Lying On The Couch Sparknotes

Lying on the Couch Final Book Report
Stacy Bloch
North Central Technical College
Boundaries and Ethics in the Helping Professions
99VC
Ms. Christina Lucas
May 20, 2018 Lying on the Couch Final Book Report
While reading the book Lying on the Couch by Irvin D. Yalom one would come to realize that there are ethical and legal issues that get in the way of numerous counseling sessions. The novel focuses on the struggles that any therapist can come across while working with their clients. Although with this storyline the boundaries and legal issues may have been taken to the extreme, it strongly depicts what could happen if one would choose to make unethical decisions. One must also have a sense of the true meaning of the counseling sessions

Earnest Lash, who is fairly new to counseling and has been working with Justin, who has been talking about leaving his wife, Carol, for many years. Until one day, he goes into Dr. Lash’s office and announces that he is going to take the plunge and leave Carol for another woman. This has Carol questioning what kind of therapy Dr. Lash was doing with Justin as he chose to leave her. Carol has decided to seek out Dr. Lash for counseling in spite and try to gain revenge and Dr. Lash tries a new counseling method which entails telling the client the truth through-out the sessions. While in the process, she attempts to seduce Dr. Lash which in turn he enjoys and engages in conversation about his concerns. There have also been moments where he pays attention to what he wears, exchanging hugs, has sexual dreams about her and looks forward to their meetings. Due to the physical contact with Carol, Dr. Lash had also crossed the boundaries regarding NASW: National Association of Social Worker, 1.10 Physical Contact, “Social workers should not engage in physical contact with clients when there is a possibility of psychological harm to the client as a result of the contact (such as cradling or caressing clients). Social workers who engage in appropriate physical contact with clients are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern such physical contact” (2018). Dr. Lash had inappropriate feelings for Carol which had put him in a difficult position during the counseling