Reference no: EM133845339

Assignment:

Scenario One: Barbara, a licensed therapist specializing in trauma and domestic violence, leads a weekly process group for women who are survivors of domestic violence. The group provides a safe space for members to share their experiences, receive support, and learn coping skills to heal from their trauma.

During a group meeting, Sarah revealed to the other members that she had just started working as a restaurant manager at a nearby eatery. Megan, Lisa's sister, who also works at the restaurant, acknowledged knowing Sarah but couldn't disclose how. When Megan ran into Sarah at work, she subtly let on that her sister, Lisa, had mentioned that she knew Sarah. This caused Sarah to become visibly upset and later confront Lisa at the subsequent group gathering. Barbara promptly stepped in to calm the situation.

• What are the legal and ethical issues in this scenario and the ACA Code of Ethics that were violated?
• What are the potential repercussions of ethical violation within a therapeutic setting, both for the individuals involved and for the group dynamics?
• What are the steps Barbara should take to address the violation with Lisa and Sarah individually and how to rebuild trust and safety within the group?
• What is the importance of Barbara's role in setting clear expectations around confidentiality at the start of the group and how this could have prevented the situation?

Scenario Two: David, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), works at a family counseling center. One of his clients, Steve, originally sought counseling for depression but is now interested in starting couples therapy with his wife. Steve recently lost his job leading to a lack of motivation in his job search. This lack of motivation has begun to impact on his relationship with his wife and child, causing more arguments and conflicts between Steve and his wife, Aliyah.

Steve and Aliyah, a biracial couple, have different views on gender roles within their marriage. Aliyah is focused on advancing her career and has proposed that Steve become a stay-at-home dad or work-from-home. These suggestions clash with David's beliefs about traditional marital roles.

Kayla, the 10-year-old daughter of Steve and Aliyah, has been having meetings with Harper, the school counselor, to talk about her anxiety. During these sessions, Kayla has expressed concerns about the tension she feels at home between her parents. Her thoughts are often focused on the possibility of her parents getting divorced. Consent and assent have been provided to permit David and Harper to consult regarding Kayla.

• What legal and ethical matters should David and Harper consider in this scenario?
• How can David ensure that his values don't impact the counseling process?
• What special issues of confidentiality may arise in the case?
• How might differences in personal values and gender/cultural issues create ethical dilemmas in this case?

Scenario Three: Stephanie, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), is embarking on a new journey as she transitions from working as a middle school counselor to establishing her private practice. As she navigates this change, Stephanie faces various ethical considerations. These include managing a small private practice with limited resources, minimizing business expenses to reduce overhead costs, and understanding insurance laws and policies for ethical insurance billing when accepting insurance reimbursements. Additionally, Stephanie is committed to fostering an inclusive practice environment where clients feel safe and respected, and she recognizes the importance of addressing discrimination issues when they arise. Stephanie is seeking to identify potential community resources that will support her clients.

• How might Stephanie effectively manage record keeping, third-party reimbursement, and other practice and management issues in clinical mental health counseling?
• What legal and ethical dilemmas and protocols should Stephanie consider when accepting payments from insurance companies and managed care to safeguard her clients?
• How should Stephanie address and respond to issues of discrimination within her practice?
• What community-based resources could Stephanie recommend to her clients for additional support and referral sources?

Scenario Four: Amari recently passed her National Counselor Examination (NCE) and will soon be an independent licensed clinical practitioner. Supported by her husband, an active-duty military service member, they navigate frequent relocations due to his assignments.

Consequently, Amari is interested in offering remote counseling services to children and adolescents within her private practice. Drawing from her experience as a military spouse, Amari is driven by a deep passion to connect with and positively influence individuals needing mental health support. She is excited about utilizing online counseling platforms to enhance accessibility for her future clients. However, she is not familiar with virtual counseling, nor does she know anyone who uses it in their practice.

• How does technology impact the counseling process and the counseling profession?
• What cultural and ethical factors would Amari need to consider related to technology and virtual counseling?
• What should Amari consider when establishing a therapeutic alliance online with her clients, and what strategies can she use to build this alliance?
• What steps could Amari take to familiarize herself with virtual counseling and prepare for its implementation in her private practice?

References

American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics.

American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors.

Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2024). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (11th ed.). Cengage.