Discussion Board 2
Ryan Chrzanowski
CUOC601-B06
Liberty University
For this week’s discussion board, we are tasked with examining a scenario to determine if
this scenario did or did not violate codes of ethics when working with families, especially
families of a different cultural origin. There is a primary ethical obligation, as a professional
counselor, to advise clinical decisions that are focused on client welfare and avoiding any harm
to our clients/patients (ACA, 2014, A.1.a., A.4.a.). With this specific scenario, the family being
counseled is of Korean origin.
Assuming, in this specific case, the counselor is not Korean themselves, there is an
ethical principle to practice culturally, they would need to increase their knowledge and
understanding of Korean culture (ACA, 2014, F.11.c.). This can be accomplished by; researching
and studying scholarly sources related to Asian culture, participating in continuing education
programs, and getting assistance from respected colleagues. This will allow for growth of the
counselors personal knowledge of Asian culture, or any other culture (AACC, n.d., 1-250, ACA,
2014, A.2.c., C.2.e., C.2.f.). “Asking questions in an open and respectful way about the client's
culture can increase the counselor's knowledge and favorably influence the therapeutic alliance”
(Hays & Erford, 2018).
When counseling a family, however, there must be a consideration that the counselor
keeps in focus to avoid blurring boundaries between multiple relationships within the family
because you are counseling the family as a whole (AAMFT, n.d., 1.3, ACA, 2014, A.8.). A safe
way to manage this is to ensure that the boundaries of confidentiality are thoroughly discussed
and understood at the beginning of the therapy sessions, not only through informed consent and
parental/guardian consent when a minor is involved, this must also be revisited throughout the
therapy process to ensure that nothing has changed (AACC, n.d., ES1-310, AAMFT, n.d., 1.2,
ACA, 2014, A.2.a.). Having a teenage daughter in this scenario, adding her parents'
incorporation and voice to the counseling space, an ethically responsible counselor should be
constantly aware of who the actual patient is within in the family and during therapy family unit
group sessions (Goldenberg et al., 2017).
However, the daughter's comment in this case opens the door to an opportunity which
will allow the incorporation of psychoeducation, which will highlight the similarities and
differences within American and Asian culture. This will create a setting in which the family can
openly discuss their perceptions and expectations in a safe space. This also helps solidify that
session area as a safe space to openly discuss any other personal, tragic, traumatic, or life
changing events that lead to family therapy, so the client and family unit call all begin to heal.
By the counselor encouraging behaviors such as; individuals distancing themselves to
becoming self-differentiated and independent, that advise or suggesting may unethical because it
could be in direct opposition to the client's culture (AACC, n.d., ES1-520, ES1-540) The
counselor advising the daughter to be more independent, he appears to be ignoring the daughters
culture, this directly contradicts with the Asian collectivistic value that believes that the actions
of one influence the integrity and welfare of the family as a whole and an individualistic identity
can be in direct conflict of that value (Hays & Erford, 2018).
Also, according to (AACC, n.d., 1-330,) ethically the counselor should refrain from
introducing spirituality in the counseling space without the client's consent. Advising the
daughter of those specific biblical passages as part of the therapeutic process, this counselor
would be considered to be practicing unethically. Determining the clients cultural and religious
beliefs should be explored, discussed and understood at the beginning of the therapy process so
the counselor is aware and respectful of those beliefs.
This is established with open and honest communication that will allow the counselor to
establish what, if any, cultural or spiritual collaboration is needed as part of the therapy process,
and what would be acceptable to the client and family unit as a whole. The counselor specifically
assigning biblical verses that may highlight a certain belief held by that counselor can cause the
counselor to violate the ACA Code of Ethics due to charging or inflicting their personal values
(ACA, 2014, A.4.b.).
REFERENCES
AACC code of Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aacc.net/wp-
content/uploads/2020/06/AACC-Code-of-Ethics-Master-Document.pdf
Advanced Solutions International, I. (n.d.). Code of ethics. Retrieved from
https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx
American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved from
http://www.counseling.orgLinks to an external site.
Goldenberg, I., Stanton, M., & Goldenberg, H. (2017). Family therapy: An overview (9th ed.).
Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Hays, D. G. & Erford, B. T. (2018). Developing multicultural counseling competence: A systems
approach. Pearson.
