SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
Weekly Journal on Legal and Ethical Issues
MAED- GC 206
JOMAR BUMIDANG Week 2
Part II Resolving Ethical Issues
3 Applying Ethical Standards: Case Study: A Clash of Values
A. Questions for Review and Reflection
1. What is the purpose of ethical standards?
Ethical standards could be used to enlighten ethical judgement. They could be
used to provide serviceable guidelines in diverse areas of professional ethics
2. How do they relate to counselor virtues?
Counselor virtues are related to ethical standards by means of exhibiting
behavior and thoughts that are morally and ethically appropriate in all situations. Also,
through ethical standards, counselors may exhibit correct ethical behavior especially so
when faced with a dilemma.
3. What is standard of beneficence? Describe the two different types of beneficence.
The standard of beneficence could be seen by exhibiting the act of charity, mercy
and kindness with a strong connotation of doing good to others including moral
obligation. As future counselors, I should develop this kind of standard so that I would be
able to provide the best interest for my future clients and promote positive welfare on a
social level.
The two different types of beneficence are client welfare and social welfare.
Client welfare tells therapists to do what maximizes the client’s overall or net positive
welfare; that is, what is in the client’s best interest while social welfare tells therapists,
all of whom practice within this massive interconnected network, to act in ways that
maximize overall happiness, or the good of society.
The principle of beneficence supports the following moral rules or obligations:
protect and defend the rights of others, prevent harm from occurring to others, remove
conditions that will cause harm, help persons with disabilities, and rescue persons in
danger.
4. What is “net or overall positive welfare,” and how does it relate to client best
interest?
When we say “net or overall positive welfare,” we mean that we look at the
clients’ total wellbeing. When assisting or helping them, we should consider what’s best
for them so that they would become highly functional individuals who are able to deal
with life productively and with happiness.
5. What is the standard of nonmaleficence? Describe the three different types of
nonmaleficence.
As they say “primum non nocere” or “first do no harm” and this is all about
nonmaleficence. It is the obligation of a counselor or a therapist not to harm his or her
patient. stated principle supports several moral rules – do not kill, do not cause pain or
suffering, do not incapacitate, do not cause offense, and do not deprive others of the
goods of life.
The three different types of nonmaleficence are: Client Nonmaleficence, Counselor
Nonmaleficence, and Third Party Nonmaleficence.
Having been involved with the client and/or any of his or her family members
other than client-counselor relationship that would harm such kind of relationship would
be considered as client nonmaleficence. Also betraying the client’s trust and confidence
with the counselor would also be kind of client nonmaleficence. Hence, it is important
that as future counselors, we have to uphold the highest kind of ethical standards of the
profession in order to avoid violating this standard.
Counselor Nonmaleficence, on the other hand, is any act of the client that would
destroy the client-counselor relationship and/or any act of the client that would harm the
personality, integrity, credibility and professional practice of the counselor. In order to
avoid this, as future counselors it is a must that we know how to draw the line the extent
of service and relationship we must put with our clients.
Third Party Nonmaleficence is about counselor’s engaging in conduct that harms
or fails to prevent harm to individuals other than clients in the provision of mental health
services. Harming other people by influencing the client to do so is unethical and should
not be done by future counselors like us.
In general, the principle of nonmaleficence supports the following rules: Do not
kill, Do not cause pain or suffering, Do not incapacitate and Do not cause offense. As
future counselors, we have to inculcate in our minds that we have to take care of our
client and other people around him or her as well as ourselves. We really have to live by
with the maxim “primum non nocere”.
6. What is the standard of autonomy? Describe the three different types of
autonomy.
In the counseling profession, autonomy is a norm that obliges us to respect the decisions
(self-determination) of adults who have decision-making capacity. This means that we
have to believe that our clients have the ability to rule themselves and we just have to be
there to assist and guide them as they need enlightenment in their lives.
The three different types of autonomy are: Client Autonomy: Treating Clients as
Self-Determining Agents - this standard is one that a respectful therapist would have
internalized. It says to treat clients as persons, not objects. This means that clients should
not be manipulated and should be treated with utmost respect. Their dignity should be
safeguarded and uplifted as we assist them to become fully self-reliant.
