Counseling Position Analysis - Essay Example

 Counseling Table of Contents Ethical Position…………………………………………………………….3 Power……………………………………………………………………….4 Boundaries…………………………………………………………………6 Legal Position……………………………………………………………...7 Sources…………………………………………………………………….10 Ethical Position My position as a counselor in relation to my client is akin to the captain of a ship in which the safety and interest of the passenger is totally dependent on the captain. Until her/his destination arrives, the passenger unequivocally and implicitly trusts the captain regardless of the possibility of a storm or any other adversity. In fact, the confidence reposed in the captain by the passenger far outweighs the fear of any mishap in the course of the journey. A client approaches me as her/his counselor when s/he believes that the situation or purpose will be better handled with my help in view of the magnitude of the problem my status and expertise which makes me the ideal choice to effectively deal with the peculiarity and complexities of the situation. My qualification, experience, social status and track record inspire enough confidence and trust for the client to engage my services at a fee. The information provided to me by my client are confidential and they cannot be passed on to anyone else except in the rare case when certain information may have to be divulged to meet the ends of justice. (Lapsley, Daniel K, p45) As professional counselor, I have the qualification, resources and the experience to provide the best advice possible, approach and course of action required at every stage and point of time to the client. By and large, the inherent opportunities and challenges for solutions present in any task or problem a client may be facing are not altogether strange to me. The problem a client is facing is unique to her/him. It has no parallel. Even if there has been a similar case, there are bound to be qualitative variances and for this very purpose, the problems have their variances at each stage that need to be morally and legally dealt with appropriately as they unfold. As counselor, I have the insight and capability to morally and legally guide the client (Lapsley, Daniel K). The position held by a counselor is one of responsibility and integrity of the highest order. It enjoins upon me the onus of the client’s complete welfare and interests. In their counselor-client relationship, the counselor has to strictly adhere to the code of ethics professionally, morally and legally enshrined in the statutory law books and practiced in the best tradition of the land. In Australia, counselors draw on the code of ethics specifying the ethical principles and responsibilities as established by Psychotherapy and Counseling Federation of Australia (PACFA). (Ethical Guidelines) Power The power wielded by the counselor over the client can be equated to the one parents have over their children or a teacher exercises over her students. Apart from the power and authority that comes with the designation of a counselor, there is the bonding that takes place between the counselor and the client. The bonding per se puts me in a position of authority and command and my client accepts my position by looking up to me for guidance and support. On my part, I am bound by the code of ethics to not misuse my power for pecuniary or emotional gains. The negative after effects of competition and fast paced advancement of technologies is leading to more and more mental exhaustion and break downs and individuals invariably turn to counselors (Commons, Michael Lamport, & Richards, Francis Asbury). The code of ethics is clear about the principles and responsibilities governing counselor’s relationship and role with regard to the client. As counselor, my job involves making myself available to the client, provide moral and legal support, analyze and understand the basic problem, evaluate alternative solutions, provide therapeutic care, and go the extra mile whenever the occasion requires. Also, as a professional counselor I have an array of referrals to consult on issues beyond my domain of expertise. Basically, my function as counselor is to provide professional assistance and succor to the client in areas s/he is undergoing testing times including traumatic moments. The situation has potential for the client to be precariously placed for an unscrupulous element posing as a counselor to wreck maximum damage emotionally and materially (Lind, Georg). However, as a professional counselor it is my duty to carry out my obligations with the resources and powers available to me in the best interest of my client. In my entire career as a counselor one of the factors which keep me highly motivated is the power of imagination and unflagging zeal fired by successful outcome to treatment of some of the most difficult cases. All said and done, I am of the firm opinion that there is a greater power skillfully steering the course of the client to normalcy. Counseling and medical treatment provide momentary relief. In the ultimate analysis, it is the power and grace of the Almighty who heals minds, hearts, and the physical bodies. Boundaries Counselor-client relationship is a combination of personal and professional bond and at once draws similarities with familial as well as formal business ties. This unique combination essentially draws the best of the informal and formal features of relationships and is not inure to the failures and foibles of any relationship. The counselor’s job is routinely circumspective and advisory. However, there may be times when there are cases of serious nature and the counselor must be prepared to navigate through the rough and tumble of drag-out, knock-down situation on behalf of her/his client without taking law into his own hands. Such mettle calls for integrity and resilience of a very high order. A counselor who is unaware of his client’s strengths and weaknesses, true nature and track record, does not only jeopardize his client’s interests and successful outcome, but also puts at stake his own credibility and