Ethical Concern Reflection Paper Co-authorship with a Former Patient The ethical concern in this vignette is the possibility of a dual relationship. Despite the client’s indication that she no longer desires to receive therapy, Tan (2011) states, “Some authors and counselors will advocate avoiding all dual and multiple relationships with clients as an ethical boundary in order to prevent any possible exploitation of or harm to the client” (p. 30). Another concern in forming a professional relationship with a past client is that the counselor, Dr. Jordan, does not know the client’s motives and recently saw her within the past year. Due to the nature of the subject, there could also be privacy issues, which could harm the client or jeopardize potential future clients. I would advise Dr. Jones, to congratulate the woman on her efforts but to play it safe and refer the woman to collaborate with another professional. A Psychologist in Turmoil …show more content…
Licensed therapists and counselors are to adhere to the HIPPA rules and are to be held accountable for violating "privacy and security issues" as it can directly affect their practice. They are also called to “promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness by not stealing, cheating, or engaging in fraud” (Tan, 2011, p. 26). I would advise the treating psychologist to have his client report the issue to the proper authorities, as this did not happen under his care and he does not have all the facts to make a claim. In addition, if his client divulged this is in a therapy session, there may also be confidentiality issues, and he could not act without the client's
In the video, Whose Records, the client demonstrated frustration with her current counselor and made a request for her medical records in order to transfer to another counselor. During the conversation, the counselor remained calm and respectful to the client regardless of the clients’ disrespectful approach. I do not agree with the challenge approach made by the counselor regarding the client seeing a different counselor every three to four weeks. That seemed to increase the level of tension on behalf of the client. I feel a better approach would have been to allow the client to express her concerns regarding her current treatment. After which, the counselor could explain the process of obtaining her medical records along with requesting the client to sign the appropriate release of information to acquire her records.
Although doctor-patient confidentiality is standard today, a caveat about this privilege is that it does not protect all statements made to therapists and only applies to regularly scheduled appointments. Additionally, if a patient reveals that they intend to harm someone, it is the therapist’s duty to report this fact to the proper authorities.
ACA Section C on professional responsibility informs counselors that their mission should be to promote changes in their clients’ lives, to in all improve their quality of life. However, through each process a counselor should not harm a client more than they were in the beginning. AAMFT does not speak on the duty of not harming the clients specifically. The AAMFT code of ethics Standard I Responsibility to clients does include sections on sexual intimacy with current or former clients, abuse of therapeutic relationships, and how it is prohibited, similarly to ACA section A.5.a. – A.5.c. AAMFT (2015 1.9) states that Marriage and family therapist continue therapeutic relationships only so long as it is reasonably clear that clients are benefiting from the relationship. The process of counseling involves intervening, reaching goals, or making changes, if a counselor is no longer fostering a positive and healthy relationship with the client then the relationship should be ended. f the counselor is no longer motivating their client or there is a lack initiative a counselor may refer their client to another appropriate therapeutic service. Comparably ACA and AAMFT both have an obligation to not abandon or neglect their clients. AAMFT 1.11 and ACA (2015 A.12) both states that counselors assist in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of treatment for those
The pro to Stephanie is that she will be able to help her client. The con is that the client will not want to return. The therapist will be able to show her client that she has agreed to her counseling her and if she terminates the therapy she may not get what she needs. The client action show that she is frustrated, feeling a sense of worthless, abandoned or powerless. This end may be the beginning to the client opening up. All things aren’t always what they seem. The therapist would be doing right to check back in with the client and try to arrange another meeting about her feelings.
Counselor should never have a dual relationship with a client it can bring a lot of ethics issue that affect the client and counselor. According to ACA "A.6.b. Extending Counseling Boundaries Counselors consider the risks and bene ts of extending current counsel- ing relationships beyond conventional parameters. Examples include attend- ing a client’s formal ceremony (e.g., a wedding/commitment ceremony or graduation), purchasing a service or product provided by a client (excepting unrestricted bartering), and visiting a cli- ent’s ill family member in the hospital. In extending these boundaries, counselors take appropriate professional precau- tions such as informed consent, consul- tation, supervision, and documentation to ensure that judgment
Over the course of their therapeutic relationship, Dr. Davenport violates client confidentiality as it is described by the American Counseling
In a national survey exploring the significant ethical challenges and dilemmas faced by helping professionals, respondents ranked “blurred, dual or conflictual relationships” among the most difficult to navigate in their day to day practice (Barnett, Et Al., p. 401). Dual relationships, also commonly referred to as multiple or nonprofessional relationships, are defined in the American Psychological Association’s ethics code as “ones in which a practitioner is in a professional role with a person in addition to another role with the same individual, or with another person who is close to that individual” (Corey, Corey & Callahan, p. 268). While any relationship occurring simultaneous to the therapeutic one has the potential to be harmful, the only relationships extensively studied in this regard have been those of a sexual nature. Most agree that such sexual relationships are unethical, resulting in boundary violations that are both harmful and exploitative to the client. Both ethical and legal ramifications exist to address this issue including revocation of one’s license to practice and both criminal and civil sanctions.