Counselor Autonomy: Treating Oneself as a Self-Determining Agent – It is
important for therapists to treat themselves as self-determining agents not only for their
own sake, but also for the sake of their clients. Therapists who do not appear to respect
themselves make poor role models, permit self-defeating client behavior, and do not,
therefore, have much success in helping clients meet therapeutic outcomes. This imply
that as future counselors, we have to also safeguard ourselves by practicing mindfulness.
In this way we would be able to take care very well ourselves and be able to fully
practice our profession worthy of emulation.
Third Party Autonomy: Treating Non-Clients as Self-Determining Agents - This
includes the families of clients, colleagues, coworkers, public service providers, medical
personnel, insurance providers, court officers, and others with whom mental health
practitioners are expected to work cooperatively. Here such respect includes not lying or
deceiving others. Looking not only the welfare of our clients but also the people around
him or her and around the counselor should not be taken for granted. They too have to
be given due reverence most especially if they are working closely for the betterment of
the client.
The following moral rules or obligations are derived from the application of the
principle of respect for autonomy: Tell the truth, Respect the privacy of others, protect
confidential information and Obtain consent for interventions with patients.
My personal takeaway about this is that we have to really advocate the word
“respect”. Respecting ourselves, our clients and other people is a must not only during
the clinical or counseling sessions but more so in our daily lives. As they say, Respect is
a two-way street, if you want to get it, you’ve got to give it. With respect, we will never
go wrong.
7. What is the standard of justice?
The standard of justice obliges us to equitably distribute benefits, risks, costs, and
resources. The provision of equitable or fair counseling services involves treating
relevantly like cases alike. This is a formal principle of justice that, more exactly, means
two things: that we should (1) treat alike those who are the same in relevant respects,
and (2) treat differently those who are unalike in relevant respects.
As future counselors, we have to treat clients fairly regardless of their
background in life. After all, counseling profession is a service-oriented career, thus,
what matters most is to fully provide equal opportunity for all individuals to be served,
assisted and helped. Thus, to achieve justice each person should be given an equal share,
according to need, according to effort, according to contribution and according to merit.
8. What is the standard of compassionate caring?
The Standard of Compassionate Caring involves attentive, nonjudgmental, and
genuine caring about clients. This standard directs therapists to cultivate a caring
relationship with their clients. This relationship consists of being with the client and
being there for her. Being with the client means knowing, on an emotional level as well
as a cognitive one, what the client is going through. It involves resonating with the
client’s subjective world by empathetically relating to it. Being there for the client
involves being available for her, not abandoning her, and being willing to listen
attentively to her, without distraction.
My personal thoughts about this standard is that, as future counselors, we have to
be empathetic. We have to feel what they are feeling and grasp what they are thinking.
We really have to show care, concern and full support in them, however, not to the extent
that the client-counselor relationship would be ruined. In doing so, we have to practice
as well self-compassion, it means that full understanding of ourselves as well as being
mindful should be done. Recognizing our own vulnerabilities and being more kind to
ourselves is the heart and soul of self-compassion. When we have self-compassion, it
would become easier than for us to show compassionate care to our clients and others,
because it would come out naturally and our clients would feel and observe that.
9. What does it mean to say that the standards of ethics are prima facie or
conditional standards? Provide an example that illustrates this property of ethical
standards.
10. What are the primary responsibilities of the therapist?
The primary responsibilities of the therapist are to respect the dignity of the client, which
means to treat the client as a self-determining, autonomous agent and to promote the
welfare of the client, that is, to act in the best interest of the client.
11. What does respect the dignity of a client mean?
To respect the dignity of a client means to treat the client as a self-determining,
autonomous agent which means that we have to respect whatever decision the client has
and to avoid manipulating, deceiving or treating them as an object.
12. What is the relationship between client welfare or best interest and the standard
of compassionate caring?
The relationship between client welfare or best interest and the standard of
compassionate caring is that compassionate caring generally supports the visibility of
best interest to the client which means if you care standardly for the client then most
likely, the client’s welfare or best interest will be promoted, hence this two goes hand on
hand.
13. What are the basic client responsibilities, and how do they relate to the primary
client responsibilities?
