a higher being, creator or idea (Walker et al., 2004, p. 70). These expressions allow a vision of client diversity that is found in all counseling classifications. While defining religion and spirituality properly seems trivial, when training counselors to properly apply the use of such variables in their therapies, a concrete explanation is imperative.
With the three categories “that must be considered simultaneously: psychology, theology, and spirituality” (McMinn, 2011, p.190). From the stance of psychology counselors are thought to be more subjective by placing themselves on the outside in order to properly view the issues or concerns that the client may have. Theology, is thought to spear spirituality. “May God guide each of us to the deep, still waters of Life, where we find hope, courage, humidity compassion and peace” (McMinn, 2011, p.
A counselor should always keep their thoughts to themselves and remain open-minded about the situation. The only time a counselor should share their thoughts is if it helps the client with their situation that they are dealing with. “Counselors must practice only within the boundaries of their competence (Standard C.2.a.), and, if they “determine an inability to be of professional assistance to clients” (Standard A.11.b.), they should facilitate a referral to another provider. (Kocet, M. M., & Herlihy, B. J. (2014). Addressing Value-Based Conflicts Within the Counseling Relationship: A Decision-Making Model. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 92(2), 180-186 7p. doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6676.2014.00146.x).” Keeping your thoughts to yourself is
Professional counselors are confronted with ethical decision making on a regular day-to-day basis. This could be both nerve-racking and challenging. In order for a counselor to face these ethical decisions, it is important for them to have guidelines in place for when an ethical or legal situation occurs. The first step is to recognize there is an ethical dilemma, once this is recognized the process to resolve it can be started (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2008).
A major factor that every therapist must consider is his or her own relationship with religion. An example of practice what you preach, with a strong understanding of religion you can better assist clients with issues. One thing that must be cautiously approached is the therapist’s personal opinions on religion, to avoid any roadblocks in the future. Imposing religious values in therapy are prohibited. With that being said the therapist must be open and understanding of the clients views and beliefs. The therapist may not always share the same religious views as their client but that doesn’t mean that they cannot use religion in therapy. If a therapist is not capable of allowing a client to worship without imposing his or her own religious views then religion cannot be used in therapy. Limit and boundaries must be set to avoid causing more harm. Standard 1.08 Unfair Discrimination Against Complainants and Respondents (Fisher, 2013) is in places to ensure that clients aren’t going to be discriminated against, especially in any form of religious belief. Discrimination against religion may be one the most common discrimination with such a touchy subject Standards are in place to keep
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1068.
Worthington, E. L. Jr., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., & McDaniel, M. A. (2011). Religion and spirituality. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press
Confidentiality. Confidentiality is just as important in Christian counseling as it is in secular counseling. According to the American Association of Christian Counselors (2014), “confidentiality recognizes that every client has a fundamental, moral and legal right to privacy and to have a wide range of personal thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and behaviors that are protected from public knowledge” (p. 22). It is crucial for counselors to maintain client confidentiality unless what a client discloses brings harm to themselves or other people. Confidentiality should be kept at all
Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian counseling: Foundations and practice of compassionate soul care. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press.
Cunningham, M. (2012). Integrating Spirituality in Clinical Social Work Practice: Walking the Labyrinth (1 ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc.
Counselors need to be aware that they are able to work with particular issues and certain cultural groups. This is because conscious and unconscious meanings and assumptions, such as strongly held religious or political beliefs, will be communicated to the client. “It is desirable up to a point to know about a particulars clients background and therefore not to ask questions about it” due to the clients may be frustrated and impatient with this use of their time. (Bayne, Jinks, Collard, Horton, 2008). This is where cross-cultural training, supervision and personal development are
On the down side there are a limited number of educational programs that adequately deal with the issue of incorporating religion and spirituality in therapeutic/counseling settings. This can be attributed to the fact that counseling is based in psychology, a scientific field, which has traditionally neglected issues of a spiritual nature (Nelson, Kirk, Ane, & Serres, 2011) as well as the practice used within the United States to separate education and religion (Cashwell and Young, 2011). This then results in a significant portion of therapist and counselors who are not prepared to address the issue of spirituality and religion with their clients. One would think that with the value many Americans place on the topic of religion and spirituality that there would come a time when a client would want to address this topic during his or her session.
When it comes to the point of understanding of how Christian counseling can be effective, the accepted requirements for the standards of counseling
Ethical issues in a counseling practice lay the foundation of a therapist in practice. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions and operates in a successful manner for the clients who seek help in such a setting. In order for the counseling profession to be ethical and hold professional recognition, there are many facets that need to be examined and outlined to make sure all counselors and practitioners are functioning at the highest level and withholding their duties required by the counseling profession. The first introduction so to speak of the area of ethics also happens to be one of the first steps in counseling, which is the informed consent. The informed consent provides the basis of what happens or will be happening in a counseling setting and serves to inform the client to their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect. Most importantly, the informed consent is in place for the client’s benefit. It also is important to understand that culture and environment play a role in the treatment of a client and how theories can positively or negatively impact this treatment. Therapists need to understand how to work within the context of a theory while being able to understand the individual in their own environment. Although theories are put into place to serve as a framework, there are also alternative ways to approach counseling, one example being evidence-based practice. Such an approach is very specific, which presents a series of solutions for counseling as a whole, but also brings forth many problems. Every approach or theory introduces ethical concerns that need to be taken into consideration by the entire counseling community and how each can positively and negatively affect clients and the pr...