HW 5

HOMEWORK 5

Summary

Informed consent is a crucial aspect of clinical practice. It intends that healthcare workers operate ethically and ensure that clients voluntarily participate with complete information regarding the service. Informed consent had three mandatory principles: disclosure of all relevant facts and figures about the service, voluntariness of the client to accept the service, and competence of the therapist to deliver the service optimally. The therapist must give alternative options or referrals if the client does not wish to accept counseling terms. The involvement of third parties, such as supervisors, should be discussed with the client (Kuhne et al., 2020). Experimental therapy must be contained in the consent form, and the client must willingly agree before service provision.

Moreover, no guarantees or promises about what will happen should be included in the form. The form discusses payment and the policies governing payment. It should contain the therapist's contacts and the agency's details. The client should only sign when they understand and agree with all terms and conditions in the consent form.

The video on limitations and extent of confidentiality describes that confidentiality is not absolute. It discusses the situations under which confidentiality can be breached: when the client proves to be a danger to themselves or others. A therapist is a mandated reporter obligated by law to report suspicion of neglect or abuse of a minor, elderly, or disabled individual. The third video is a mock therapy session, and the therapist gives the client options to either stay or have them referred to a different therapist. Discussing the limits of confidentiality is paramount in therapy.

Connection

The focus of the second film is new therapists working under supervision. A valid informed consent form uses clear language easily understandable by the client. It must inform the client of their right to refuse services and the risks associated with refusal of service. It makes me think of my time as a trainee. I was required as a trainee to get permission before recording the session for the supervisor's evaluation. The client must be informed and provide their consent to have their sessions recorded in cases when confidentiality is violated. Furthermore, it is important to be aware that patient identification must not be revealed while discussing client matters with coworkers. This was a great learning experience for me because I had the opportunity to use my knowledge and put it into practice. After challenging instances, supervision is a fantastic arena for debriefing. I always made sure to get informed consent from the clients before working with them. It also made it possible for me to consult my superiors while maintaining the usual confidentiality agreements. Generally, I learned that working under supervision can have immense benefits because it felt like someone always got my back.

Reflection

The mechanic scenario in Chapter 2 of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling was previously discussed. Concerning the steps from Pope & Vasquez (2016) Chapter 8, I followed the steps in ethical decision-making. The concern in that scenario was a client making defamatory claims about my services. The concern is justified because such claims about my services could have jeopardized my career and the agency's marketing influence. The incident had implications for both the client and me. The client was self-enrolled into the therapy program, and no third party pushed her to begin therapy. I was emotionally fit to continue providing services to the client. The emotional distress from the negative comments made me incompetent to continue psychotherapy for that particular client. A trusted colleague, my previous supervisor, advised that I attend therapy sessions to deal with the issue before continuing practice. To avoid personal feelings and self-bias from getting in the way of my practice, I consulted with my seniors on what action to take. The alternative approach was to refer the client to a different therapist. After careful consideration, I made a list of alternative therapists for the client. In the future, I will have a good therapeutic relationship with clients and have them be as honest as possible.

References

Kühne, F., Heinze, P. E., & Weck, F. (2020). Standardized patients in psychotherapy training and clinical supervision: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 21(1), 1-7.

Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. (2016).  Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical guide. John Wiley & Sons. (Chpts 4 Dignity & Respect, 16 Informed Consent & Informed Refusal, and 8 Steps in Ethical Decision Making).