Counseling Couples and Families

Plmilano
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Chp8ExercisingCourageinProtectingChildren.pptx

Exercising Courage in Protecting Children

Chapter Eight

Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: Child Sexual Abuse

Empowering clients can be challenging when the client is a minor

We must be diligent about following legal and life protecting standards.

Cases of child abuse involve deciding how, to whom, and which information related to the abuse is disclosed.

Sexual abuse is particularly daunting

Disclosure by the victim is usually delayed

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: Child Sexual Abuse

Children are prone to experience guilt, self-blame and shame.

We must be sensitive to sustaining the dignity of child clients and their families.

We must be courageous in our willingness to make difficult and complex decisions on behalf of the child and the family.

We must navigate the headwaters of dysfunction, sometimes hostile, family dynamic, contentious court battles, and/or detrimental agency policies to protect the child

Issues and Ethics

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Table 8.1 *Stakeholders/Welfare/Interests
Stakeholders Welfare (Positive/Negative) Interests
Brooke Working through her issues in therapy Not having trust betrayed Protection from further abuse Being able to confide in and trust therapist Having support of mother
Audrey Working through her issues in therapy Maintaining her relationship with Brooke Helping Brooke improve her behavior Supporting and protecting Brooke
Dr. Flowers Not losing her job Helping Brooke and Aubrey continue counseling sessions Helping Brooke recover from trauma and empower her Demonstrating moral courage in the workplace Providing equitable counseling services to Brooke and Aubrey Demonstrating trustworthiness to Brooke and Aubrey

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: Child Sexual Abuse

Courage, Honesty and Fairness – Flowers’s decision to challenge her agency’s mandate to terminate her clients

Candor and Respectfulness – Flowers explained in both oral and written form a plethora of information

Candor and Respectfulness – Flowers also informs Brooke of the information in language that is understandable to a 7-year-old

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: Child Sexual Abuse

Benevolence – Reminding of her duty to report

Compassionate Care – Flowers genuinely attempts to enter into Brooke’s subjective world and understand how isolated, afraid, helpless, and alone she must be feeling.

Trustworthiness – Flowers wonders whether telling Aubrey about Brooke’s allegations could possibly be construed as a breach of trust.

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: Child Sexual Abuse

Benevolence – Aubrey is informed that she will be broadly informed of her child’s progress and if her child is in danger.

Loyalty and Candor – Flowers gave Aubrey advance warning about an impending report to protective services.

Diligent – Flowers honored her commitment to be candid, respectful, and empowering

Issues and Ethics

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Chp7EmpoweringAdultVictimsofDomesticViolence.pptx

Empowering and Advocating for Vulnerable Populations

Part Four

Empowering Adult Victims of Domestic Violence

Chapter Seven

Training Issues in Couples and Family Therapy

Personal Characteristics of Family Therapists

self-knowledge is critical, especially family-of-origin issues

Training, Supervision, and Clinical Experience

didactic methods

experiential methods

Values in Couples and Family Therapy

value system of therapist has crucial influence on formulation and definition of problems

Issues and Ethics

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Confidentiality in Couples and Family Therapy

Exceptions to confidentiality:

when mandated by law

when it is necessary to protect clients from harm to self or others

when family therapist is a defendant in a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from therapy

when a waiver has been previously obtained in writing

Issues and Ethics

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Confidentiality in Couples and Family Therapy

Before therapy begins, the counselor needs to give information to family members about:

purpose of therapy

typical procedures

risks of negative outcomes

possible benefits of therapy

the fee structure

limits of confidentiality

rights and responsibilities of clients

the option that a family member can withdraw at any time

what can be expected from the therapist

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering Adult Victims of Domestic Violence

Client empowerment appears to be particularly critical when counseling abused, battered, and victimized populations.

Abuse of a repetitive nature (versus a single episode) tends to escalate feelings of disempowerment.

Low self-esteem

Low self-efficacy

Self-hatred

False sense of self-esteem

Self-centeredness (narcissism)

Depression

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering Physically Abused Client

Case Study: A Physically Abuse Client

Langmore (Therapist) shows empathy for Tabitha (client) by reflecting her emotions.

Reflecting is done with words, tone and body language

Langhorn attempts to enter Tabitha’s inner world.

Emotions of loneliness, betrayal, confusion and discomfort in her life

This is the ability to hone into the commonality of feelings, irrespective of actual individual life experiences (i.e., ability to care).

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering Physically Abused Client

Case Study: A Physically Abuse Client

The textbook says, “Langhorn does not attempt to lead or persuade Tabitha in one direction or another”.

Do you agree?

Langhorn is supportive in offering some resources to Tabitha.

Could she have suggested anything else?

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering Physically Abused Client

Case Study: A Physically Abuse Client

First assessment: Is Tabitha in imminent life threatening danger?

She is not: We re-empower through using more nondirective styles whenever feasible.

If She was: We use more directive styles in advising Tabitha

In this case and other like it, it should be the client’s decision to leave or not.

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering Physically Abused Client

Case Study: A Physically Abuse Client

We must be aware of and assess the safety and welfare of client throughout sessions.

We create a safety plan if Tabitha’s situation takes a turn for the worse.

If client does into a shelter like Tabitha does, we continue make ourselves available in person or via phone.

If possible, this is done until goals are met and client is safe.

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: An Emotionally Abuse Client

Emotional abuse is not a distinctive (recognizable) as physical abuse

When spousal abuse does not have a physical dimension, it may be more perplexing for the victim to identify.

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: An Emotionally Abuse Client

Montego (Therapist) is “nonjudgmental”

Montego is nondirective (allows for empowerment).

Montego asks open ended questions

“How do you respond to that?”

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: An Emotionally Abuse Client

Montego uses his competence while working with Thea.

Montego carefully explained the dynamics of emotional abuse through factual objective educational material.

We must be competent in any advocating or educating situation.

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: An Emotionally Abuse Client

Does Montego breach the therapist-client professional boundary?

Thea was acting as if she were calling a friend or a romantic intimate rather than a therapist.

He is not sure if she will return to counseling, however, he is steadfast and courageous in hold his decision.

Could set the stage for emulation of strength by client.

Issues and Ethics

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Empowering an Emotionally Abused Client

Case Study: An Emotionally Abuse Client

Counseling is terminated prematurely.

Montego makes referral for counseling in new state.

Montego offers a follow up with him 3 months later.

Empowering such clients involves facilitating their rational self-determination to make their own decisions on their own.

Issues and Ethics

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