An Ethical Dilemma in the Counselling Profession
Exploring an Ethical Dilemma
Introduction
“Confidentiality is the foundation of safe therapy.”
(Corey&Corey, p.208 from Grosso, 2002)
As a counsellor I have an obligation to follow professional standards and apply appropriate behaviour defined by mental health associations. The purpose of this is to prevent harm to clients as well as to define my own professional values.
Working in the helping profession I will come across situations where I need to make a decision on whether to breach confidentiality in order to protect my client or others or “simply” practise within the framework of social equity and justice.
I will use the “Practisioner’s Guide to Ethical Decision Making” model of Holly Forerster-Miller and Thomas Davis published by the ACA American Counseling Association (1996) to guide me through the decision making process on an ethical dilemma which I am going to present in the following.
The Ethical Dilemma
I am working as a Counsellor in a shared Counselling Practise. My client is Heather, 38, who has been seeing me for about 4 sessions. She initially came in talking about her challenge working part-time and being a mother of 2 children aged 3 and 10. In our recent sessions she talks about her concern in regards to her eldest son’s school performance. Jerrod used to be one of the best in his class and recently has failed in several tests which he would normally succeed in. Working through the situation in our session she mentions pressure from her husband Joe. She tells me that if Jerrod does not succeed he would punish him the way he used to be punished by his father which means he is slapping him. While she is understanding of her husbands “goodwill” in raising disciplined children she feels guilty of not stopping her husband and protecting her son. At the same time she tells me about her fear of her husband finding out that she disclosed the violence. Heather is also worried that the reputation of their local family business is
Introduction
“Confidentiality is the foundation of safe therapy.”
(Corey&Corey, p.208 from Grosso, 2002)
As a counsellor I have an obligation to follow professional standards and apply appropriate behaviour defined by mental health associations. The purpose of this is to prevent harm to clients as well as to define my own professional values.
Working in the helping profession I will come across situations where I need to make a decision on whether to breach confidentiality in order to protect my client or others or “simply” practise within the framework of social equity and justice.
I will use the “Practisioner’s Guide to Ethical Decision Making” model of Holly Forerster-Miller and Thomas Davis published by the ACA American Counseling Association (1996) to guide me through the decision making process on an ethical dilemma which I am going to present in the following.
The Ethical Dilemma
I am working as a Counsellor in a shared Counselling Practise. My client is Heather, 38, who has been seeing me for about 4 sessions. She initially came in talking about her challenge working part-time and being a mother of 2 children aged 3 and 10. In our recent sessions she talks about her concern in regards to her eldest son’s school performance. Jerrod used to be one of the best in his class and recently has failed in several tests which he would normally succeed in. Working through the situation in our session she mentions pressure from her husband Joe. She tells me that if Jerrod does not succeed he would punish him the way he used to be punished by his father which means he is slapping him. While she is understanding of her husbands “goodwill” in raising disciplined children she feels guilty of not stopping her husband and protecting her son. At the same time she tells me about her fear of her husband finding out that she disclosed the violence. Heather is also worried that the reputation of their local family business is
References: * “Practisioner’s Guide to Ethical Decision Making” model of Holly Forerster-Miller and Thomas Davis published by the ACA American Counseling Association (1996) * Code of Ethics (2005) - ACA (American Counseling Association) retrieved on the 25th of May at: http://www.counseling.org/Resources/CodeOfEthics/TP/Home/CT2.aspx * Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 – Children’s Court of Victoria retrieved on the 25th of May at: http://www.childrenscourt.vic.gov.au/CA256CA800011129/page/Resources-Papers- New%20Act?OpenDocument * Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 – Department of Justice Victoria, Australia retrieved on the 25th of May 2012 at: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren/home/protecting+our+children/child+safety/wwcc+-+child+wellbeing+and+safety+act+2005 * Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse - AIFS (Australian Institute of Family Studies) retrieved on the 25th of May at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs3/rs3.html * Family violence orders to protect children - Victoria Legal Aid retrieved on the 25th of May 2012 at: http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/1828.htm * Marriage and Family Therapy – A Practise-oriented Approach; Linda Metcalf; 2011