Ethical Dilemmas In American Counseling Association (ACA)

After watching this movie, I believe I would have had the greatest empathic difficulty with the mother (Beth) if I were the counselor to this family. Beth presents as distant and withdrawn from her remaining family members as well as from her emotional self. Instead of acknowledging the death of her son, Beth appears to act as if the event never occurred. While I recognize and understand this is her way of coping, it is hard for me to connect empathically because of the emotional distance she has created. Additionally, Beth’s way of coping appears to be neglectful in that she seems to ignore the grieving needs of her living son and husband. To me, this action makes me believe Beth is selfish and does not care for the needs of others.
Despite

how Beth presents in the movie, I acknowledge my bias. The disconnect between Beth and myself would be her inability to express what she is experiencing emotionally. Based on the literature, I would be considered more of an intuitive griever. Comparatively, I believe Beth would be closer to an instrumental griever on the continuum. Admittedly, I can sometimes place the unreasonable expectation that others should express grief like me. In doing so, I limit my clinical ability to interact with clients who grieve differently. Failing to foster a healthy, therapeutic alliance with clients can detract from their healing process and ultimately, my lack of empathy can create more harm.
In respects to ethical principles, I strive to incorporate six basic moral principles into my clinical work – autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity (Corey, Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2015).

If I were to work therapeutically with Beth, the moral principles of autonomy and nonmaleficence would be most important. The moral principle of autonomy respects individuals’ right to choose the direction of their life (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014). This principle also acknowledges the uniqueness each client and counselor brings to the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, this principle understands the innate power differential between counselor-client and recognizes the amount of influence clinicians can have in a therapeutic relationship. Because of this, ACA Code of Ethics (2014) states counselors should be “aware of – and avoid imposing – their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors” (p. 5). Beth is allowed to grieve in the way she feel is most effective. Instead, it would be therapeutically helpful if I approached her grief response from a place of curiosity rather than a place of assumption. Slowing down and taking the time to understand why Beth chooses to act as if Buck’s death did not occur will facilitate a better therapeutic

relationship.
Nonmaleficence is the moral principle that encourages clinicians to avoid actions that could cause harm to clients, their families, and the community at large (ACA, 2014).

Counselors who are ill prepared to address the unique needs of bereaved clients can cause undue harm. Though I have years of experience as a substance abuse and mental health counselor and I have worked with clients on issues related to grief, I acknowledge my lack of competence in respects to therapeutic grief counseling knowledge and skills. To portray myself as a grief counselor and deliver ineffective services to clients, I can cause harm to those seeking help. ACA Code of Ethics ethical standard C.2.a. addresses the boundaries of competence and encourages counselors to “practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience” (ACA, 2014, p. 8). Taking courses such as this can expand my knowledge of the foundations, theories, and specific techniques related to grief counseling. Additionally, seeking consultation and/or supervision from individuals with more experience in grief counseling can serve as a sounding board as well as help me reflect on my own values related to grief and bereavement. Collectively, these strategies could improve my ability to work with

Beth.