Case Vignette and the Ethical Dilemma - Coursework Example

Vignette affiliation Case One The recommendations by the attorney might be based on my professional qualifications, but it could provide an ethical and legal dilemma. As the psychologist, one would consult a close friend or any family member. Supply of counsel to individuals with close relationships should not be taken into extension to therapy sessions of specialized cases like this. The ethical dilemma comes from the potential of transference and counter-transference due to emotional involvement of such personal relationships like that of the close friend. For a professional to provide professional mental health assistance the client’s needs have to be catered for to achieve psychological improvement with an outlined timetable that is predetermined and it ceases when such a goal is achieved. Combining friendship with a professional relationship may have harmful effects due to disparities in expectations and trust in the process of medical care (Knapp et al., 2013). The APA Ethics Code prohibits such professional commitments that can create harmful effects on existing relationships (Bartels, 2009). Ethical issues can be used to discredit my credibility and psychological evaluation of my close friend. Issues raised might range from lack of qualified decorum in dealing with the process considering prior relationships. Evaluations of my close friend may deem to consider as violation of professional trust and abuse of my skills as a mental specialist. In avoiding legal complications, including violating privileged information I would opt not to take the case of my close friend. My expertise may be seen as biased and therefore I should only provide emotional support, information, or suggestions when an emergency arises or when required. The most effective way to deal with the issue would be to refer the case to another competent psychologist that has no contact or emotional relationship with my friend. Case 2 As a psychologists self –disclosure should be controlled to a minimal level as possible. The clients’ inquiry is valid, however, it has the potential to violate personal boundaries that exist between the two of us and may affect the change of attitude of the client. This can transfer the focus of treatment from pertinent issues in therapy to more private discussions like funeral stories that may not add value to the client’s case. Total disclosure on my part can lead to transference where the client is inclined to sympathize or empathize with my loss and may divert the initial goal of the session. Ethical issues come from the fact that self-disclosure will lead to more inquiry of personal discussions that derail the therapy process and I may end up being biased on issue that might compromise my professional skills (Snowman, 2012). This might add to stress for the client that may have underlying issues similar to mine. If the situation is not addressed, it can lead the session to follow a detrimental route from both of us. In considering the welfare of the client, it is not professional to burden a client with such information due to lack of emotional stability by the client. Strict boundary limits in the professional relationship ensure clients attitude in the process. Breach of such boundaries affects trust and self-esteem of the client. To deal with the situation, an apology would be effective for the absence considering the client’s efforts. To avoid further social relationships that may develop due to self-disclosure a slight professional explanation would be important. This would avoid emotional dependencies that arise outside the context of therapy sessions. Case 3 The letter received may lead to conflict of interest especially concerning the clients interests. If therapy sessions are ongoing and there is no information of and emergency, it would not be okay to read the letter. Considering legal implications of such an action, it may be noted that the client has recourse against my action if he has notification of a discussion without prior consent. This conflict of interest can be avoided by using an agreement about discussion with the spouse about the case. Communications with the clients associate or partner are considered under HIPAA were prior to the act a therapist had to have a written authorization. This rule has changes noted after the Act that now allows sharing of clinical information between the therapist and the family doctor for the client improvement. It does not require direct consent and is only limited to clinical information (Snowman, 2012). Ethically opening the letter would be a violation of principles of confidentiality that is guaranteed under client- therapist relationship. As a therapist, I may not be disclosing information to a third party but getting information about the client that is not related to therapy contravenes the principle of confidentiality. Such information may create bias based on an emotional relationship and may affect the objectivity. The client has the right to have his records kept private irrespective of who sends them. I would seek consent from the client to open information from the letter or invite the spouse for a joint session to analyze and discuss issues that may benefit the client in the process of therapy Case 5 A client’s decision to discontinue treatment arises due to loss of hope due to lack of positive elements and lack of possible recovery. Terminal illness can affect both the client and the therapist where they are susceptible to feelings of hopelessness