Reply to this post in 150 words: Ethical Practices

Now I know that there are many considerations that need to be made when a counselor is working with different clients. The ethical decision making model (2016) needs to be used in deciding what information is important in being divulged and what information is better being processed on an individual level. What surprises me is how research in couples and family therapy is ever evolving. I know this is the case in mental health counseling but family dynamics are so complex and change based on culture and ethnicity (Sori & Hecker, 2015). There are so many considerations that need to be made based on each individual's experience. This is also the thing that intimidates me. It intimidates me because I feel like there is so much to know. I know that I’ll never know it all which is why I’ll always be in a mindset that allows me to learn and grow. 

Challenges

I think it will be challenging to juggle the different perspectives of people while keeping a neutral space. I want to work with children and adolescents as well as working with parents who are transitioning or into co-parenting roles. One of the ethical challenges will come if I’m working with co-parents both individually and together. Ethical considerations need to be made when it comes to deciding when to divulge specific information from individual sessions in sessions that happen together. As a counselor it will be a challenge in deciding what would benefit the co-parent relationship and what will be better worked on individually (Fridhandler & Lehmer, 2014).

Incorporating Ethics

I will incorporate ethics by using the ethical decision making model (2016). First, I will identify the problem, Apply ACA Code of Ethics and the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code of Ethics. Then I will determine Nature and dimensions of dilemma by thinking through autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, and justice. Next, I will generate potential courses of action, and finally I will consider potential consequences of my actions. 

Based on the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code of Ethics (2017) the counselor should work in the best interest of the clients. Dr. Gess mentioned a client who was 11 or 12 years old whose family identified with a conservative religion that didn’t align with his sexual desire for other boys. Dr. Gess did not communicate this information with his parents since this wasn’t why he was brought in for counseling. Instead, the counselor would bring up different identities in a sense that provided more of a psychoeducational session. Then, when the client was ready, they sat down as a family for the client to share his identity with his parents. In my opinion, I would have responded the same way the counselor responded. She created a safe space for her client and allowed the parents time to process some of the information before hearing about it without any context. 

Based on the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code of Ethics (2017) counselors should refrain from dual relationships with clients and protect clients information. Dr. Scott acted ethically in handling the conversation. Dr. Scott mentioned interacting with her client's younger brother in her house after her child invited them. She decided that the child could stay since they were the ones who initiated the conversation, but the counselor then removed themselves from the room. This is a difficult situation and was a situation I was happy to process since I want to work with children and adolescents. If I were in that situation, I wouldn’t have initiated a conversation either, but if my child wanted to continue having this particular person over, I would have to come up with a different option than simply removing myself from the situation. This depends on the age of the children as well. This also made me realize that I should start having conversations with my own children about my future job and how there may be times I may need to remove myself from certain settings if someone I’m working with is there