Types of Ethics

Mandatory ethics: deals with the minimum level of professional practice Aspirational

Ethics :a higher level of ethical practice; something to strive for

Putting Clients' Needs Ahead of our Own

Always ask yourself: "Whose needs are being met in this relationship, my client's or my own?"

Need to be aware of our own needs, areas of unfinished business, our counter transference, and potential personal problems (i.e., doing your own therapy helps to make you a more ethical practitioner!)

Awareness of Personal Needs

Be aware of personal needs that aren't obviously harmful to clients

the need for control and power;

the inordinate need to be nurturing;

the need to change others in the direction of our own values;

the need for feeling adequate, particularly when it become soverly important that the client confirm our competence;

and the need to be respected and appreciated

Informed Consent

Clients need enough information about the counselling process to make informed choices

Educate clients about their rights and responsibilities

Informed consent should include information such as therapeutic procedures and goals, risks/benefits and alternatives to treatment, the right to withdraw from treatment, costs or fees, supervision, and the limits of confidentiality

Limits of Confidentiality

Confidentiality is essential but not absolute

Exceptions: Client poses a danger to self or others Clients who are under age 16, dependant adults, or older adults are victims of abuse Information is made an issue in a court action and notes are subpoenaed

Multiple or Dual Relationships

Dual Relationships, either sexual or nonsexual, occur when counsellors assume two(or more) roles with a client. May be professional or nonprofessional roles Not always inherently bad (e.g, rural communities this is more common)Sexual relationships with current or former clients are exploitive and can result in serious harm

Multiple or Dual Relationships A few helpful questions: Will my dual relationship keep me from confronting and challenging the client? Will my needs for the relationship become more important than therapeutic activities? Can my client manage the dual relationship? Whose needs are being met? Steps for Ethical Decision Making Consider the potential issues for every person involved Review your profession's code of ethics& laws Seek consultation from more than one other professional Brainstorm a few different options Consider the risks and benefits of each option Decide on the best option Document about your decision:a) steps you took to make this decision b) reasons why you chose this course of action Ethical Decision-Making Reflections Have I considered what is best for the client? Have I involved the client in the decision-making process? What personal & cultural biases may be influencing my perspectives? Did I choose to consult with others that have similar biases?. How are my fears influencing my decision?

Ethical Dilemma YO U ( A S T H E T H E R A P I S T ) H AV E B E E N W O R K I N G W I T H A C L I E N T F O R S E V E N I N D I V I D U A LS E S S I O N S . H I S G O A L I S T O B E A M O R E E F F E C T I V E FAT H E R T O H I S T H R E E C H I L D R E N A G E D 2 , 4A N D 7 . C L I E N T I N F O R M AT I O N :First generation Canadian, born in Canada and raised by parents who immigrated to Canada from Zimbabwe before he was born Identifies as male and is 31 years old Has joint custody with the mother of their children, client has his time with their children every weekend I N S E S S I O N S E V E N , C L I E N T R E P O RT S T H AT H E " S PA N K S " H I S 4 A N D 7 Y E A R O L D W H E ND I S C I P L I N E I S N E E D E DE T H I C A L Q U E S T I O N : W O U L D Y O U R E P O R T T H E C L I E N T T O FA M I LY & C H I L D S E R V I C E S ? Becoming Multiculturally Competent Become aware of your biases and values Become aware of your own cultural norms and expectations Attempt to understand the world from your client's vantage point Gain a knowledge of the dynamics of oppression, racism, discrimination, and stereotyping

Multicultural Issues Biases are reflected when we:Neglect social and community factors to focus unduly on individualism Assess clients with instruments that have not been normed on the population they represent Judge as psychopathological behaviours, beliefs, or experiences that are normal within the client's culture Strictly adhere to Western counselling theories without considering their applicability to the client's diverse cultural background Interview on Multiculturalism in Psychotherapy With Dr.Ken Hardy (by Dr. Randall Wyatt) 2008https://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/kenneth-hardy"I was trained to be a pretty good white therapist" lack of guidance on how to work with people from different backgrounds Outlines a model with the tasks of privileged (race, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) & subjugated people in conversations about diversity & change

Tasks of Privileged Privileged: Avoid focusing on intentions and take ownership of consequences E.g. "Well I didn't mean that offensively!" "I meant well""Say that in my haste to go to the bathroom, I step on your foot and break your toe. Your toe is broken whether I intended it or not and that what I need to do is to attend to that first and foremost before I get into any explanations. Let me just think about how ludicrous that would be,that I've broken your toe and I'm taking the time to explain to you how itwas not intentional and that I've never done this before, because what I imagine is that what you'd be most concerned about is getting your toe attended and this whole piece about 'I didn't mean to do it' is not attending to you; it's attending to me." (Hardy, 2008) Tasks of Subjugated Subjugated: Give voice to one's experience; don't assume a care-taking role"I do believe that when one is in a subjugated position, one typically becomes silenced. Say a woman colleague of mine is offended or feels hurt by something I've said but she does not say anything to me, and is quietly resentful and that resentment erodes our relationship. So she's walking around with something that's developing, swelling up in her for three weeks. Now she is further upset because I am walking around as if nothing happened. Well, from my perspective, nothing did happen. And so she can't hold me accountable for that, which she hasn't shared with me." (Hardy 2008) Silencing Rage versus giving voice to rage giving space for the raw, emotional voice to be expressed rather than suppressing it; ironically, this helps to diffuse the anger Diversity concerns in psychotherapy: focus on ecology not just psychology (i.e., a wider lens)

Therapist as Broker of Permission" And I think that that permission to acknowledge and talk about race has to be given before it ever happens because the rules of race in our society is that we don't talk about it. So I use myself to do that. I will make reference to myself in therapy. 'Well, as an African-American' or 'as a black therapist,' which is my way of saying to you, the white client, 'I'm okay acknowledging race .I'm even okay if we talk about it.'" (Hardy, 2008)He says, as a white therapist don't ask clients of colour "How do you feel about being in therapy with me?" - power imbalance &asking for self-disclosure without offering any Be Sensitive to Different Backgrounds When Determining "Appropriateness"" sometimes the work that we do is so incredibly boundaried that it blocks, or at least minimizes our capacity to promote healing in clients" (Hardy, 2008)Cultural genogram; What are the core beliefs for ____? What are the things you're most proud of about being ___? What are things that make you feel shame about being ____?" Counsellor's Values Avoid value imposition; "bracket" (Corey, 2019)Recognize that you are not value-neutral Assist clients in creating goals and finding answers that are most congruent with their own values Find ways to manage value conflicts between you and your clients

Domains of Values

Relationships

Sexual attitudes

Racial attitudes

Religious or spiritual beliefs

Gender roles

Parenting

Abortion

Political Beliefs

We do not need to agree with our clients, but we do need to help them explore what is best for them"If you feel secure in your own values, you will not be threatened by really listening to, and deeply understanding, people who think differently or people who do not share your worldview" (Corey etal., 2015, p. 83)

QUESTION

Journal Entry1)

Reflect on anything discussed today that has made an impact on you and What You have learnt about ethics.