(Chapter 3) Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling PDF

Preview

Summary

Download (Chapter 3) Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling PDF

Description

Chapter 3: Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling Ethical Issues: they pertain to the standards can be found in the standards that govern the conduct of professional members. Each professional organization has their own code of ethics. Legal Issues: define the minimum standards society will tolerate, which are enforced by the rule of law at the local, state, or federal level. Clinical Issues: involve using your professional judgement to act in accordance with ethical and legal mandates. Cultural Issues: are factors such as a person’s ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religious affirmation, values, or other differences that affect the way we understand and intervene in the clients’ problem. Ethical Issues in Group Membership Informed Consent  What concerns did you have as a member of the group?  What questions did you have about confidentiality?  What did you want to know in order to feel safe in making a personal disclosure to the group members and leaders? Informed Consent- is the process of presenting basic information about a group to potential group participants to assist them in deciding whether to enter the group and how to participate in it. Involuntary Membership You have been told that you are required to participate in group.  What are your immediate reactions?  What information are you expected to receive? Ideally participation in a group is voluntary, but in this case especially when participation is mandatory, much effort is to be directed toward clearly and fully informing members of the nature and goals of the group, procedures that will be used, the right of members to decline certain activities, the limitations of confidentiality, and way’s active participation in the group may affect their life outside the group. Freedom to Withdraw from a Group Preparation and screening can reduce the risk of member leaving a group pre maturely, Leaders must be clear about their polices pertaining to attendance, commitment to remaining in a group for a predetermined number of sessions, and leaving a particular session if members do not like what is going on in the group.

It’s a good policy for the leader to discuss the possible risks involved in leaving the group prematurely. Ideally, it’s up to the leader and attendee to determine whether the session is productive or counterproductive. Psychological Risk for Members In the American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical standards specify that: “in a group setting, counselors take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical, emotional, and psychological trauma.” This includes discussing the impact of potential life changes and helping group members explore their readiness to deal with some changes. A different risk involved in group work is the misuse of purpose of a group. 1. Misuse of Power: group leaders need to be aware of both the overt and subtle ways in which they utilize their power. 2. Self- Disclosure: is an essential aspect of groupwork, but it is at means to the end of fuller self-understanding should not be promoted in its own right. 3. Maintaining Confidentiality is a potential risk in every group/ some the disclosures made during a session may not remain in the group. Group leaders need to continually emphasize the importance of confidentiality 4. Scapegoating: Occasionally an individual member may be singled out as the scapegoat of the group. Other group members me “gang up” on this person, making the member the focus of the hostile and negative confrontation. 5. Confrontation: a valuable and powerful too in any group, can be misused, especially when it is done in a destructive manner. Confidentiality One of the keystone conditions for effective group work is confidentiality.it is especially important because leading a group you must not only keep the confidence of member but also get the members to keep one another’s confidences. Group counselors should address the parameters of online behaviour through informed consent and are advised to establish ground rules whereby members agree not to post pictures, comments, or any type of confidential information about other members online. Multicultural Dimensions of Confidentiality  some cultures consider therapy to be shameful and only for mentally ill people. To minimize anu risks of breaking confidentiality, avoid leaving phone messaged or sending email to member’s home addresses if the live with family members. ...