Task:
Directions: Use the ACA and NAADAC Codes of Ethics and other scholarly resources to support your responses. You must provide at least one properly formatted APA citation and accompanying reference to support your response for each scenario.
Scenario One: Barbara is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) working for a nonprofit social service agency. Many of the clients in the agency are female domestic violence victims. The director of the agency has asked Barbara to develop a counseling group to serve the needs of these individuals.
Question One: What ethical matters should Barbara consider as she plans this group?
The purpose of this group is to provide a safe space for these women to speak up and tell their stories as well as helping them get their voices back. The Barbra should first conduct a screening to meet with potential individuals and see if group counseling is best for them and if they will benefit from it. This is not to discriminate but to see if the client will thrive and grow in the group. Next one thing that should be provided to the individual is an informed consent which is “a process of presenting basic information about group treatment to potential group members to enable them to make better decisions about whether or not to enter and how to participate in a group” (Corey, Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2014, pg. 442). The individuals participating in the group are then able to be aware of the group’s rules, goals, plans, and treatments and not be in the blind. These individuals have every right to be informed on how, when, and why things will be done in the group. Clients are then able to decide if they want to participate or not.
Question Two: What methods should Barbara use to ensure confidentiality in the context of group counseling?
Confidentiality is much easier in one on one counseling but when it comes to group counseling it is different due to the number of people in the group. In group counseling clients are not only openly speaking with the counselor but they are also being heard by other clients as well and that are there for help and guidance for the same or similar issue. Confidentiality is not just asked to be kept by the counselor but the group as well. It is a place that should be safe to speak about issues, traumas, and struggles without feeling judged or scared that others will spread what you have shared. The informed consent was spoken about above and one thing that is also mentioned in that area is confidentiality, so the clients are aware of it before they start their sessions. “Informed consent is the process whereby clients learn about confidentiality” (McClanahan, K.K. (2014, para. 9). Teaching the clients in advance and as well as reminding them during certain periods of time to remind and reassure the group what is expected. This will hopefully help this confidentially become a norm and be expected just as it is expected in one on one therapy.
Question Three: If breaches of confidentiality occur, how should Barbara manage them?
If breaches of confidentiality occur Barbra should revisit the concept of confidentiality and what is expected from the group. She should then meet with the person who has caused the breach and the person that was the victim. One to revisit the rules one on one with the individual who has caused the breach to explain the effect he or she has cause due to his actions and secondly with the victim to check on him or her. This should also be shared with the group because they have all shared personal information and although it may not directly have impacted them it still does involve them. If they chose to request for him to leave the group, Barbra should then let the individual go and refer him to either another group or individual counseling and prevent the breach from happening again.
Scenario Two: David is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) working for a family counseling center. Steve, one of his adult clients, would like to begin couples counseling with his wife.
Question One: What ethical matters should David consider before beginning to see Steve and his wife?
This would be an example of dual relationship dual relationship. Although it can cause issue and David what have to make sure he in no way harms the client due to this. For example, brining up something into the couples counseling that was spoken about in their individual counseling. So, if David agrees to counseling couple there should be boundaries set in place on what the can or cannot be spoken about unless Steve brings it up and choosing to bring certain topics into couples counseling sessions. David must remain objective about Steve’s wife aside what Steve has told David in their sessions (American Counseling Association, 2014).
Question Two: What special issues of confidentiality may arise in the case? How should David address these issues?
Issues of confidentiality that may arise are disclosing information either spouse has shared with David whether separately or together. The only time he can speak about those certain topics is if Steve and his wife choose to bring it up when they are all together. By speaking on topics discussed in their sessions David could harm the relationship between each of them and prevent potential growth for the couple. At the end of the day David should make choice that will protect and help the growth of the couple. One way he can address this issue is by meeting with David and agreeing on what can be brought up by David and what cannot and finally sign a consent form to know what will and what won’t be revealed by David in the couple’s session (Gottlieb, Lasser, & Simpson, 2008).
Question Three: How might differences in personal values and gender/cultural issues create ethical dilemmas in this case?
Differences in personal values and gender/cultural issues can create ethical dilemma in this case because David is working with a couple. Individuals are all different and bringing in a couple you will see those differences. David must address in advanced to both individuals that regardless what is brought up he is on neither side but the side to help and assist them. For example, David can see an issue one way and want to work it out by praying together and his wife might want to just talk it out all things aside. David will be put in the middle and they may expect him to jump to their sides. This will not be the case and he must help them find a middle ground on not only how to deal with the issue over all but how it will be approached.
Scenario Three: Stephanie is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who has decided to start a private practice as she transitions from public to private practice. As she makes her plans, there are many ethical issues she must consider. While these issues are of concern to all counselors, she must consider how they specifically impact a counselor in private practice.
Question One: How can she ethically handle limited resources, deal with cost containment issues, respond to discrimination, and promote community change?
Stephanie could provide applications to see if counselors would volunteer work pro-bono due to limited resources. Pertaining to cost containment issues she can provide online counseling with the help of those pro-bono volunteers (Health Cost Containment and Efficiencies, 2011, pg. 2). There are other strategies when looking into ways to deal with cost containment issues. By providing a video on her private practice website reassuring the diversity in her private practice letting the public know regardless of their religion, gender, personal values, race and so on are always welcomed whenever they decided they need help. By showing the community people are whiling to help pro-bono and showing diversity in their practice people may feel more comfortable and more welcome to openly seeking counseling.
Question Two: As a service provider, with what ethical issues and practices related to state insurance laws and managed care must she be familiar?
Stephanie should be familiar with ethical issues, state insurance laws, and managed care. Each may not be the same and vary from state to state but must be known and aware of as a service provider. One thing being to always remember to remind confidential with information provided to others. Especially if working along with other provider such as managed care. They will assume she is not only licensed but full competent in knowledge of this. As a professional these are things that other expect them to be well informed on and know how to handle.
Question Three: What are the ethical obligations and limitations faced by a counselor who serves clients who have been the victim of discrimination, injustice, poverty, or lack of access to behavioral health services? What best practice community-based interventions could she refer her clients to?
As a service provider working with a client who has suffered from the above factors will have to be convinced and grow that trust with them that has been broken by others. Stephane will have to work and show these individuals she is not going to discriminate them, treat them injustice due to their social status or reject them form lack of access to behavioral health services. It will either be an easy or hard path but something she will have to do to give them a shot at a better life. Referring her clients to group meetings can be a form of intervention but also a way to feel connected with the community and know they are not alone.
Section Four: Amari has recently passed her NCMHCE and will soon be considered an independent clinical practitioner. Her husband is in the military and they travel often. Amari hopes to strictly provide distance counseling in her private practice. She has never provided distance counseling, nor does she know of anyone who does it. Rely heavily on Section H: Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media of the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics to consider the following.
Question One: What should Amari consider in regard to distance counseling?
Amari should certain periods of time take classes to keep updated with new ways of providing services through distant counseling in order to best serve her clients. Time and resources are always changing and getting better so for Amari to provide her best help she may have to relearn, refresh or just over all learn new information. “Counselors actively attempt to understand the evolving nature of the profession with regard to distance counseling, technology, and social media and how such resources may be used to better serve their clients” (American Counseling Association, 2014, pg. 17). Not just this but know and find ways to inform her clients about boundaries even in this setting of counseling. She can also read this code of ethics as a resource to consider regarding this form of intervention
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