...f dual relationship there was also a possibility of the client becoming dependant on the therapist which could be seen as unethical by the BACP (2010).
...confidential information is shared without their permission, this situation can be detrimental to the client. The client may stop treatment or be passive-aggressive towards the therapist by being late of cancelling appointments with the clinician.
Current research implies that an empathetic clinician-client relationship and interrelated ecosystems play the majority role in the success of therapy (Kilpatrick & Holland, 2009). The clinician’s ability to be present and actively perceive what the client is experiencing is of utmost importance in creating a therapeutic alliance. It is imperative that the clinician gains positive regard towards the client and their environment displaying honest acceptance towards the client no matter what issues are presented in session. This closely relates to a sincere presentation of genuineness that instills a feeling of honesty within the client and clinician (Kilpatrick & Holland, 2009). An experienced clinician builds upon the therapeutic
The therapist/client relationship built on trust and if client is confused about the dual relationship, then that trust may be broken causing the therapy to be ineffective. With that said, it is important to just maintain a therapeutic relationship for the benefit of the client’s best
As a result if these ethics codes are not followed, legal action can be brought up against this counselor. Committing to clients is the first code of ethics which includes: “Primary Responsibility, Confidentiality, Dual/multiple relationships, Exploitive relationships, and counseling environments. “ Mental health counselors value objectivity and integrity in their commitment to understanding human behavior and they maintain the highest standards in providing mental health counseling services” ( https://amhca.site-ym.com/page/codeofethics). Establishing a relationship with the client opens up the floor in which she or he will be honest. S/he will be comfortable with speaking about the problem. The honesty of the client gives the counselor an ideal start of how the problem began. Under Ethic code C Assessment and diagnosis: Competent “Mental health counselors employ only
This paper will explore the concept of dual relationships between counselors and clients and the ethical implications of such relationships. In addition to presenting several examples of dual relationships, this paper will also explore how ethical decisions must be made to avoid potentially harmful or exploitive relationships in therapy as well understanding how different interactions between counselor and clients can be understood from an ethical standpoint, as well as how reviewing these ethical dilemmas may shape my future career as a counselor.
For many clients, the experience of counseling may be viewed as an advantageous relationship that has not only assisted them in modifying their cognition and behavior, to a more rational approach but has allowed them to encounter alternative solutions that can provide a new way of living. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and when clients exemplify that their goals have been attained, the counseling relationship must be terminated. On the contrary, not all counseling relationships or sessions close on a good note, which may precipitate premature termination. Nevertheless, counselors must still implement closing tactics when terminating any session or relationship in therapy, despite their causes (Jacobs & Schimmel, 2012, pgs. 160-162). To further understand these strategies, I will elaborate on one uncommon reason a therapist might terminate a counseling relationship and describe specific steps of closing tactics that were displayed in Dr. Patton’s counseling video. In addition, I will also list five key points counselors should consider when terminating a counseling session and provide an analogy of one point that is being utilized in Dr. Buckley’s video (Laureate Education, 2010).
There are few circumstances counselors have to oblige when dealing issues from clients. Counselors have to be trustworthy; this is a fundamental to understanding and solving issues. Counselors have to keep information gathered confidential and restrict any disclosure of information to anybody. Clients voluntarily seek help to counselors for therapy or any kind of help they need. Hence as a counselor it is important to respect their clients’ self-government and ensure precision in information given. Commitment of a counselor plays a big role in a therapy. It is not ethical for a counselor to neglect a client such that the client’s well being is not taken care of. It is also important for counselors to have a fair treatment with all their clients. No matter how each client will be, there must not be any form of judgment, which will cause any form of unfair