The basic client responsibilities are client Non-maleficence and Justice. This two relates
to the primary client responsibility since non-maleficence means to promote the best
interest of the client while Justice is a precondition of respecting the clients’ dignity.
14. What are the self-regarding responsibilities, and how do they relate to the
primary client responsibilities?
The self-regarding responsibility is Autonomy which means that a counselor or therapist
should not allow herself/himself to be mistreated and disrespected. This self-regarding
responsibility is related to the primary client responsibility because just like how client’s
dignity should be respected, the counselor or therapist has also the right to treat himself
with the dignity and respect he deserves by not allowing himself to be mistreated for how
they can promote the client’s best interest if a client is threatening his life, harassing
him, or otherwise creating conditions unsuitable for therapeutic progress to occur.
15. What are the other-regarding responsibilities, and how do they relate to the
primary client responsibilities?
The other-regarding responsibilities are Third Party Nonmaleficence, Third Party
Autonomy, and Social Welfare. These three others regarding responsibilities are related
to the primary client responsibility because just like how we treat our primary client by
giving respect to their dignity and by promoting their best interest, we need also to
consider, weigh and balance our responsibilities to clients against other responsibilities
we have to third parties, as when the actions of clients portend serious harm to others.
16. Describe the ethical problem raised in the case of Shelly for her therapist, Dr.
Dimsdale.
The ethical problem in the case of Shelly is that there are competing interests at stake.
First, Dr. Dimsdale wants to promote what is the best interest for Shelly - however, the
respect to the faith of Shelly’s parents towards their religion will be affected. If Dr.
Dimsdale were going to choose the welfare of her client then it will also cause harm to
Shelly since she is still in the custody and care of her parents, on the other hand, if
Dimsdale were to respect Shelly’s parent practices and faith, then Shelly will remain
depressed and will not be able to meet her likes and interest.
17. How could each of the following standards be applied in addressing Dimsdale’s
ethical problem?
Compassionate Caring
Client Autonomy
Client Welfare or Best Interest
Justice
Third Party Autonomy
Third Party Non-maleficence
The following standards be applied in addressing Dimsdale’s ethical problem
BY:
Compassionate Caring- With the situation of Shelly, compassionate caring is
what she need, an emphatic understanding towards her situation and a care
for her emotional, physical and mental health should be lifted.
Client Autonomy- A respect to what Shelly’s likes as a teenager and imposing
self- determination on her is something that might make Shelly change her behavior
academically and socially.
Client Welfare or Best Interest- With what Shelly stated regarding her
unhappiness for not being like the other kids, to give Shelly what she wants
to experience is something that would promote her best interest.
Justice- With the conflicting interest, justice is one thing also to consider whether
what is to prioritize, the best interest of the primary client or the interest of the
third party through imposing respect and autonomy towards their faith.
Third Party Autonomy- This also involves in this case because it is very
important to empower the third party on their belief and standard- if we are not
going to weigh it, they might feel disrespected morally.
Third Party Non-Maleficence- It is also important to consider the welfare of the
third party by not hurting them spiritually because if Shelly will insists to do the
thing that are off bound to her, then it will cause a family conflict with both
parties.
17. Do you agree with how Dimsdale handled the conflict between Shelly and her
parents? If you were in Dimsdale’s shoes, how would you have handled this
situation? Explain.
Yes, If I were in Dimsdale’s shoes, I would also do the same, I will talk first to the
parents of Shelly and explain to them what is happening to their daughter if they can help
her but if they have the same answer of with Dimsdale, then I have to respect their belief
and them as parents of Shelly. Since the harm is coming from Shelly’s own self due to
wanting of what the other kids do, I would concentrate helping her to beat depression
because I believe that by continuously doing this, there will be a time that she will
understand her parents and goes with their belief at the same time.
B. Cases for Analysis
1. Nick, a 28-year-old single male, has been unemployed for 2 years and is actively looking
for a job. He is in therapy with Kyra Wilson, a mental health counselor at a local facility
that offers pro bono counseling. Nick reports becoming increasingly desperate about not
having a job because his funds and public assistance are almost completely depleted. He
discloses to Kyra that he has begun to be untruthful on his job applications by creating
jobs that he never had and listing his friends as references for these jobs. He expresses
some anxiety about being caught in these fabrications and asks Kyra to teach him some
relaxation exercises so that he can cope with his apprehension. He states that he will
continue to be untruthful on future applications because he is “desperate.” Using the
above discussed ethical standards, how can Kyra assist Nick with his anxiety and still
remain a virtuous therapist?
