Jean Berry
Walden University
Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
Ethical Challenges of Boundary Issues
Boundaries exist to protect the welfare of clients who are in a vulnerable position in the relationship as well as place limits that promote integrity and help us understand the parameters of the relationship (Remley & Herlihy, 2014). Boundaries between therapist and client come in many forms and exist in many contextual forms. Crossing a boundary has potential effects, both damaging and strengthening, to the helping relationship. We must be able to recognize these boundaries and broach them with caution when dealing with our clients.
Summary of Ethical Challenges in Case …show more content…
Their children are close friends, and the women share many things in common. The women develop a close friendship. The children spend much time with each other at Teresa’s home. Evelyn confides in Teresa that there are some issues with her child, Charlie, and asks her to take him on as a client. Teresa is the only counselor in a three hour radius. Teresa is reluctant and discusses her reluctance with Evelyn, but they come to an agreement and Teresa takes Charlie on as a client. Teresa meets with Charlie and discusses confidentiality with him. Charlie shares some things with Teresa that she feels need to be broached with Evelyn and she struggles with how to address them with her. Teresa finds that the situation of counseling Charlie has become an issue and that she must actively seek supervision to sort through the situation with Charlie and Evelyn (Herlihy & Corey, 2006, p. …show more content…
Michael deals with students who are affected by poverty, drugs, absentee parents and domestic violence. Jenny seeks out Michael in his office one day, distraught, explaining she had been in a verbal altercation with another student. Jenny explained she was under a lot of pressure and stress and did not want to get into a fight. After a brief discussion with Jenny, Michael learned that she was dealing with much stress at home and was six weeks pregnant. Jenny also asked that he tell no one. She was uncertain whether or not if she planned on keeping the baby or not (Herlihy & Corey, 2006, p. 251). Jenny states that her mother is not understanding and she is not sharing this information with her. Michael is the father of two daughters of his own, and feels for Jenny. Michel recognizes that he has personal feelings associated with this situation that reflect on his own morals, values and beliefs on teen pregnancy (Herlihy & Corey, 2006, p. 252). Michael is against teens raising babies, does not want to imply she should abort the fetus and is concerned with his obligation to inform her parents as she is a