Embodying Integration Part B 1
Attitudes and Beliefs Reflection Paper
Elizabeth G Weber
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Embodying Integration Part B 2
Abstract
In this assignment, I use an attitudes and beliefs inventory to become more aware of my
own values, attitudes and beliefs associated with certain scenarios in which I may find myself as
a future mental health counselor. From this inventory, I selected the three scenarios which
evoked the strongest emotions or indecision within me. It is these three scenarios in which I will
delve into in terms of why they affected me and in what way and due to what reason(s). I
complete this exercise and paper in hopes of making discoveries about myself and obtaining
ways in which I can grow both personally and professionally.
Embodying Integration Part B 3
Attitudes and Beliefs Reflection Paper
Introduction
The American Counseling Association (ACA) set forth standards by which counselors
are to follow and maintain. These standards can be viewed in the ACA’s 2014 Code of Ethics.
Included among these standards are that counselors are to be aware of their own “values,
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors” (ACA, 2014), and work to not impose these values and beliefs
on their clients. To do this, it is important to understand the origin of these values, how they
affect the way in which counselor and client work together and work to improve this relationship
through personal and professional work.
While completing the Attitudes and Beliefs Inventory, three questions quickly became
the most difficult scenarios for me to rate. The three people, potential clients, that gave me the
most pause were: a person with fundamentalist religious beliefs, a man convicted of pedophilia
and court-ordered for counseling, and a man with terminal cancer who wants to discuss stopping
all treatment to hasten his death. The goal of this assignment is to recognize any beliefs, biases or
otherwise unhelpful thinking that may be the reason for feeling uncomfortable with these
scenarios. Once these beliefs and biases are identified, I will produce ways in which I can act
through personal and professional work and growth.
Reaction
1. A person with fundamentalist religious beliefs
The scenario where I would counsel someone with fundamentalist religious beliefs gave
me the most pause out of all the other questions. I found this fact concerning simply because
there were several other scenarios that involved actual crimes against humanity that I felt very
comfortable answering quickly. I began to search for an answer as to what about this scenario
Embodying Integration Part B 4
makes me uncomfortable. I believe that every person on Earth deserves respect, especially when
it comes to what they believe. When I have interacted with people who have self-identified as
fundamentalist Christians, I have witnessed some of the most disrespectful interactions in my
life.
Response
I believe this discomfort stems from my experiences in early childhood and the religious
beliefs shared by my nuclear family. Growing up, my family showed respect and tolerance for
every religious background. It was not until I began middle school that I realized this tolerance
was rare in part of my community. My father was a police officer in the town I grew up in. He
was a great hostage negotiator and advocate for police officers. Our town adored him, and I grew
up watching him interact with people of all different backgrounds, cultures, abilities, etc. Over
the years, I understood that my father exhibited qualities that helped my community and were
viewed as positive by the people I looked up to in my life. On many occasions, I watched my
father help end disagreements and conflicts through his ability to show respect and tolerance for
people that lived differently than him. For these reasons, I believed and still believe that the
tolerance and respect that my father showed is something I wish to work toward achieving.
Action
Where I struggle the most in this scenario is I have a deep desire to be with people like my
father, people who are respectful, tolerant and resilient even in the worst situations. This scenario
gave me the most pause, perhaps, because I know that I would be expecting someone with a
fundamentalist religious belief view to be disrespectful. This expectation is based on past events
I have either directly or indirectly witnessed. However, it is not ethical to assume that someone
would act a certain way based on my experiences. I need to work on not “judging a book by it’s
Embodying Integration Part B 5
cover” and allowing someone’s words and actions to speak for themselves. I know that I would
want someone to afford me the same grace.
As a professional counselor, I would need to remember that for those who come to counseling on
their own, they are seeking help or they are looking to change their lives. I need to remember that
what they may wish to work on and what I may view as a “flaw” or something they should
improve on, may not be the same thing. Counseling is a very personal journey. I have no right to
tell someone how they should be, what they should work on or how they should act unless that is
what they need me to do for them. In order to help me stay within this mindset, I will regularly
attend professional trainings and seek insight from other local counselors who also interact with
clients in this community.
