Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices - Pcn 505

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Collaborating with others as part of a multidisciplinary team is often a necessary part of the care continuum. May times in practice clients will have a variety of issues including addiction, mental health disorders, and other social disorders. A given counselor may only be proficient in addiction counseling, while another may be a practitioner in mental health diagnoses. The need for collaboration is definite. However, the shuffling of the client between disciplines must be done with tact and skill. This will avoid conflicts of interests as well as ethical violations. One must ensure the client fully understands their health care team and why the different disciplines are involved. They must also fully consent to communication between the disciplines.

The counselor-supervisor relationship is both necessary and fragile. The supervisor must have enough information about both the client and counselor in order to fulfill their role as a supervisor. However, there must be some delineation in the lines of confidentiality so the client’s welfare is preserved. “If a professional fails to follow acceptable standards of practice and harm to a client results, the professional can be held liable for the harm caused” (Syracuse School of Education, 2015). The issues of confidentiality apply and the investment the supervisor has in the supervisee is a responsibility which should be taken very seriously.

The area which I feel I have received the most development is the counseling of clients which have differing values and beliefs. This is especially difficult being a pastor who holds Christian principles in high regard. Through this course, I have realized that even though my values may not coincide with the clients, I can still be an effective counselor. In this circumstance I would use the client centered approach. This approach, developed by Carl Rogers, “creates an environment which is therapeutic, conformable, non-judgmental and empathetic” (Cherry, 2015). Client centered therapy is helpful when values collide because, as Cherry states, “genuine, non-directive and it emphasizes unconditional positive regard”. (2015). The ACA Code of Ethics is very clear on this issue. The ACA Code of Ethics states in A.1.a “The primary responsibility is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of the client. A.4.b states, Counselors are aware of and avoid imposing their personal values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas where they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature.” (2015). This seems to be an excellent modality for treating client’s whose values collide with your own. As McLeod states, “Unlike other therapies the client is responsible for improving his or her life, not the therapist. This is a deliberate change from both psychoanalysis and behavioral therapies where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Instead, the client consciously and rationally decides for themselves what is wrong and what should be done about it. The therapist is more of a friend or counselor who listens and encourages on an equal level” (2008).

This course has provided a great deal of learning and new knowledge. I understand how important boundaries and collaborative relationships are in the counseling process. With this knowledge I will build on my foundation to become a skilled competent counselor.

References

American Psychological Association, (2014). Code of Ethics, Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/

Cherry, K (2015). Client Centered Therapy. Carl Roger’s Non-Directive Approach to Therapy. Retrieved from: http://psychology.about.com/od/typesofpsychotherapy/a/client- centered-therapy.htm

McLeod, S., (2008). Person Centered Therapy. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from: http://www.simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html

Pope, K., Tabachnick, B. and Keith-Spiege, P, (2012). Sexual Attraction to Clients:

The Human Therapist and the (Sometimes) Inhuman Training System. Retrieved from: http://www.kspope.com/sexiss/research5.php

Schwartz, A., (2008). On the Issue of Sexual and Other Feelings Toward the Therapist. Retrieved from: https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/on-the-issue-of-sexual-and-other-feelings-towards-the-therapist/

Syracuse School of Education, (2015). Ethical and Legal Issues in Supervision. Retrieved from: http://soe.syr.edu/academic/counseling_and_human_services/modules/Preparing_for_Supervision/ethical_legal_issues_in_supervision.aspx

Walker, A., Zur, O., (2014). To Accept or Not to Accept? How to respond when clients send "Friend Request" to their psychotherapists or counselors on social networking sites. Retrieved from: http://www.zurinstitute.com/socialnetworking.html.

Younggren, J. (2014). Ethical Decision-making and Dual Relationships. Retrieved from: http://www.kspope.com/dual/younggren.php

Zur, O. (2014). Dual Relationships, Multiple Relationships & Boundaries In Psychotherapy, Counseling & Mental Health Retrieved from: http://www.zurinstitute.com/dualrelationships.html.