In this case, Nick’s issue of having anxiety is due to his being dishonest. He has
irrational thoughts that being dishonest would help him land a job. Having said this, If I
were Kyra, I would employ Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, to assist Nick alter his
irrational thought to rational thought that causes him to feel anxiety. Along the process
of this therapy, ethical standards of beneficence, particularly client welfare will be
observed – that is assisting him to reduce his negative welfare and anxiety and rather
promote positive welfare and easiness. In doing so, Nick should be helped to realize that
fabricating information about himself will do no good but harm to his reputation and
dignity and that he may face possible legal action. Continuing this kind of behavior may
also become precedent for him to do more dishonest acts which might aggravate the
situation.
2. Melanie is a 75-year-old widow who resides with her son, Dan, and his wife, Glenna. She
has begun therapy with Asa English, a clinical social worker, because she is having
difficulty getting along with Glenna. Melanie states that Glenna often criticizes her for
forgetting to turn off the oven or leaving her things in the living room. She states that she
is overwhelmed and desolate about these behaviors. Asa suggests family counseling, and
the three begin treatment together while occasionally meeting for individual sessions.
During one such session, Glenna reveals that she believes that Melanie has dementia. She
discloses that Melanie rarely turns off the oven and often puts her belongings in odd
places. She says that she has found Melanie’s toothbrush on the living room sofa and her
dentures in the freezer. Glenna asks for Asa’s help in convincing Melanie to get
evaluated for dementia. Using the above discussed ethical standards as guidelines, how
should Asa proceed? What are his responsibilities to Melanie, Glenna, Dan, and any
potentially endangered third parties?
Looking at the details of the case, it seems that the main reason of family conflict
is the possible disorder of Melanie, which is dementia. There is a misinterpretation of the
behavior of each family member because of this. Thus, it would be a challenge for Asa to
encourage Melanie to get evaluated.
The role of Asa in this family counseling is significant in terms of ensuring the
positive welfare of each member of the family. Thus, the ethical standard of beneficence
particularly client welfare should be maintained, and focus on what is the client’s best
interest. Having said this, Melanie should be helped to realize the changes of her
behavior, the facts of her being forgetful should be properly presented to her and
connecting such to the attitudes of Glenda and Dan towards her. Meanwhile, Glenda and
Dan having suspecting their mother to suffering from dementia should be assisted as well
by Asa to accept this possible disorder, hence, they must learn to adjust on the behavior
of Melanie by having a lot of patience. Treating Melanie normally and without prejudice
or scolding which may be misinterpreted by her must be done. I guess, it would be easier
for Melanie to agree later on to get evaluated if she would realize that her changing
behavior is the root cause of family conflict as well as when she feels that there’s already
a positive change in the attitude of Glenda and Dan towards he.
3. Randall is a 55-year-old gay male who is in a long-term relationship with Lorne, age 50.
The couple has moved to a new city and has been having difficulty adjusting because this
city is not as accepting of same-sex couples as their previous one. The two have been
experiencing subtle and not so subtle forms of discrimination including verbal slurs on
the streets as they walk by and graffiti on their front door. They are in counseling with
Dara Dolber, a licensed mental health counselor, so they can better cope with these
issues. As therapy progresses and Randall and Lorne discuss their experiences, they
mention the name of their landlord and state that she has called the two names and
ridiculed their relationship saying that they are lucky that she rents to them. Dolber
recoils when she hears the landlord’s name because she is an acquaintance of hers.
Dolber is not certain if she now has a conflict of interest or a dual role relationship
because of this and is unsure about how to proceed. Discuss the following. Does Dolber
have a responsibility to reveal to her clients that she knows the landlord? Does she have
ethical responsibilities to refer her clients to another therapist for treatment? Does Dolber
have any ethical responsibilities to help change any of the types of discrimination that are
being directed toward Randall and Lorne? Refer to the ethical standards developed in this
chapter to formulate your responses.
