Sexual Relations between Counselors and Ex-Clients - Lab Report Example

R.Preeti 9/11/2007 In today's fast paced modern world, the importance of maintaining a of conduct and an ethical mode of behaviour, has increased with the corporatisation. The attention being attached to a more formal protocol oriented behaviour is on the rise and this can be seen in the various rules and regulations that have been formulated by various organisations who deal with the laying down of these stipulations. The chosen literature is titled, "Sexual Relations between counsellors and e x-clients: Can they ever be right". As the title suggests, the article deals with the discussion and critical appraisal of the Code of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors, as laid down by the BAC, in the General Annual Meeting held in September, 1992. This article is a critical discussion and evaluation of this write-up dealing with the question, whether it is ethical for counsellors to have sexual relations with their ex-clients or not, as laid down by the statutory authority. In the write-up, the writer, Paul Wilkins talks about various psychological concepts and aspects like transference, love, power play, the importance of time and critically analysis if this clause is required and if it is ethical for counsellors to maintain sexual relations with their e x-clients. The rationale behind choosing this write-up, is to highlight the high rate of these occurrences and to critically appraise the clauses laid down. With the number of individuals approaching counsellors increasing by the day, such cases are being more commonly reported and are being accepted as a part of the set-up. The analysis of this write-up can help us come to a conclusion upon the ethical detailing of the clause. This can help implement better codes of ethics in our practical lives. ANALYSIS As already mentioned, the BAC, in its general annual meeting, upheld the clause that sexual relations between counsellors and their ex-clients is unethical and it must take place only after about twelve weeks after the completion of the sessions. A special clause was added that under certain circumstances, a special lifetime ban can also be imposed on such occurrences. This was a debatable issue, since it was not unanimously agreed upon, whether such a ban or such a clause is required. Was it really unethical for a counsellor to carry no sexual relations with his ex-client In order to form the best possible opinion, the writer, Paul Wilkins, has brought about numerous references and psychology-connected theories, besides quotes of eminent authorities. As an initiation, the writer talks about the psychological concept of transference and the relation it bears with the emotion of love. According to psychology, the relation between a counsellor and the client, is that of a student-mentor relationship, wherein the client looks up to the counsellor for guidance and understanding. This relation is called transference. Due to the presence of transference, love between the counsellor and the client, cannot be forged. According to Freud, sexual relations between counsellors and their patients are not possible. However, he is not very vocal about the post-counselling phase, when transference is reduced. The mentor-mentee relation disappears after a period of time and on the completion of this period, sexual relation can be called ethical, it appears! Therefore, this period of transference is impermanent and not an long-standing one. However, this is also criticised on various grounds, the most prominent being the non-consideration of the emotion of 'love'. Gale holds the opinion that the twelve-week period to allow the evaporation of sexual feelings is devoid of the fact that the feelings of love, which is a permanent one, is not considered in the bargain. He considers the clause to be ethical if the whole issue is lack of love and mere sexual relation. However, if it is characterised by love, it does not hold good then. The writer, however, declares this ambiguous, since one does not know whether counsellors and their ex-clients confuse an emotion to be love. Strong attraction is certainly not love, as the latter is more deeply rooted and profound. He also says that the 'love' could emanate from feelings that the past brings forth, or past unresolved issues. This is but a transitory phase and therefore, the exact inclusion of 'love' into this perspective can be deviating and confusing. While this is often an argument put forth, another one, is that of 'power play'. It is commonly felt among counsellors, that they are in a rather powerful position, in comparison to their clients. There is no equal distribution of power and it is heavily on-sided. When this power-imbalance exists within the boundaries of the counsellor-client relationship, it is contained, with reference to the elevated position that the counsellor occupies. However, when this relation transforms into a romantic one, problems occur. This is due to the fact that in a romantic relation, the heavily one-sided power-play could possibly topple the relationship. In a romantic relationship, both individuals involved are on par with each other and this is not a counsellor-client relation is made of. However, one cannot do away with the fact that the counsellor-client phase could perhaps, be left behind as the past. The counsellor and the client could choose to leave it behind and forget the entire phase, while paving way for a whole new equation, outside the counsellor's office. This could be characterised by equality and the equal distribution of power. Therefore, it is a very relative and subjective aspect that entirely varies from one individual to another. Another important aspect that the writer sheds light on, is the importance e of 'time'. It is quite relevant, as the clause contains a mention of a specific time period---twelve weeks. This is the time that is considered the transitory period, for the evaporation of the counsellor-client relation; in case it transforms into a different relationship in future. In addition to this, time is a very important factor in fuelling the evaporation of the heavily one-sided power-play in the relationship. It does take time for the counsellor to shed his powerful stance and then accept the change and get into a more humane and emotional relationship, based on equality. The client, too, needs to shed her inhibitions on the personal level and emerge her original powerful individual self, to drop the role of a mere client and get on to a more equitable plane, on par with the counsellor, to carry forward a romantic relationship. The writer goes on to describe his interest in a client (the writer is a counsellor, as well). He also finds out that the feeling is reciprocated. However, the client and he decide not to work together, due to the fact that their social circles overlap and this could mean that they would meet up in future. The question here is, whether it would be unethical for the counsellor to involve himself with his ex-client, after the passage of a period of time. This counselling session could well be dug and forgotten and if they happen to meet in a social setting, why would it be unethical for them to be interested in each other, as two adult individuals The writer feels that it need not be considered unethical, if the ex-client is truly an 'ex'-client. In other words, if the counselling sessions are considered completely over and there is no further possibility of the client returning to the counsellor in future, it could well be perceived that it is ethical. When counsellors and clients can be good friends and acquaintances, why is it not ethical for them to be romantically involved It could definitely be ethical, provided the relationship of transference is truly done away with, and the counselling sessions become a thing fo the past! The writer approaches the conclusion that the code fo ethics need not necessarily highlight what is morally right. It is a better way of putting down what is desirable and w hat is undesirable, what is expected from a counsellor and what the potential client could expect from the counsellor. Therefore, if the counsellor and the ex-client choose to link their lives outside the counsellor's office and after the passage of time, with the assurance that it is a thing of the past and the client would certainly not return for another counselling session; it is quite ethical for the counsellor and the client to pursue a romantic relationship, with sexual activity. After all, this is a condition of mutual interest and consent, wherein even the ex-client has the inclination towards being the love interest of the counsellor. It is certainly not one-sided and surely, if the counsellor would have felt that the relation would have an impact on the clients receiving his counselling, he would definitely have paid attention to it. Therefore it is ethical for them to pursue their relation. Thus, the writer concludes that it is a more subjective and relative aspect, and it largely depends no the counsellor and the ex-client in question. A statutory clause is certainly not a necessity for this aspect of morality, concerning a counsellor's profession. REFERENCES Billington R, 1988, Living Philosophy, London: Routledeg and Kegan Paul Freud S, 1979, An outline of psycho-analysis, London: Hogarth Press Gale D, 1993, Gale Force 10, Counselling, page 83. Jacobs M, 1988, Psychodynamic Counselling in action, London: Stage Jacobs M, 1992, Sigmund Freud, London: Stage Masson J, 1992, Against Therapy, London: Fontana Mearns and Thorne, 1988, Innovative Therapy, Britain, Milton Keynes: Open University Press Symes J, 1993, Ethics letter to the Editor, Counselling, Volume 4, Number 2, May 1993 Read More