The Counselor as a Person and a Professional - Research Paper Example

As the report outlines personal judgment and self-monitoring plays a vital role for counselors and therapists while evaluating interpersonal relationships with the client. There are many instances that can give rise to conflict of interest among these two parties. According to Behnke, counselors should refrain from participating in any activity that gives rise to a probability of personal problems that may create difficulties in performing professional tasks in a competent manner. When counselors come across such situation which may interfere in their professional activities, it is important that they consider seeking further professional consultation or even limiting/ terminating their professional activities in the given case.

 This research study stresses that there are several important ethical standards that govern personal and professional lives of the counselor. Second standard of APA’s ethical code of conduct provides guidelines regarding management of such personal problems and conflicts of interest. Similarly, third and ninth standards provides outlines for maintaining human relations by avoiding from unfair discrimination, sexual and other harassment, multiple relationships, conflict of interest, exploitive relationships, absence of informed consent, exploitive barter and exchange of gifts, sexual intimacy during and after therapy and therapy with previous sexual partners.

maintaining human relations by avoiding from unfair discrimination, sexual and other harassment, multiple relationships, conflict of interest, exploitive relationships, absence of informed consent, exploitive barter and exchange of gifts, sexual intimacy during and after therapy and therapy with previous sexual partners (APA, 2010; Kwan, 2003). Even guidelines provided by American Counseling Association concur with APA’s ethical guidelines. According to ACA (2005), all nonprofessional interactions including sexual/ romantic and non-sexual ones should be avoided.

Instances where such non-professional relationship benefits either of these parties, it should be duly documented with the authorities (Glosoff, Herlihy, & Spence, 2000). Same goes for private fee and gifts (however in some cultures, exchange of small gifts is a token of respect therefore monetary value of the gift and nature of therapy should be considered) (Kwan, 2003). It is also important to note that counselors should avoid having personal relationships with client’s family members and close friends/ partners as well especially in the case of forensic evaluation (ACA, 2005; Borys & Pope, 1989).

Transference & Counter-transference According to definition provided by SAMHSA, “Transference generally refers to feelings and issues from the past that clients transfer or project onto the counselor in the current relationship (“Chapter-4”, n.p).” Past experiences have an impact on clients and they are likely to respond in the old pattern while dealing with therapist. Clients in such state are vulnerable and counselors must ensure that they derive no benefits out of their client’s state.

Another element of this phenomenon is counter-transference which is “the range of reactions and responses that