Lying on the Couch By Irvin Yalom

930 Words2 Pages

In this paper we will be look at the book called “Lying on the Couch”. I will be going over what I saw as the biggest ethical issues that I read about in this book, I will also go over my thoughts on this book and the ethical problems that I saw for Dr. Lash, Carol and Marshal Streider. I will explain my personal opinion regarding self-care and my reasoning as to why it is so important to maintaining clear boundaries. BODY In this book, Dr. Ernest Lash discovers he has a love for psychoanalysis after several years working as a psychopharmacologist. Justin, who has been a patient of Ernest for several years, tells him he left his wife, Carol, for another woman. While Ernest sees this as a good thing since the marriage between Justin and Carol as unhealthy, he is still slightly upset that Justin gives him no credit for his help in the situation. Justin then decided he no longer needs Ernest’s help. At this point, Justin's wife Carol is so upset by the situation and blames Dr. Lash so she decides to enter therapy with him in the hope of seducing him. She looks down on all psychiatrists after her psychotherapist many years ago had an inappropriate sexual relationship with her. She disguises herself in hopes of destroying his career. In this book, Irvin Yalom intertwines the main plot with many other relationships with their own problems and ethical dilemmas. There is Dr. Marshal Streider who is a senior psychoanalyst that is preoccupied with social standing and money. He also does supervisory appointments with Ernest. He ends up with his own slew of ethical problems. There also is, in the very beginning of the book, Dr. Seymour Trotter who is a senior psychoanalyst who loses his license and is removed from psychoanalytic practic... ... middle of paper ... ...ants to meet at say a coffee shop, and you put in your informed consent that all meeting will take place in the office. While it seems innocent enough if you pass that boundary maybe the next time they will want to meet for dinner or at their house and it will become harder to say no. CONCLUSION So, over all, this helps you get a better understanding that ethical dilemmas happen for all people, in all walks of life, in many different situations. It shows us we must pay attention to our actions and the actions of others around us. As long as we follow the rules, and ask for a little direction when we don’t know what to do, we will all be better off in our careers as helpers. Works Cited American Counseling Association (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/ethics#sthash.13ImD8Lb.dpuf

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