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Legal and ethical issues in family counseling pertaining to confidentiality
Legal and ethical issues in family counseling pertaining to confidentiality
Legal and ethical issues in family counseling pertaining to confidentiality
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Reading our third take-home case vignette C, reminded me of several ethical and legal issues as a future Marriage and Family therapist, should be aware of. Knowing these rules could help me to avoid making mistakes after graduation and work in a safe atmosphere with clear boundaries in which I have knowledge about my limitation as a therapist. In this paper, I will summarize the issues which I recognized in the Case Vignette C. The first issue that I am going to discuss is the MFT Scope of Practice and Licensing Requirements. This issue is about what the law says you do as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). The problem in the scope of practice in this case is the dual relationship between therapist and the client. In this case, Daniel …show more content…
Being in dual or multiple relationship is one of the ethical traps which could be very dangerous for her career. The law is not clear about it, but it is unethical to have dual or multiple relationship with her client. Improving his mental health by referring him to different specialist such as psychiatric is very essential as a preliminary response to this case. On the other hand, ethical resolution of his case to be on the graduate psychology school and being aware of limitation of confidentiality and boundaries, still asking Julia for going out, make it more difficult to follow all the ethical and the law to be followed by Julia. . Reporting his danger for his former supervisor must be done by her could help the MFT community to improve the knowledge of this mater and future problems. Consulting with her colleagues and her own supervisor and inputting from agencies, other specialists, and community leader is very helpful for getting feedback. At the end, there is some action to be taken such as reporting, decides to whether tell him about reporting or not, seeking help from other therapist and specialist, and avoiding perfection, ponder, procrastinate, and
This case study is an interpretation of a problem or situation that has occurred within a LPC’s (License Professional Counselor) care. As information is gathered, the depiction to this specific problem in this case study may also include additional information that may deem so to be necessary, in order to place possible solutions or actions that could have or will arise from the situation. This document will consist of a step by step analysis of the factors which impact the case, mostly in the order of what appears to be the most ethically sound decision. This document involves Stephanie’s (therapist) treatment of Martha Rose (client). The therapist, Stephanie, has been given a case through referral from an unknown source; Stephanie is working with this new case in SC (South Carolina).
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
At the end of the previous school year, Carol, and her daughter’s teachers noticed that Carol’s daughter was not progressing in her studies, and an evaluation conducted by the child study team revealed that she had a specific learning disability. An IEP meeting was scheduled, and conducted. The determination was made to place Carol’s daughter in the same resource room as Carol’s client Jody, for half of the day. Carol instantly realized that this decision put her in a predicament where a dual relationship would be created. She would then cross a clear boundary, and become a parent of a classmate, as well as the professional she has already established herself as to Jody and her parents. This would undoubtedly lead to instances in which both her client, and the client’s family would be interacting with her at both school functions and on class trips. She knew that allowing this to happen was against the BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts. Carol voiced her opposition and explained the ethical quandary to those attending the IEP meeting, and what would occur if her daughter was placed in the same room with her client. Carol stated that she would speak with her supervisor, but it was probable that he would determine that she would not be able to continue working with Jody. Carol felt that having to become accustomed to another behavior analyst
Overall, each theory is effective with the approaches and similar focuses. A marriage, couple, and family counselor is expected to understand families, show them empathy, provide positive guidance, and use effective listening skills. These strategies will not only benefit families, but it will also benefit the counselor’s practice.
At the onset of assessment by a staff-counseling psychologist, the woman seemed to relax and share some of her thoughts and feeling. As the assessment process continued, the psychologist was able to ascertain that the issue with depression appeared to be a relevantly recent development. Additionally, the depression appeared to be the result of heighten conflicts between the woman and her husband pertaining to alleged extra material affairs. In conversation with the psychologist, the woman claimed to feel “overwhelmed”; her husband filing for divorce triggered the feelings she inferred, which reportedly lead to her breakdown. However, the psychologist has since discovered that the husband denies the affairs and attributes this to the depression. Additionally, the husband claims that the termination of the marriage is a result of the deterioration of his wife’s mental state.