and pain and anger with such a situation. It is important to address the issue of any expression of such feelings on my part as being transferred and with such transference can be a trigger for the client decision to stop treatment. This would help me analyze possible causes of the client’s reasons not to continue with the treatment. If I lack professional supervision of my feelings, it would burden the client and take a toll on him. If the depression is noted it is important to deal with it to help, the clients change his mind. Psychotherapy and other clinical approaches would be a first response to deal with depression. I would also liaise with other health providers to provide a professional assessment of risks involved. These liaisons are governed by HIPAA where it considers made in avoiding providing information that may breach confidentiality with the client in question (Bartels, 2009). I would seek approaches for stress reduction to help the client live positively. This creates a basis for psychological intervention that encourages the client to deal with anxiety, fear, and hopelessness that is concealed. I would allow him to seek other therapeutic and support networks in addition to my therapy sessions. This would allow him to have a different perspective from other professionals or people experiencing the same situation as them. This will help him live positively regardless of his circumstances. Case 8 The client must be aware of legal ramifications of referral by me as her therapist due to confidentiality issues. Information that I provide as a mental health therapist has my expert opinion of her well-being and known problems that can prevent her from being effective at the program. This breaches confidentiality since it would expose information that is attained from the therapy sessions. Consent would be required to release such information since it would reduce her chances of entry into the program. Potential for conflict of interest is based on information based on confidentiality where it would compromise my reputation. I would advise her to consider if my opinion would affect her chances of entry negatively or positively. I would advise her not to let me give her a recommendation and seek her for a career change once she succeeds in therapy. I would point out the requirements for her new career choice and whether she is capable. Assessing her interpersonal skills in facing her daily life, and other factors would be vital would consider how she handles stress and her readiness to provide professional help and advice. Such stresses would trigger relapses and would leave her vulnerable to countertransference to other patients and this would harm future patients. After explaining all these issues to her and she is still willing to continue with the application and the client offers consent to release confidential personal information. In therapy the best action would convince her to seek further psychological evaluation and assessment from a different professional in my field regarding her emotional and mental state. Results from such evaluation from another therapist would favor her case and offer a clear perspective of whether she is ready to enroll in the training program. Case 9 As a therapist, I must acknowledge the influence of a student who seeks to become a specialist in this field. The student must be looking up to me as my role as a teacher and is willing to extend it to a therapist. Ethical repercussions would result due to a dual role in areas like such as the students expecting favors from me due to other associations like therapy sessions. They may require a letter of recommendation in my capacity as a teacher and may conflict with my interest in therapy. Bias may exist from his academic profile that limits objectivity of the therapy process. Therapists with teaching capacities encourage students to seek counseling from other areas provided in the community or at the school. In avoiding a dual role of conflict, it is good to inform the student that I would not offer any evaluations of the academic nature as a lecturer. This means helping him gain entrance in other institutions of learning or training that requires referral as my capacity as a therapist. This would leave many ethical issues. The APA stipulates many role relationships that have to be resolved with best interests of the individual while avoiding ethical consequences. Every situation is handled according to the therapist opinion of potential problems while dealing with emotional or mental effects that diminish the students in the process (Bartels, 2009). Such a relationship can be beneficial to both parties especially where the student may seek professional help due to trust. It is good to take up the offer of the student in case where the relationship deteriorates the student may have lost a valuable assets in their academic process. This can be avoided by providing the student with strict and clear rules on the new relationship in therapy. I would also have the option of referring the student to a qualified therapist who does not have any prior contact with the student. References Top of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bartels, D. M. (2009). The psychology of learning and motivation: Vol. 50. London: Academic. Knapp S. et al., (2013). Assessing and Managing Risk in Psychological Practice: An Individualized Approach. New York: Trust Snowman, J., McCown, R. R., & Biehler, R. F. (2012). Psychology applied to teaching. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Read More