One of the ethical standards that has to be observed in this case is autonomy,
particularly client autonomy. The situation of the gay couple is bizarre in their
community and thus they are prone to be ridiculed and be discriminated. As such, as
counselor, Dolber should uphold respect towards the gay couple, regardless of their
sexual orientation and should process the counseling in a manner that the gay couple
despite their experiences in the community should sustain their dignity and worth as
individuals. The couple should realize that they could not control other’s opinion but
they could control their own, hence, they should rather focus on positive things that they
can do rather than being affected by the people around them.
As to Dolber, there seems to be no conflict of interest or a dual role relationship
exists, since the landlord is not a friend or close acquaintance of the gay couple, rather it
is the therapist who is an acquaintance of the landlord. According to APA (2016) and
NASW (2017), conflict of interest, real or apparent, often arise in the context of dual or
multiple role relationships. A dual role relationship exists when a therapist has exactly
one additional relationship, such as a business or social relationship, with a client or
someone closely associated with the client; for example, when a therapist becomes a
friend of a current or former client, or of the client’s close friend or partner. A multiple
role relationships exists when a therapist has one or more additional relationships with a
client or someone closely associated with the client; for example, when a therapist is
business associate of the client’s close friend and a fellow parishioner of the student.
However, as to whether it should be revealed by Dolber to his gay couple his
relationship to their landlord, it would depend on the degree of their relationship.
However, in this case, since they are only acquaintance, which means that they knew
each other but not a close friend, Dolber may not reveal it since there would be no risk
or even conflict of interest. If Dolber, would ensure that he would still be fair and loyal
to his clients and would believe that he could still practice mindful of personal interests
or aversions that prevent him from being objective in the provision of counseling,
therefore, he should continue the counseling sessions with the gay couple.
On the other hand, if Dolber feels that due to this situation, it would have a strain
on his ability to remain objective in the provision of competent counseling service and
that he would no longer be fair for the gay couple, he should reveal his relationship with
the landlord, and refer the clients to other therapist that would provide them fair and
objective counseling service.
4. Using An Ethical Decision-Making Process
A. Questions for Review and Reflection
1. Why is it useful to have a decision-making process in ethics?
Decision-making process in ethics is very useful in our profession because this will serve us our
guide in solving problem, our basis on ethical dilemmas and our foundation in weighing our
decisions. This process will also help us prevent us in engaging ourselves into malpractices that
would cause harm to our client and make us liable.
2. What are the five steps of the ethical decision-making process proposed in this chapter?
The five steps of the ethical decision-making process proposed in this chapter are the following:
Step 1: Define the Moral Problem
Step 2: Collect Relevant Information
Step 3: Conduct an Ethical Analysis
Step 4: Make a Decision
Step 5: Act on the Decision
3. What does it mean to have a problem? What is the difference between a practical
problem and intellectual problem?
To have a problem means you have an unanswered question to which you want an answer. The
difference between practical problem and intellectual problem is that in intellectual problem,
you want to know for knowledge’s sake and problems here are about what to believe. On the
other hand, practical problem, you want to know the answer for the sake of doing something
about it and problems here are about what to do.
4. What does it mean to have a moral problem? Is a moral problem an intellectual or a
practical problem? Explain.
To have a moral problem means, you are thinking that the answer to your problem might have
moral significance which can affect other, specifically the welfare of the client. Moral problems
are a kind of practical problem because your answer might have an effect to the welfare and
interest of others which you will be placed into a situation of thinking what to do once you have
known the answer.
5. Why might a therapist be said to have a moral problem every time he or she walks into
the counseling room to counsel a client?
In my own opinion, therapist might be said to have a moral problem every time he or she walks
into the counseling room to counsel a client because as counselor we have to be sure, firmed,
and particular on the words and answers that we are uttering, during counseling, we reflect and
try to understand if our action will give result or affect the current state of our current. In short,
we always look on the moral significance of our action to the client.
6. What is the difference between a personal problem and a moral problem?
The difference between a personal problem and a moral problem is that moral problems can
definitely involve your own welfare and/or interests while moral problems always involve others
as well. In terms of their existence, personal problems exist when what you do can affect only
your own welfare and/or interests. On the other hand, moral problem exists when the answer is
thought to have repercussions for others.