Over the course of their therapeutic relationship, Dr. Davenport violates client confidentiality as it is described by the American Counseling
Linde, L.E., Erford, B.T., & Cheung, A. (2010). Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling. In B.T. Erford (Ed.), Orientations to the Counseling Profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations (pp.55-92). New Jersey: Pearson.
Counselor A is neutral with both Tom and Virginia. A professional response was provided rather than a personal one to both parties. The counselor view was from a positive perspective. The counselor was professional in giving feedbacks pertain to his or her potential clients. The therapist present a realistic approach based on the couple situation and facts. The therapist realistic approach will help the couple view their situation from a different perspective so that they can improve their relationship. Looking at things from the therapist point of view this method is intended to teach specific tools and skills to Virginia and Tom so that they can deepen their friendship and intimacy in their relationship. A more realistic approach will help them productively manage their own conflicts. If they choose this...
The session starts by the therapist making introductions and gathering information as to problems, family structure, interests, and job responsibilities both within and outside of the family. These are all possible subjects to help open up discussion and ease the client into the therapy process (Rogers, 1946). Here, the therapist notes that the man is feeling out of his element, which he quickly admits to. The husband explains that he is used to dealing with issues himself, so that asking a third party for assistance is out of his comfort zone. The therapist seems to miss the man’s explanation for why he prefers to deal with issues on his own. After the therapi...
Casey Weston’s vignette describes symptoms such as anxiety, fear, social isolation, heavy feelings of loneliness, extreme restlessness/irritability, feelings of overwhelming dread, and perceptions of low self-worth and bouts of crying. He also experienced somatic symptoms such as muscle tension, heart palpations, trembling/shaking, chest pain, increased heart rate, and difficulty breathing.
This model identifies five moral principles which are: justice, autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and fidelity. These fundamental guidelines are used to clarify issues that involve any given situation. Ethical guidelines may not address all situations, but will allow a counselor to explore ethical dilemmas and conflicting issues. Counselors are responsible to encourage clients to make their own appropriate decisions and to act on their own values. Two important things to consider when counseling client are: autonomous encouragement helps clients understand how their decisions and values that may or may not receive within the context of the society; they live in or may impinge on the rights of others (Kitchener,
Though confidentiality is a core value for both professionals, the range and degree of confidentiality owed to a client. The privilege of communication includes also advice, opinions, transmitted, developed, and gathered information that cannot be disclosed outside the attorney-client relationship. In case, if the lawyer asked his client to consult a social worker on purpose knowing that the latter may report to respective protection agencies, that lawyer may be charged due to violation of the MRPC and subject to sanctions and disbarment. Thus, neither lawyers often times encourage self-report, nor they report any forms of abuse even if the abuse has to do with children (Jonson-Reid, 2002).
Dr.Lightfoot ethical alternatives for resolving this case are accepting Allison as a client or declining Allison as a client. The best alternative is to decline Allison as a client but refer her to another psychologist because of the possible dual relationship. Utilitarian theory guided me in my decision.
Ethics in the counselling and psychotherapy protects the client and the therapist involved in the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process as a whole; with the concepts that act as a guide for the therapists in provision of good practice and care for the client. The framework is built on values of counselling and psychotherapy; principles of trustworthiness, autonomy, fidelity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and self-respect, and provides standards of good practice and care for the practitioner (BACP, 2010). Ethical framework contributes to the development of the therapeutic relationship and process by assisting therapist’s decisions, and guides their behaviour and proceedings within their legal rights and duties. The ethical frame is structured on the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship and the therapists should be aware of their categories and be responsible for their forms. Monitoring and being aware of what goes on in and out of the room physically, emotionally and psychologically is primarily the duty of the therapist.
Koocher, G.P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.