couples counseling week 2 discussion 5
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ECPI University, Virginia Beach *
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6626
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Philosophy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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docx
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What do you now know about ethical practices with couples and families that you did not previously know?
The idea of looking at the entire family/couple as the client is something I had not fully grasped. In couples and family therapy, the therapeutic unit is not just the individual but the relationship itself—whether that be a couple or
family. This holistic perspective mandates that the therapist upholds the trust and confidentiality of the unit as a whole. It's a nuanced shift from individual therapy, recognizing that the health of relational dynamics is paramount, and the therapist's role involves navigating and safeguarding collective confidentiality and trust.
What surprised you?
The potential for conflict between maintaining an individual's privacy and honoring the integrity of the therapeutic unit was surprising. Informed consent and confidentiality are the bedrock of therapy; however, in a relational context, these principles extend to the entire unit. The complexity seems to lie in the necessity to negotiate individual privacy with the collective good. Discernment and delicacy seem pivotal to navigating these overlapping ethical territories without breaching trust. There is so much grey
space in the field of couples and family therapy (Butler, et al., 2010).
What intimidates you?
Individual therapy requires a high level of cultural competency. Couples and family therapy seems like it takes this requirement up to Jedi heights. Cultural competence and sensitivity are likely the bare minimum to engaging
effectively with diverse familial structures, values, and cultural backgrounds and require continual self-assessment for biases and an ongoing effort to understand the cultural nuances that influence family dynamics. Cultural humility is vital for fostering a therapeutic environment where all members feel understood and respected. I am sensitive to my own conditioning as a limitation to being fully present to various demands of working with all these various dynamics simultaneously!
What do you think will be challenging when working with couples and families?
I think the challenge of maintaining professional boundaries is amplified in a setting with multiple clients, each with unique experiences and expectations.
Remaining neutral and objective while facilitating individual and collective needs sounds like it requires a robust set of skills to manage not just the therapeutic relationship but also my own emotional responses and biases.
How will you incorporate ethics into your professional development?
I think a proactive approach to continuous professional development in ethics can involve seeking out mentorship, peer consultation, and further training, especially in areas that present ethical ambiguities. (Zazzario, 2022). This can help clarify difficult situations and provide guidance on best practices. Engaging with professional bodies and keeping abreast of updates to ethical codes also forms a key part of this development. Additionally, continuing to do my own inner work is always fundamental to how I show up professionally!
Would you have handled some of the situations presented in the video differently? If so, what would you have done differently?
I think when it comes to expectations and ground rules for couple/group therapy, I would make it very clear from the beginning that the “client” is the
unit, and buy-in from all individuals in the unit is necessary for success. I then categorically define the ground rules and expectations with everyone and garner everyone’s understanding and consent. (Cottone & Tarvydas, 2016) An example would be to bring up the no-secret policy, go over it in detail, and explain that secrets have the potential to rupture the therapeutic integrity of the container. I would make sure everyone understands and is on
board! While this feels very clear to me now; based on the videos, I acknowledge that in the space of the unfolding dynamics of therapy, things are not always so cut and dry!
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