7. When does a person have a serious moral problem in contrast to a minor one?
A person has a serious moral problem when the potential effects are serious ones, such as moral
damage, emotional harm, serious bodily injury or death, and the probabilities of such harms are
substantial.
8. What is the difference between positive welfare and negative welfare?
Positive welfare refers to states that portend happiness, pleasure, or contentment such as health
(mental as well as physical), functional relationships, stress reduction, and pain relief whereas
negative welfare refers to harms or states that portend unhappiness, pain, or suffering such as
trauma, disease, physical injury, loss of a loved one, and other substantial losses.
9. What is an interest? Are there common human interests? Explain.
Interests are things that satisfy people’s desires, respect their rights or dignity, or conduce to
their goals or aspirations. Yes, there are common human interest because as human we have
aspiration, goals and dreams that we want to achieve and meet, we have needs and wants to
fulfill and satisfy and or anything that makes us feel happy and contented
.
10. What is a need? Are there emotional needs in your estimation? Explain.
Needs are what we called the least and common human interest and yes, there are emotional
needs because if they don’t exist, then we always feel frustration, in-contentment and all other
negative welfare.
11. Do therapists serve all client interests or are there limits? Explain.
It is the duty of every therapist to serve all client interest however there are still limitation and
exception in cases that a harm to their own welfare or to others is possible.
12. Does Dr. Fry in the case introduced in this chapter have a moral problem? Explain.
Yes, Dr. Fry has a moral problem, for it is clear that what he does can have moral significance
insofar as it has the potential to affect the welfare and/or interests of others, not to the exclusion
of his client and himself.
13. What does the definition of a moral problem consist of?
14. What is moral sensitivity, and why is it important to defining a moral problem? Is Dr.
Fry morally sensitive in your estimation? Explain.
15. Are therapists themselves ordinarily stakeholders in their moral problems? Explain.
Who are the stakeholders in Dr. Fry’s moral problem?
16. What mistake is commonly made in defining a moral problem, and why should it be
avoided?
17. When is information morally relevant in addressing a moral problem? What would be
an example of a morally relevant fact in addressing Fry’s moral problem? Why is this fact
morally relevant?
18. Provide at least three examples of different types of potentially morally relevant client
information, and briefly explain how each type might be morally relevant to a particular
stakeholder in Fry’s moral problem.
19. What is the purpose of an ethical analysis (Step 3 of the decision-making process), and
what resources are commonly used in conducting it?
20. Using Tables 4.3 and 4.4 as your guide, what course of action do you think is in Paul’s
best interest? Are there any overriding other- or self-regarding responsibilities in your
estimation? Explain.
21. What is Sissela Bok’s approach to determining the weight of competing self- and other-
regarding
responsibilities? Provide an example of how her approach applies in the case of Paul.
22. Does Bok’s approach, in your estimation, help provide some measure of objectivity in
weighing competing responsibilities? Does it make the decision for you? Explain.
23. Table 4.5 provides eight types of biased or irrational thinking that may adversely affect
an ethical decision. Which, if any, of these thinking errors do you think Dr. Fry might have
been especially vulnerable to in making his ethical decision regarding Paul?
24. Can the ethical analysis (Step 3) make the decision (Step 4) for a therapist? Explain.
25. Are perfect ethical decisions likely? Explain.
26. What role can compromise play in addressing competing ethical responsibilities in
ethical decision making?
27. Is there just one acceptable ethical decision that is possible? Explain.
28. Does making a decision (Step 4) ensure acting on the decision (Step 5)? Explain. What
danger is there in waiting to be certain before a decision is acted on?
B. Cases for Analysis
Use the information in this chapter to analyze each of the below cases. In particular, apply the
five-step decision-making process developed in this chapter using the appropriate tools (for
example, Stakeholder Table; Table to Check for Possible Overriding Conditions; Faulty
Thinking Self-Inventory, etc.).
1. Bartholomew Harrington, age 30, is in therapy with Dr. Phillipa Edelman, a clinical social
worker, for problems related to lack of productivity at work. Harrington also has a history of
voyeurism, but initially contends that he has not engaged in this practice for about 5 years.