Reaction
2. A man convicted of pedophilia and court-ordered for counseling
This scenario made me feel disgusting as I imagined what it would be like to counsel such a
man. Pedophilia, as I understand it, is a horrible act in which a child is taken advantage of and
victimized by an adult, usually in a sexual manner. I am strongly against any kind of pedophilia,
no matter the scenario or age difference between the victim and perpetrator. I believe that if we
are to create a safe society, one in which we all feel safe, there are certain rules and situations
that must have an undisputable line of which can’t be crossed. I hold murder, elderly and child
neglect in the same circle as pedophilia. I believe that if even the “lowest” form of pedophilia is
tolerated, a society will grow to tolerate it as a whole. That is not a society of which I want to
live in.
Response
Growing up, I naturally developed a protection for myself against those in which I believed
Embodying Integration Part B 6
would harm or take advantage of me. I believe that I learned the need for this protection while
listening to my father, a police officer, speak to my mother about his daily interactions with the
public while on duty. There are many instances I can recall in which my father would speak of
pedophiles who would kidnap, kill, rape, or otherwise harm young girls simply for pleasure.
During these conversations my father had with my mother, it was very apparent that what these
men did was unforgiveable and something in which only removing them from society could
change.
As a young woman, my mother taught me how to trust a man. Growing up, I was a very strong,
tall, levelheaded girl but even my mom knew that there were people out there who would try to
take advantage of me. She taught me to be vigilant, how to spot danger, how to remove myself
from dangerous situations, etc. Many of my friends were not as lucky to have parents who taught
them these life skills. Many of my friends found themselves in situations in which they were
taken advantage of, harmed and or abused by these very people my mom would warn me about.
Over time, I became the only young woman in my friend group who had not experienced such
horrible instances involving pedophiles, as my friends did. I attribute a lot of this to my mom’s
teachings and my own ability to spot danger and remove myself from dangerous situations
involving potential pedophiles.
Action
It is this scenario that I believe I need to work the most on. At the present moment, I would not
feel comfortable counseling someone who was convicted of pedophilia. I also have a personal
issue with the fact that this person was court ordered to attend counseling for pedophilia,
meaning they had committed the crime and were forced to see me for counseling rather than
seeking counseling on their own. To best serve and counsel such an individual, I need to focus
Embodying Integration Part B 7
on the fact that there is hope for this person and those who they have wronged. As a counselor, I
have the chance to learn from this person and teach them skills which they may use to be a
productive member of society.
Reaction
3. A man with terminal cancer who wants to discuss stopping all treatment to hasten his
death
As someone who has witnessed their loved ones endure cancer treatment, I greatly appreciate
and sympathize with this scenario in which a man wishes to stop his cancer treatment to hasten
his death. Although I have not experienced cancer or cancer treatments, based on what I have
witnessed, I know treatment can be emotionally and physically challenging in so many ways.
Even with these challenges, I believe it is well within a person’s right to stop their own cancer
treatment if they wish. However, I do not believe it is right to do so with the hope that stopping
treatment will cause death to occur faster. I hold the belief that humans are on Earth to
experience a human existence for a reason and by potentially speeding up death, this man is
potentially limiting his experiences on Earth.
Response
From a very young age, my mother taught me that God is the only being who has the right and
power to end a human’s life and should anyone take this power into their own hands, they would
be committing a deep sin for which God would not forgive. During adulthood, I witnessed
several friends battle thoughts of suicide and two succumb to their thoughts and commit suicide.
These events affected me deeply as their friend but also as someone who values human life.
I have witnessed many friends and family members fight for the lives of their loved ones. It
seems such a tragedy to allow someone to end their life when others are fighting for that very
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right to live.
Action
For this scenario, I need to work on respecting other’s choices even if they do not align with my
beliefs. I also need to work on compassion in situations in which I have not experienced. I
simply do not know what it is like to experience cancer treatment or the desire to want my life to
end sooner than it will. I will work to learn to be compassionate and understanding so that I may
be a support to those who make such a difficult decision.
Conclusion
According to the ACA’s code of ethics, a counselor should work to avoid imposing their
personal beliefs onto their clients. I believe that in most cases and situations, I will be well
skilled to do so. However, there are several hypothetical situations in which I will need to work
on not imposing my own beliefs and views as they are opposed to those of my clients.
I will work to grow personally and professionally through exercises, continuing education
and mentorships. I hope to use the resources available to me to become more understanding,
forgiving, and resilient as a counselor. To be the best counselor for my clients, I will need to
continue this work throughout my career and seek assistance when needed.
Within this course time frame, I will make a point to spend time understanding my own
values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors so that I may have this foundational understanding of
myself as I continue my studies to become a counselor.
Embodying Integration Part B 9
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