Venicia,
The counselor in the case story presented-violated proper code of ethics in the
professional counseling room across multiple counseling organizations shown below:
AAMFT Codes of Ethics violated by the Counselor illustrated with the Korean family
having inner-relational conflict due to specific members suffering with GAD (general
anxiety disorder) is observed in Standard One: 1.1 Non-Discrimination: "Marriage and
family therapists provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on
the basis of race, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, health status,
religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status"
(AAMFT, 2015).
The IAMFC Code of Ethics follows the same ethical standards as the ACA Code of
Ethics written into ten sections, the counselor violated-Section A: The Counseling
Relationship and Client Welfare (IAMFC, 2015).
The AACC Codes of Ethics the counselor violated was highlighted in standards ES11-
010; 1-020; ES11-1101-320-c; 1-330; 1-510; 1-520;1-530; 1-530-a; ES1-600; 1-610; 1-
610-a; 1-630;1-630-b (AACC, 2014).
The ACA Codes of Ethics were violated in-Section A.1.a; A.1.c; A.4.b; A.2.c; A.2.d;
B.1.a; C.5; E.8 (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014).
Just as you stated in your post 'the counseling approach appears to be unethical
on many levels; this will cause the family unit to possibly deteriorate further thus not
uphold the tenets of what we as counselors are called to do.' I love the scripture
reference you cited as your biblical support to validate how the counselor violated
proper codes of ethics, i.e., "but whoso shall offend one of these little ones which
believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (King James Bible, 2014, Matthew 18:6).
Notice it is red lettering written in scripture to illustrate the words spoken-came directly
out of Jesus' mouth. With that being highlighted, it is quite evident as to how serious it is
for a professional counselor to violate proper codes of ethical conduct behind the
professional counseling door; not only in the representation of multiple counseling
organizations but most importantly in the pure unadulterated representation of Christ
himself. Jesus was a consummate gentleman, never imposing his own belief system
onto others, always allowing others to come to their own conclusions in making life
decisions and implementing change their own cultural origins, even more so in being
sensitive to multi-cultural religiosity.
The bible teaches us-simply as followers of Jesus Christ in the King James Bible,
in the book of Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature" (KJV, 2014). Not only is it our professional obligation to
abide in proper codes of professional ethics, but it is our Christian mandate to consider
all people, from all walks of life in the representation of Jesus Chris, the Messiah. To
love all nations, equally, considering them over our own prejudices. Thanks for sharing
your thoughts on this week's threaded discussion.
References:
American Association of Christian Counselors (2014). AACC Code of Ethics. Nashville,
TN.
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (2015). AAMFT Code of Ethics.
Alexandria, VA.
American Counseling Association (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA.
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. (2017). IAMFC Code of
Ethics. Alexandria, VA.
Holy Bible (2014). kjv. Nashville, TN. Holeman Bible Publishers.
