Running head: ETHICAL VIGNETTE: ETHICAL DILEMMAS 1
Ethical Vignette: Ethical Dilemmas
Candace-Eunice V. Bernard
Liberty University
ETHICAL VIGNETTE: ETHICAL DILEMMAS
Abstract
According to Remley and Herlihy (2013), there counseling relationship can bring forth many
complex issues. These complexities can lead to varying ethical and legal challenges. This work
will summarize the ethical situations presented the in Alexander Street Press (2015) video. This
work will go on to review the recommended ways to address these issues as presented by the
American Counseling Association (ACA) and the State of Florida. In conclusion, this paper will
reflect on personal lessons learned throughout the ethical review and will present how these
lessons will be utilized in the future.
Keywords: dual relationships
Ethical Vignette: Ethical Dilemmas
Summary
Alexander Street Press (2015) presented four ethic vignettes that each explore a varying
aspects of the ethical and legal issues that counselors can encounter. The setting of these
vignettes is a casual work conversation between a mental health profession, an investigative
reporter and a lawyer. These three individuals engage in causal conversation about dual
relationships, couple's therapy, counseling teenagers, and dealing with creating and ending a
therapeutic relationship.
The first vignette begins as the mental health provider introduces the topic of bartering.
The provider is hesitant about this situation and is unsure of how to progress. She identifies that
2
ETHICAL VIGNETTE: ETHICAL DILEMMAS
bartering is not prohibited in her ethical code, but anticipated that there could be challenges. One
specific challenge that could arise from the bartering relationship is undue pressure on the client.
A client who is bartering services might feel that their work must be at a higher caliber for their
counselor. The alternative risk is that the client might become disgruntled, and do poor work, or
not complete the bartering agreement. The lawyer in the vignette advised that mental health
professional avoid bartering relationships if at all possible (Alexander Street Press, 2015).
The group's discussion progressed towards conversations on the challenges surrounding
couple's therapy. This discussion was centered on confidentiality challenges surrounding therapy
to multiple individuals. The journalist presents a scenario in which a wife requests to have a
personal session while her husband is out of town. Information is revealed at this session that the
wife does not want her husband to know. This information becomes key evidence when the
couple begins divorce proceedings. The counselor handling the case was unsure of if the
information shared was protected or not (Alexander Street Press, 2015).
The group discussed the foundation for care provided in couples' therapy. They stated
that an agreement about confidentiality must be established prior to the start of the relationship.
They also found that the simplest way to avoid confusion is to set a policy that individual therapy
will not be done by the couple's counselor. This will prevent feelings of favoritism or
challenging confidentiality issues. In situations in which counselors did not abide by this
principle, they must understand that what is discussed in the counseling environment can be
subpoenaed. This can occur if the court decides that the needs of the child outweigh the adult's
right for confidentiality (Alexander Street Press, 2015).
Similar considerations must be made in group situations and in situations when treatment
is provided to teenagers. Both of these situations are ones in which confidentiality cannot be
guaranteed. The parties in this relationship must be told about the privacy policies and the limits
3
ETHICAL VIGNETTE: ETHICAL DILEMMAS
to confidentiality. Open communication must occur with all parties in an effort to avoid ethical
issues (Alexander Street Press, 2015).
Finally, the group discusses creating a therapeutic relationship. This is both an ethical
and legal issue. Legally, care does not start until the client completes the initial intake
paperwork. Ethically, all communication with potential clients should be kept confidential,
regardless of if they signed the intake paperwork or not. The intake process is vital to determine
who the client is. There are situations in which the client is an employer. This occurs when there
is a work mandated evaluation. Other situations the employer is the referring party, but the client
is the employee. These are all important issues to outline at the start of the therapeutic process in
order to protect the flow of information. Each of these vignettes stress that ethical decision
making is not a simple process, and all counselors should seek legal and professional advice
whenever they encounter an ethically challenging situation (Alexander Street Press, 2015).
Discovery
Section A.6 of the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) discusses boundaries within the
counseling relationship. Several potiental bouandry challenges are identified, including potiential
clients who have a past relationship with the provider or engaging in activies with the client
outside of the office. The ACA (2014) advives that counselors carefully examine the factors
surrounding all boundary issues. Section A.6.c states that if counselors do chose to cross a
boundary line, they must document their reasoning behind this crossing.
Reaction and Action
4
ETHICAL VIGNETTE: ETHICAL DILEMMAS
References
American Counseling Association (2014). Code of ethics. Retrieved from
http://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health
Counseling (2015). Links and resources. Retrieved from
http://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/resources/
Remley, T. P., Jr., & Herlihy, B. (2014). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling
(4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. ISBN: 9780132851817.
5
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