prospects. (Byrne, Jim) Honesty and integrity play such important role in the life of a counselor that without these characteristics it is well nigh impossible to consider any prospect for career growth. A counselor who does not top score on personal traits such as discretion and self-respect is resolutely pursuing an agenda of doomsday. A counselor may not be very religious. However, s/he has to give the Ten Commandments her/his personal and unflinching endorsement. The standards set forth by the founding fathers of centuries old institutions are mainly responsible for their existence today. It is not business performance alone (Wolcott, Susan K). Hence, it is necessary to frame policies and procedures that will serve as guiding principles in the course of my career as counselor (Willingham, Wendy). Personally, I do not believe I can step over the line and gloss it over as something like the end justifying the means. This line of argument is subject to much misinterpretation and exploitation. Even if I have come to the limits, I am willing to wait to reach the target legitimately with proper guidance rather than spoil my unblemished record using dubious means. Besides, the code of ethics imposes penalties whose severity depends on the magnitude of the violation. There is a sharp contrast between boundaries violation and crossing boundaries. It is boundaries violation if I opt to ignore conventional protocols and apply my own modus operandi to promote business. However, it is crossing the limits if I have obtained the routine pass or permit in order to cross over for the purpose of development. Legal Position Legally, a counselor carries on her/his work on the basis of the ethical principles and responsibilities transcending human rights and dignity, protection of clients’ rights including rights to informed consent, protection of clients from any harm in the process of counseling and provision of restitution in case of any harm, encourage clients to make their own decisions, setting and maintaining professional boundaries in relation to their clients and avoiding any other relationship that may be detrimental to the counseling purpose, and diligent inclination to adhere to the law of the land (Felder, Richard M). As an accredited counselor, I am conversant with the duties and responsibilities of my profession. My existing and prospective clients avail of my services on the basis of their confidence, trust and dependability in me (Dawson-Tunik, Theo L. et al). I am member of several reputed associations, organizations and institutions some of which are exclusively intended for counselors and these help individual counselors to stay tuned to the latest developments on important issues such as code of ethics, conflict of interests, follow through of landmark civil and criminal cases, etc. These are critically important for counselors to keep abreast of the latest developments on issues of legal and ethical significance. They stretch the counselors’ knowledge and skills and help them achieve peak performance by intelligent and efficient use of information and discretion (Lawrence, Chris L). Confidentiality plays a pivotal role in the counselor’s career. Confidentiality is an integral component in the counselor-client relationship and in the process of counseling. It is on the strength of confidentiality and integrity that the counselor builds her/his reputation and career. The counselor must scrupulously refrain from exploiting her/his client financially and emotionally including seeking sexual favors (Ethical Guidelines). Nonetheless, in spite of exercising maximum caution it is not advisable to take it for granted that there may not be any liabilities arising out of an unfortunate and unforeseen incident in times to come. Thus, it is imperative that I take all necessary steps to keep myself indemnified against such incidents. Counseling is an important discipline and its role in society must be accorded the altruistic position it deserves. (Bell, Steven) Sources: Bell, Steven, Long Term Effects of Responsive Parenting, http://www.berry.edu/academics/education/psychology/Faculty/bios/drbell_resparen.pdf Byrne, Jim, The Teaching and Learning of Research Ethics, Doctoral Research Notes, Wednesday, 22 November 2006, http://teaching-and-learning.blogspot.com/ Commons, Michael Lamport, & Richards, Francis Asbury, Harvard Medical School Department of Education, Rhode Island, Four Postformal Stages, www.tiac.net/~commons/Four Postformal Stages.html Dawson-Tunik, Theo L. et al, The Shape of development, European Journal of Developmental Psychology, Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group, http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~ddl/articlesCopy/Shape.pdf Ethical Guidelines, August 2001, http://www.pacfa.org.au/files/EthicalGuidelines.pdf Felder, Richard M, North Carolina State University, & Brent, Rebecca, Education Designs, Inc., The Intellectual Development of Science and Engineering Students, Part 1. Models and Challenges, http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/IntDev-I.pdf Lapsley, Daniel K., Ball State University, Moral Stage Theory, Chapter 2, 30 March 2005, nd.edu/~dlapsle1/Selected Journal Articles/Moral State Theory pdf.pdf Lawrence, Chris L., Thinking Contextually: Windows into Adolescents Reasoning About Science Based Issues, Last Revised July 2008, http://eosceres.com/thinkingcontextually.html Lind, Georg, University of Constance, Germany, Educational Environments Which Promote Self-Sustaining Moral Development, First Publication 1996, Revisions May 1997, September 1999, September 2000, http://www.uni-konstanz.de/ag-moral/artikel-lind/Lind-1996_SELFSUST.HTM Willingham, Wendy, The Effects of Teaching Future Teachers How To Teach Ethics, Susan Pass School of Education, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA, MountainRise, Wolcott, Susan K., Denver, Colorado, A Brief Discussion of Moral Reasoning as Open-Ended Problem Solving, 20 August 2000, http://www.wolcottlynch.com/Downloadable_Files/Moral Reasoning_000820.pdf Read More