Ethical Problems in Senior high school Counseling
Up against the situation of getting into a dual relationship with a 14-year-old, freshman member of the cheerleading squad who came up to me for guidance her intended for sexual abuse at the hands of her father, Choice that I would step down my position as mentor of the cheerleader squad and continue only in the function of counselor. I come to this decision after cautiously weighing the ethical and legal areas of the situation, together with a consultation which has a counselor friend, to ensure that I had, in fact , taken all problems into consideration and been target in my evaluation of the case. The professional honest principles taken into account, legal aspects and the method of reasoning employed were also documented, as a matter of professional practice and record.
To start with, aware of the fact which i was coping with minor from this particular case, I researched the statutory requirements involved in guidance a minor who was being sexually assaulted by a parent or guardian. The United States law decrees that most counselors and also other professionals need to report circumstances of thought child mistreatment to a governmental agency. The statutes safeguard “reporters via liability given that reports are made in uberrima fides… defamation of character… may not prevail, inch which fortunately straightaway settled any doubt of my own, personal professional standing and hobbies, and that from the school becoming affected in handling the truth. It was also very clear that such a written report would have to end up being filed immediately, both while using government agency as well as the high school graduation authorities (Remley Herlihy).
While there was no double entendre as far as the legal aspects of the case were concerned, I actually still was required to consider that counselors must “exercise their particular professional judgement before and after producing such information. They should include several desired goals in mind, such as (a) maintaining, to the extent possible, virtually any counseling relationship… (b) thinking about the welfare of the alleged patient before and after the report (Remley Fry, 1993); – helping the functions deal with the method that follows information; and (d) fulfilling their very own statutory legal obligations” (Remley Herlihy).
My personal first account, however , was to assess the counselee’s motives in seeking professional help, in the first place. That wasn’t an excessive amount of a jump of common sense to imagine the child experienced developed a degree of trust and self-confidence in me, through each of our interaction for the cheerleading group. There was also the consideration that “one of the standard tenets where the counseling relationship sits is that customers have the right to expect confidentiality… Counselors can also be committed to marketing the autonomy and liberty of choice of their clients, Every single child, no matter what age, has an ethical right to privacy… ” (Remley Herlihy).
The first moral principle, facing me was, therefore , the fact that obeying the law and immediately processing a report for the school and governmental regulators, may be construed by the child as a betrayal of trust, whereas not reporting it will endanger the child’s security and upcoming welfare. If the counselee found my actions as a unfaithfulness of trust, then the future success of any guidance relationship would be endangered.
Associated with this decision was also a second legal aspect as in the fact that, though at present, minors have an overabundance governmental protection, the law even now usually needs that children assert any legal rights through their parents or guardians. Parental agreement is also usually required in the case of counseling those under 18, not to mention the ‘parental right’ to receive all related details regarding the welfare of the kid.
Though kid abuse can be treated while an exception, the problem remained the fact that non-offending parent or guardian may have legal and ethical directly to be informed about the child searching for professional help. Nancy Perry, Business Director ACA observes “… To say which a student definitely can’t visit a counselor with out permission… severely abridge their right to free speech… endanger their capacity to report abuse and neglect…. ” In the same content, Perry likewise emphasizes that parental consent is not necessary in the event of maltreatment and that we have a general contract that high school students are generally adult enough to decide for themselves in the event that they need help. Interestingly, Tag Salo, a college counselor for Sacajawea Central School, in Bosner, Mont and past chair from the ACA Integrity Committee as well says, “the ACA Legal Issues Report shows that there may be some consideration provided by the the courtroom for what is named ‘mature minor’ status, the moment consent is usually an issue (Counseling Today On the web, 1997).
To get to a decision whether or not I should go on and file the mandatory reports, since mandated by law, I likewise considered the fact that the child might have approached me hoping i would intervene with her father and mother and seek out a resolution that would keep the subject private plus the family framework intact. The aforesaid thinking was based on my existing relationship together with the counselee, since the coach of the cheerleading team, where I had discovered that the counselee was more reserved than her colleagues. To that level, I felt she may have a “heightened wish for privacy… linked to the misunderstandings regarding home and others… ” (Remley Herlihy).
It was with this juncture that we first noticed the risks of my ongoing a dual relationship. Already, I was taking into consideration my observations in my other capacity into the counseling relationship, thereby jogging the risk of staying less than objective. Immediately, yet , I decided the fact that first step was going to discuss the problems involved with your child as in the legal requirements, the outcomes of filing such a study to both equally her and her along with the problems natural in my behaving as her counselor although continuing to work as her cheerleading trainer, which might involve both her and my reaching her father and mother on a sociable level.
Thankfully, here, the ethical suggestions were quite clear: “Enzer (1984) has observed that child psychiatrists are required… inform children or seek their contract to activities that have an effect on them even though this is not necessary by law” (Remley Herlihy). I chose to get this done despite knowing that the school regulators may prefer to follow ‘the letter as opposed to the spirit from the law, ‘ because ethically I believed that any kind of decision must be based together with the child’s well being as the primary consideration.
To that extent, it absolutely was important to 1st determine the extent of the problem, the supportive part, if any kind of, that different members of the family could play and only after gathering and inspecting the information should any other step, including subsequent legal requirements be studied.
I, further more, resolved to decide on continuing a dual romance only content determining the extent to which the situation could lead to legal investigation and action. At this point, I was clear only on one point and this was, if perhaps legal intervention were to come about, it would be difficult to maintain professional integrity and continue to have interaction in any other relationship. The reasoning right here was clear and straightforward in terms of the unavoidable tension that would arise simply by my the need to co-ordinate the truth with the examining agency, make possible court docket appearances etc ., all of which will make any kind of regular social connection next to impossible.
Such a situation might also you can put counselee below increased pressure by positioning her in a tense social situation, wherever she would likely to feel the take of discord between her family, counselor and that also, amongst her peer group.
Here, I fully treasured the thinking behind the ASCA code A. 1 . a that states “Has a primary requirement to the counselee who is being treated with respect like a unique person. ” Implied in this code, which considerably is placed proper upfront, would be that the welfare from the client must be placed just before all other factors, be it legal, social or perhaps self.
Other ethical requirements that I regarded as while evaluating the case had been A. 1 . d, which talks about staying conversant with all the law inches… relating to counselees and aims to ensure that the rights of counselees will be adequately presented to and protected, ” which I interpreted as certainly not blindly spending a ton text book principles. And A. installment payments on your a, which usually so appropriately, advises “Informs the counselee of the reasons, goals… guidelines… under which usually he/she might receive counselling at or perhaps before the time the counselling relationship is definitely entered… meaning and restrictions of confidentiality are clearly defined…. ” The very last code, to my mind, was particularly essential in this case, as it was my responsibility to help make the child understand the familial and social demands that would likely be triggered by legal action. Of course , We closely examined code A. 4 that advises against dual relationships that might impair objectivity and increase the risk of problems for the client (ASCA Web site).
I considered as the option of not really reporting the truth, fully aware of the fact that such an action will not conform to both the law, the ASCA, university policy or my own professional and personal pursuits. What helped me consider this choice at all was asking
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