I would suggest that the counselor is violating Section A.4.b. of the American Counseling
Association’s ethical code (2014); this counselor is projecting their own individualistic
As a counselor it is important to be multiculturally competent. When counseling a family
that is of a different culture one should labor in understanding the values and structure that the
family is built upon. Factors that should be considered in this particular counseling relationship
are the families’ acculturation level, filial piety, religion, immigration status, heterogeneity, and
reverence for people in authority (Hays & Erford, 2018). As a westerner walking out the
Christian faith it is easy to project our individualistic values onto others. In this situation the
counselor suggested that the teen should set boundaries with her parents. Asian Americans can be
differential to people in authoritative roles, so suggestions from a counselor may be seen as
expert advice (Hays & Erford, 2018). A very common ideology amongst Asian American’s is
filial piety. Filial piety can be described as the idea of obedience and respect that children should
have for their parents, grandparents, and ancestors (Hays & Erford, 2018). Asian Americans are
not typically individualistic, family needs outweigh that of the individual and individual identity
goes against the Asian collectivistic value orientation (Hays & Erford, 2018). A counselor giving
advice of setting boundaries to an Asian American teen with traditional parents may cause
serious internal and interpersonal conflict. The counselor is seen as an expert, yet the suggestions
do not reinforce the familial values that govern the family. This contrast between collectivism
and individualism is a very typical challenge experienced by Asian American’s families (Hays &
Erford, 2018). Religiously, Asian Americans are extremely diverse so providing Christian
literature for homework may not be a good technique unless it has been confirmed that they do
practice the Christian faith.
References
ideologies onto the client that will likely cause greater division and reinforce the issues that are
already prevalent within the family. I believe the counselor is also potentially violating Standard
I section 1.8 of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2015); the counselor
seems to have neglected the client’s autonomy by making the suggestion of setting boundaries
and failing to express consequences that may follow the counselor’s suggestion. Section A of the
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code of Ethics (2017) states that
counselors should advocate for the family as a whole system; suggesting the teen place
boundaries in her life for her parents is counterproductive and is not considerate of the family
system as a whole. Section J International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors Code
of Ethics of the states that counselors are multiculturally aware oof and implement multicultural
counseling competencies endorsed by the American Counseling association; I would suggest that
the counselor violates both of these ethical codes. The American Association of Christian
Counselors Code of Ethics (2014) section ES1-330 states that consent for should be obtained for
implementation of Biblical and spiritual practices, it is possible that this may have been violated
although it is unclear. Section ES1-520 states that counselors should be aware of their own
worldview and its impact on the counseling process; it is evident that this counselor is unaware
of their own individualistic worldview. This same section also states that the counselor should be
aware of worldviews that may conflict with Judeo-Christian worldviews; although filial piety is
promoted Biblically, westernization of the Bible promotes individuality which is likely opposite
of the client’s worldview in this situation. Section 1 530-a states that counselors should not
project their values onto the clients, which has already been demonstrated previously in this post.
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. (2017). IAMFC Code of
Ethics. Alexandria, VA. Author.
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. (2015). AAMFT code of ethics.
Retrieved from https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx
American Association of Christian Counselors. (2014). AACC code of ethics. Retrieved from
https://www.aacc.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AACC-Code-of-Ethics-Master-
Document.pdf
American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved from
https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/ethics/code-of-ethics-resources
Hays, D. G, & Erford, B. T. (2014). Developing multicultural counseling competence: a systems
approach. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson.
Brandy,
I really enjoyed your post! I think you did a much better job than I did
with how you formulated this discussion; I really wanted to touch on how
contextually, the Bible verses given were not theologically sound. I am so
blessed by your post, it helped me realize that my focus was too much on
simply completing the assignment rather than truly internalizing it and
dealing with it in all aspects. I failed to fully address how negatively improper
use of Biblical text can impact the receiver. I also appreciated how you
pointed out that the verses used are actually in conflict with the Bible,
generally speaking.
Westerners are typically more focused on individualism and self-
actualization as the counselor in this scenario suggested; which is actually
contrary to Biblical narratives. Much of the narrative in the Bible promotes
community and family. The Bible is not a self-help book, it is a book for the
helpless. Overall, scripture suggests that we are sinners by nature and we
cannot help ourselves; we cannot be fulfilled apart from God and Jesus’
sacrifice (McMinn, 2011). The counselor’s promotion of individualism and
self-actualization are not ideals that are founded upon the True Gospel, but
rather a new age twist on the like. Self-actualization is recognized as an
Krems, J. A., Kenrick, D. T., & Neel, R. (2017). Individual perceptions of self-
actualization: What functional motives are linked to fulfilling One’s full
potential? Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 43(9), 1337-
1352. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217713191
original ideology of Abraham H. Maslow. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a
familiar concept to most practitioners. This ideology suggests that life’s most
important calling is to fulfill one’s own unique potential (Krems et al ., 2017).
While Biblically speaking the highest calling is that of God to us to believe
and fellowship with His son Jesus, then to holiness, then to service (Prime &
Begg, 2004). God gave you potential. How can you reach potential without
yielding to the One who gave it to you? It should also be noted that Maslow
subscribed to the thought that the peak experience of religion was the same
as for all of us Jesus, buddha, and any other deity for that matter (Bregman,
1976). I would suggest that there is no equality in which any of us can
experience anything the same as Jesus because He is the thing that all
things were created through and for (Colossians 1:16 KJV)
Additionally, implementing scripture in counseling comes with a great
responsibility. There are many different factors that should dictate whether or
not a counselor overtly implements scripture during sessions or as
homework. The counselor should analyze the client’s needs and scriptural
context before implementation (McMinn, 2011). As you mentioned, scripture
has historically been contorted to dehumanize and abuse groups of folk
because of a lack of care to context. We can make the Bible say anything we
want by cherry-picking scripture and recreating the narrative as this
counselor does in this scenario. I would suggest that to be a competent
Christian counselor, one must understand the Bible in its entirety.
BREGMAN, L. (1976). MASLOW AS THEORIST OF RELIGION: Reflections on his
popularity and plausibility. Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 59(2), 139-163.
Retrieved April 11, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41177989
McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling (Revised ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.
Prime, D., Begg, A. (2004). On being a pastor. (Revised ed.) Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.
