Ethical Issues in Group Counseling by Tiffany Bates, M.A., LPC, LMFT, NCC, NCSC - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Ethical Issues in Group Counseling by Tiffany Bates, M.A., LPC, LMFT, NCC, NCSC

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Title: Ethical Issues in Group Counseling by Tiffany Bates, M.A., LPC, LMFT, NCC, NCSC


1
Ethical Issues in Group Counselingby Tiffany
Bates, M.A., LPC, LMFT, NCC, NCSC
2
Group Counseling
  • In general, group counseling offers multiple
    relationships to assist an individual in growth
    and problem solving. In group therapy sessions,
    members are encouraged to discuss the issues that
    brought them into therapy openly and honestly.
    The counselor works to create an atmosphere of
    trust and acceptance that encourages members to
    support one another.

3
Objectives
  • Give overview of ACA Code of Ethics for group
    counseling
  • Discuss the ethical implications of group
    counseling
  • Discuss the rights of group members
  • Discuss the psychological risks of groups
  • Discuss the group leaders values
  • Discuss specific case studies

4
ACA Code of Ethics, 2005
  • A.8. Group Work
  • A.8.a. Screening
  • Counselors screen prospective group
    counseling/therapy participants. To the extent
    possible, counselors select members whose needs
    and goals are compatible with goals of the group,
    who will not impede the group process, and whose
    well-being will not be jeopardized by the group
    experience.

5
ACA Code of Ethics, 2005 (cont.)
  • A.8.b. Protecting Clients
  • In a group setting, counselors take reasonable
    precautions to protect clients from physical,
    emotional, or psychological trauma.

6
ACA Code of Ethics, 2005 (cont.)
  • B.4. Groups and Families
  • B.4.a. Group Work
  • In group work, counselors clearly explain the
    importance and parameters of confidentiality for
    the specific group being entered.

7
ACA Code of Ethics, 2005 (cont.)
  • B.4.b. Couples and Family Counseling
  • In couples and family counseling, counselors
    clearly define who is considered the client and
    discuss expectations and limitations of
    confidentiality. Counselors seek agreement among
    all involved parties having capacity to give
    consent concerning each individuals right to
    confidentiality and any obligation to preserve
    the confidentiality of information known.
  • For more information, refer to www.counseling.org,
    click on Resources, then Ethics.

8
Ethical Implications
  • Which code to follow?
  • School counselors could possibly have a number
    of ethics documents with which they have agreed
    to comply. For example, a school counselor who is
    a member of the American School Counselor
    Association (ASCA) and the American Counseling
    Association (ACA), who is certified by the
    National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC),
    and who is licensed by his or her state
    counseling licensure board has agreed to abide by
    four separate sets of ethical standards.
  • There are some variations in the different
    counseling ethical standards documents.
  • Remley, T. Huey, H. (2003). Ethical decision
    making and legal issues. In T.P. Remley, Jr.,
    M.A. Hermann, W. C. Huey (Eds.), Ethical
    legal issues in school counseling (2nd ed., pp.
    5-20). Alexandria, VA American School Counselor
    Association.

9
Informed Consent
  • To encourage open and active participation from
    group members, it is the counselors
    responsibility to explain the clients rights.
  • Before
  • 8Purpose
  • 8Format, procedures and ground rules
  • 8Group appropriate for clients needs
  • 8Limits of confidentiality
  • 8The group process may or may not be
    congruent with the cultural beliefs and
    values of the group member

10
Informed Consent (cont.)
  • During
  • 8Right to leave the group if it isnt
    what they expected or wanted
  • 8Any research involved
  • 8If the sessions are taped
  • 8Processing information
  • 8Freedom from group pressure
  • 8Expectations

11
Involuntary group members
  • Ethically, the counselor should inform clients of
    their rights and responsibilities and inform them
    of any possible consequences they may face if
    they elect not to follow treatment.

12
Reaction
  • Remain alert to ways in which your personal
    reactions might inhibit the group process, and
    monitor your countertransference. Avoid using the
    group as a place where you work through your
    personal problems.

13
Case Example 1
  • A high school counselor secures permission from
    his principal to conduct group counseling
    sessions one night a week in an Internet chat
    room for students whose parents are going through
    a divorce. The principal asks the counselor to
    provide her with professional guidelines for
    counseling in this manner and to demonstrate how
    the procedures the counselor has developed comply
    with the professional standards. The counselor
    replies that since Internet counseling is so new,
    standards have not yet been adopted, but he
    assures the principal he will conduct the group
    sessions in a professional manner.

14
Response to Case Example 1
  • The ASCA standards require specifically that
    school counselors who communicate with clients on
    the Internet should follow the requirements in
    The Practice of Internet Counseling (National
    Board for Certified Counselors, 2001). The ACA
    code offers only general guidelines for the use
    of computers in counseling. However, ACA has also
    developed a separate document (that must be used
    in conjunction with the ACA ethics code) for
    Internet Counseling, Ethical Standards for
    Internet On-line Counseling (American Counseling
    Association, 1999)

15
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16
Case Example 2
  • You are counseling a group of men that are
    addressing their sexuality. Some men in the group
    are openly gay and others are struggling with
    their identity. Rob, from the video you just
    watched, is one of the group members. He brings
    up reparative therapy as a solution. A heated
    discussion ensues. You personally believe that no
    one is born gay. What ethical implications can
    occur?

17
References
  • Corey, G., William, G.T., Moline, M.E. (1995).
    Ethical and legal issues in group counseling.
    Ethics Behavior, 5(2), 161-183.
  • Corey, G. (2000). Theory and practice of group
    counseling (5th ed.). Belmont, CA Wadsworth.
  • Cottone, R. Tarvydas, V. (2003). Ethical and
    professional issues in counseling (2nd ed.).
    Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall, pp.
    332-342.

18
References (cont.)
  • Kocet, M., (2006). Ethical challenges in a
    complex world Highlights of the 2005 ACA code
    of ethics, Journal of Counseling Development,
    84(2), 228-253.
  • Remley, T.P., Jr., Hermann, M.A., Huey, W. C.
    (Eds.). (2003). Ethical legal issues in school
    counseling (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA American
    School Counselor Association.
  • Stein, R. (1990). Ethical issues in counseling.
    Buffalo, NY Prometheus Books.

19
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