Christian Counseling Ethics By Randolph Sanders - Essay Example

In one of the most significant books on the ethics of Christian counseling, Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Therapists, Pastors and Counselors, Randolph K. Sanders deals with various aspects of ethics in relation to Christian counseling ethics. The editor incorporates articles by eminent scholars in the field of Christian Counseling Ethics which make the various chapters of this important book. The book is greatly significant in Christian ministry as the topic of discussion in the work is central to the ministry of a Chaplain. The book is generally divided into four parts, The Christian Practitioner, Issues in Counseling Ethics, Counseling Contexts, and Current Trends in Ethics Education, and each of the section deals with some of the fundamental aspects of Christian Counseling Ethics. There are altogether nineteen chapters and an appendix and the topics are handled by the experts in the field of ethics in relation to Christian counseling. In the first chapter, ‘Embracing Our Ethical Mandate’ the editor Randolph K. Sanders deals with the ethical issues in Mental Health, responses to the Codes of Ethics, Christian mental health care at present, cultural and religious trends, the Christian mental health professional, ethics and Scripture, and ethics and God’s Call. All these topics reveal most fundamental facts about Christian ministry with regard to counseling. According to Randolph K. Sanders, “despite all that is good about the mental health movement in general and Christian counseling in particular, and despite the development of good ethical codes of conduct, there is a downside. In general, the number of ethical and legal complaints against psychotherapists appears to be increasing… It is not fully known whether Christian therapists as a whole are more ethical than their secular counterparts. However … Christian therapists are certainly not immune to ethical misconduct.” (Sanders, 1997, p 16). Therefore, the book by Sanders deals with some essential aspects of Christian counseling ethics and its topics of discussion are most relevant to a practitioner in Christian ministry. The second chapter of the book, Psychotherapy & Christian Ethics by Alan C. Tjeltveit, is dedicated to topics such as ‘Ethics’ versus ‘Christian Ethics’, professional ethics, ethics in context and as content, ethical theory, and social ethics, public policy and consensus. According to Alan C. Tjeltveit, psychotherapy is an extremely and pervasively ethical endeavor and the Christian ethics dynamically supports as well as sharply challenges the ethical positions represented in various forms of therapy. He also maintains that Christian ethics have much to learn from psychotherapists and it is essential for the Christian clients and therapists to engage in substantive reflection on the ethical dimensions of therapy. In the first section of the book, The Christian Practitioner, chapters included are ‘Essential Elements for Ethical Counsel’ by Horace C. Lukens Jr., ‘Qualifications of the Christian Mental Health Professional’ by Richard E. Butman, ‘Pastors Who Counsel’ by Bill Blackburn, ‘Sexual Misconduct & the Abuse of Power’ by John F. Shackelford and Randolph K. Sanders, and ‘Christian Responses to the Unethical Healer’ by Ioma L. Hawkins and Colleen K. Benson. In his article, Horace C. Lukens Jr. deals with various significant elements of ethical counseling including confidentiality, informed consent to treatment, documentation, ending treatment, and dual relationships. Richard E. Butman, in his article, makes a reflective analysis of the various essential qualifications of the Christian mental health professional and he defines competence of the Christian counselors. More significantly, he offers ten guidelines for improving the competence of Christian clinicians. In the chapter ‘Pastors Who Counsel’, Bill Blackburn deals with topics such as pastoral counseling in context, the Pastor as Shepherd, integrity of the Pastor, the ethics of referral, and boundary issues, etc and provides general guidelines for pastoral counseling. The sixth chapter of the book, ‘Sexual Misconduct & the Abuse of Power’ by John F. Shackelford and Randolph K. Sanders, offers illustrations of the incidence of sexual misconduct, ethical standards, sexual misconduct and the abuse of power, other types of abuse of power, the abuse by therapists, rehabilitation of abusing therapists, and its prevention. ‘Christian Responses to the Unethical Healer’ by Ioma L. Hawkins and Colleen K. Benson provides a survey of Christian counselors and ethical behavior and its results which are most relevant. The first chapter of part two, Issues in Counseling Ethics, is ‘Ethics in Marital Therapy & Premarital Counseling’ by Steven J. Sandage and Everett L. Worthington Jr. which deals with ethical principles, Christian ethics, professional ethics, integrative ethics, ethical theories, ethical themes, and issues arising in professional practice, theological views, and from research and practice. Mark A. Yarhouse and Stanton L. Jones, in their ‘The Homosexual Client’, provide six important principles of practice including competence, integrity, professional and scientific responsibility, respect for people’s rights and dignity, concern for others’ welfare, and social responsibility. In ‘The Child Client’ Jeffrey S. Berryhill and Angela M. Sabates, provides enlightening ideas about the protection of children, child abuse, and the rights of children etc. The eleventh chapter, ‘Clients with Chronic Conditions’ by James H. Jennison, offers vital facts about professional codes of ethics, chronic clinical conditions, sources of bias, ethical issues and the chronic patient, and a Christian perspective on the chronic patient. ‘Deprogramming’ by H. Newton Malony also offers key information about the agencies of abuse and the alternatives to deal with the problems. The third part of the book, Counseling Contexts, incorporates Randolph K. Sanders’s ‘Business Ethics in Mental Health Service’ which gives revealing ideas of the business of mental health, truth in advertising, payment for services, and interactions inside and outside the workplace. ‘Lay Counselor Training’ by Siang-Yang Tan is concerned with the ethical and legal issues, confidentiality, competency, choice, and possible hazards faced by the lay counselor. In ‘Ethical Issues in Special Settings: An Interview with Stephen H. Allison & Richard L. Price’ some vital aspects of ethics in counseling are revealed. Similarly, ‘Forensic Psychology’ by James M. Alsdurf deals with forensic psychology in relation to Christian counseling. The final section Current Trends in Ethics Education, incorporates ‘Training Programs’ by Mark R. McMinn and Katheryn Rhoads Meek, ‘A Model for Ethical Decision-Making’ by Sanders, and ‘Christian Codes: Are They Better?’ by James R. Beck. These chapters provide an enlightening insight into the contemporary trends in the education of ethics, especially in relation to Christian counseling. In conclusion, the various chapters in the book Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Therapists, Pastors and Counselors by Randolph K. Sanders provide a significant insight with regard to the ethics of Christian counseling. Bibliography Sanders, Randolph K. 1997. Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Therapists, Pastors and Counselors. InterVarsity Press. p 16. Read More