Wk 3 disc(6100) - Essay Example

The case is about Lisette, a counselor who works in an agency that provides mental health and rehabilitation services. Lisette has a client who confides to her that she is having an intimate relationship with one of the counselor named Shaun. The counselee, Patricia, has expressed her intention to Shaun that she is terminating the counselor-counselee relationship since everything has become subjective. Unfortunately, Shaun reacted negatively and threatened Patricia to stop assisting her in finding gainful employment.

Although Patricia admits that the relationship was consensual, she is disturbed by the possibility that Shaun would even tell her abusive live-in boyfriend about their affair. Because of this circumstances and impending threat, Patricia is experiencing anxiety and very nervous when she consulted Lisette. Moreover, she has already lost 15 pounds. In counseling, the one of the counselor’s role is to help the clients create their own road maps that would help them resolve their problem on their own.

It is also a practice that counselor’s must not let their clients depend on them emotionally so they can become independent and realize that they make their own choices. In this case, this has not been observed since Shaun allowed himself to have an intimate affair with the counselee. In section 2.5 of the 2005 ACA Code of Ethics, counselors are prohibited from engaging in sexual or intimate affairs with their clients. Doing so means abuse of power since the counselor takes advantage of the vulnerability of the client.

Koocher and Keith-Spiegel (1998) asserted that confidentiality is considered as “a cornerstone of the helping relationship”. Moreover, the element of trust has been betrayed which is the keystone in counseling. Shaun has gone beyond his limits and showed subjectivity by even threatening Patricia to stop assisting her.Fisher ( 2008 ) argued that the counselor must be very aware that the “primary obligation” is again the protection of information , not just the protection of rights (Ethical Standard 4.

01, Maintaining Confidentiality). Therefore, Shaun cannot disclose any information to anyone especially to Patricia’s live-in boyfriend. If he does, then he is liable for violating the Code of ACA. Lisette then must act immediately to protect the counselee from harm by requesting a transfer of the counselee to another counselor ( in this case, Lisette). Indeed, the situation has become complicated since Lisette has to deal with Shaun and at the same time, earning Patricia’s trust. Nevertheless, if Lisette follows what she has learned, she would be able to help the counselee in the end.

After Lisette has identified the problem, she must immediately apply the Code of Ethics which would help serve as a useful guide in the conduct of her counseling session with Patricia. She can research on various literature that would inform her in making a course of action ; also, she can consult various professionals that she deem helpful in resolving the dilemma. Later on, she can choose from different course of action and weigh carefully the consequences of such decisions. Lisette must be sure that she is fair, just and that her plan is morally sound.

It is only after coming through these painstaking process, judgment and evaluation can she implement a course of action . WORKS CITED "American Counseling Association (2005). Section 2.5.ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author."Fisher, M.A. (2008). Protecting confidentiality rights : The need for an Ethical Practice Model. American Psychologist 63 (1), 1-13.Koocher, G. P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (1998). Ethics in psychology: Professional standards and cases (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.