CEFS 601 Discussion Board 2
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Liberty University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
601
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by AdmiralArtPartridge5
Based on the information from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics, let's analyze the situation you provided where you've been counseling a family of Korean origin:
Informed Consent (1.2): Your clients must give you their proper informed consent before beginning therapy or involving any extra aspects, such as using religious materials. Make sure the client is completely aware of the suggested interventions, any possible risks, and the advantages of receiving religious instruction.
Cultural Competency (1.1): It is required of you to offer expert guidance without bias towards any individual on the basis of race, national origin, religion, or any other aspect. It's critical to appreciate, comprehend, and be cognizant of your clients' cultural background, values, and beliefs.
Boundaries (1.3): Steer clear of multiple client connections that could compromise your judgment or put you at greater danger of being taken advantage of. This could include introducing the client to the counselor's personal beliefs or involving them in religious or spiritual activities for which they did not provide their approval.
Use of Religious Texts (3.10): Counselors shouldn't offer advice on issues that fall outside of their acknowledged areas of expertise. It might not be within your acknowledged competence to use religious literature in therapy if you are not certified as a religious or spiritual counselor.
Client Autonomy in Decision Making (1.8): Clients are entitled to make decisions about their lives, including decisions about their spirituality and religion. It's critical to honor their independence as they make these choices.
Referrals (1.10): In the event that you are unable or unable to offer religious or spiritual counseling, you should politely help the client find such services from a licensed practitioner in that area.
Respect for Client's Values (3.1): It is important for marriage and family therapists to be up to date on current trends and advances in their field. Make sure you possess the knowledge and skills necessary to treat clients with respect for their cultural and religious heritage.
Getting the client's informed consent is crucial when using certain religious texts and making them available for research. If you think that a client should get religious or spiritual counsel, you should talk to them about it, explain the situation, and make sure they give their agreement voluntarily and without excessive pressure. It's also very important to record this consent.
In this situation, it's critical to make sure you're honoring the client's cultural background,
not abusing the therapeutic alliance, and getting informed consent before implementing any intervention that deviates from accepted counseling techniques—particularly when it comes to issues of religion and spirituality.
In the provided scenario, there are several aspects that may raise ethical concerns based on the IAMFC Code of Ethics. Let's evaluate the situation:
Promotion of Independence and Self-Actualization (Violation): Given the adolescent daughter's anxieties and perceived problems, it would be considered unethical to advise her to become more self-actualized and independent from her family. In addition to supporting client autonomy and problem-solving techniques, the IAMFC Code of Ethics (Section A) also values family relations. The counselor ought to view the family as a whole unit and refrain from promoting behaviors that could exacerbate already existing tensions or disputes within the family.
Integrating Religious Texts (Violation): Giving the client religious scriptures (Luke 14:26–27 and Mark 10:6–9) to bolster the idea of severing ties with the family could not be in line with the Section A values of intercultural inclusion and avoiding bias. It can be argued that using religious literature in this way promotes a particular religion or cultural viewpoint, possibly
ignoring the family's many cultural roots. Counselors are encouraged by the IAMFC Code of Ethics to uphold the autonomy of people and families in defining their relationships.
No Immediate Confirmation of Ethical Violation (Permission): The IAMFC Code of Ethics does not specifically address this case, despite the fact that it raises possible ethical questions. Without making any explicit mention of circumstances involving religious counseling or fostering independence, the code places a strong emphasis on fostering intercultural inclusiveness, client autonomy, and protecting client rights.
All things considered, it is imperative that the counselor uphold the values of client autonomy and multicultural competence while taking into account the cultural, familial, and individual dynamics at work. The IAMFC Code of Ethics emphasizes the value of ethical practice in counseling families and honoring their cultural uniqueness and beliefs, even though it does not explicitly confirm a breach. To make sure that any interventions are in keeping with the client's values and ethical standards, the counselor should have an open discussion with the client.
Based on the provided excerpts from the AACC Code of Ethics, let's evaluate the situation described and identify relevant ethical principles and potential violations:
AACC 1-110: No Harm or Exploitation Allowed: It may be argued that encouraging the adolescent daughter to establish firm boundaries with her parents could lead to conflict or harm within the family.
AACC 1-120: Refusal to Participate in the Harmful Actions of Clients: It may be argued that telling the daughter to cut her ties to her family on the basis of religious texts is encouraging a possibly dangerous behavior that could have a bad effect on the family.
AACC 1-320: Consent for the Structure and Process of Counseling: Getting informed permission before implementing any religious or spiritual interventions is crucial, even though it isn't addressed in the passages that are presented. It might not be consistent with honoring client choice to provide religious texts without informed consent.
AACC 1-530: Working with Persons of Different Faiths, Religions, and Values: Even when the counselor identifies as a Christian, it's crucial to respect and acknowledge the diversity of clients' cultures and religions rather than forcing one's own.
In order to make sure that the counseling process is in the best interests of the clients, respecting their cultural origins and beliefs, and preventing potential injury or strife within the family, the counselor should take these ethical guidelines into consideration and collaborate with the family.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
The scenario described involves various ethical considerations when working with a family in counseling, particularly when it comes to cultural competence, boundary issues, and the introduction of religious or spiritual content into the counseling process. Let's analyze the situation based on the ACA Code of Ethics:
Respect for Privacy (ACA B.1.b): When the adolescent daughter discusses her worries about her family during the fifth counseling session, this is within the purview of counseling. By addressing the topics covered during treatment, the counselor is honoring the family's right to privacy.
Multicultural/Diversity Considerations (ACA B.1.a): The counselor should be cognizant of the cultural background, and acknowledging the family's Korean ancestry is appropriate, demonstrating multicultural competency. In family therapy, an understanding of cultural differences is crucial.
Counselor's Values and Imposing Beliefs (ACA A.4.b, B.11.b): It could be problematic to
begin with the religious scriptures (Mark 10:6–9 and Luke 14:26–27). Offering spiritual assistance by a counselor with the best of intentions may come across as forcing one's own values and views on a client, which goes against intercultural and diversity considerations.
Promoting Client Welfare (ACA A.1): As long as the teen daughter's goals are in line with
her autonomy and well-being, teaching her to become more independent and self-actualized could be deemed a fair therapeutic objective. This is consistent with the counselor's duty to advance the wellbeing of their clients.
Confidentiality (ACA B.1.c): Unless there are special circumstances, the counselor should make sure that the information discussed in the session is kept private. There isn't, however, any sign of a confidentiality violation in this instance.
Respecting Client Rights (ACA B.1, B.5): Promoting the wellbeing of the client is aligned with the counselor's support of independence, but this should be done in a way that respects the client's autonomy and values, including cultural values. For ethical behavior, this is crucial.
Confidential Settings (ACA B.3.c): This ethical rule states that the counselor should make
sure that the family's problems are discussed in a private atmosphere.
In conclusion, the counselor in this case behaved in a manner that respected the family's privacy, upheld confidentiality, and appeared to advance the welfare of the client. But introducing religious scripture raises questions about imposing one's own ideas, and the counselor ought to have handled this matter more sensitively, taking into account the client's autonomy and multiculturalism. It's critical for the counselor to respect the values and beliefs of their clients, be culturally competent, and make sure that interventions serve the client's best interests.