During the course of treatment, Harrington hesitantly reveals to Edelman that he has been re
experiencing urges to engage in voyeurism and has purchased high power binoculars so that he
can gaze into his neighbor’s windows. In fact, he relates that he has also taken pictures of his
neighbor undressing and is now contemplating taking videos of her. Since Edelman does not
specialize in treating paraphilias, she informs Harrington that she will need to refer him to
another therapist. Harrington tells her that he will never reveal to another therapist what he
revealed to Edelman and pleads with her to continue to counsel him regardless of her lack of
expertise in this area. Define an ethical problem Edelman has in this situation. That is, who are
the stakeholders and what welfare and/or interests are at stake? What is in the best interest of
Edelman’s client? Are there any basic responsibilities to Harrington that may be violated? Are
there any overriding self-regarding responsibilities (needlessly harming the client or not being
equitable or fair to him)? Are there any overriding other-regarding responsibilities? What
decision do you think would be justified based on your analysis?
The ethical dilemma in this case is that how will Edelman continue her counseling with
Harrington if treating paraphilias is not her expertise or she is not in practice with it while the
client also plead with her to continue to counsel him as he told that he will never reveal to
another therapist what he revealed to her.
With this, in case that Edelman will comply with what Harrington wanted, then there will be a
possibility that the objective which is to promote benefit to the client- particularly to remove or
minimize his paraphilic behavior will be at stake. Also, Edelman as clinical social worker will
be incompetent in handling the case. On the other hand, if Edelman will stick to her decision of
referring her client to other, then mostly likely, the possibility of what Harrington said which is
to never reveal the information to others may happen which will not provide a successful
evaluation and assessment to others. As such following the decision making process, in this case
that the ethical dilemma is identified and the client had already build his trust to Edelman, it
says that Edelman may proceed into providing counseling to Harrington as long as that she
shall undergo into supervision of someone who is in practice to Paraphilias. It is also important
for Harrington to educate herself regarding the case she is currently handling through literature
review, referrals and consultation in order for her to become competent in providing the best
course of action.
2. Lana Michaels is a 32-year-old clerical worker who has been diagnosed with histrionic
personality disorder. She has been in therapy with Roberto Snellings, a male clinical
psychologist, for 4 months after her fiancé broke off the engagement due to Michaels’ excessive
flirting with other men. Snellings is a solo practitioner; however, he does share office space with
another psychologist, Sampson Brubaker. Lana Michaels usually comes to sessions with low-cut
necklines, short skirts, and brightly colored eye shadow. She has, on several occasions, made it
clear that she finds Snellings sexually attractive; however, Snellings informs her that he is
interested in her only as a client and that boundaries must be observed. Recently, Snellings
observes Michaels talking to Brubaker after Michaels’ session. Michaels is standing very close to
Brubaker and running her hands through his hair. Although Michaels is not a client of Brubaker,
she is a client in the same office suite, and it should be apparent to Brubaker that she is a client.
Upset about what he sees, Snellings confronts Brubaker with his concerns about his conduct with
Michaels. Brubaker responds that Michaels is “hot” and states that there’s no problem because
she is not his client. Since Snellings and Brubaker only share office suite space, but do not work
in the same practice, Snellings cannot legally disclose any information about Michaels to him
without Michaels’ consent. Snellings is very concerned about what he considers to be the
exploitive nature of Brubaker’s possible relationship with Michaels and is exploring what to do
next. Define an ethical problem that Snellings has in this situation. That is, who are the
stakeholders and what welfare and/or interests are at stake? What is in the best interest of
Snellings’ client? Are there any basic responsibilities to Michaels that may be violated (that is,
needlessly harming the client or not being equitable or fair to her)? Are there any overriding self-
regarding responsibilities? Are there any overriding other-regarding responsibilities? What
decision do you think would be justified based on your analysis?
The problem in this case was that Snelling’s client and his colleagues in the same room are
manifesting relationship thus whether to allow his colleagues unethical behavior while
disregarding the best interest of his client or reporting his colleagues which will result later into
personal conflict? In this case, Michaels’s welfare should be well protected given that she has
HPD and she is not in a good state, this to avoid the possibility of harm and sexual abuse that
she may encounter with Brubaker,
With the given possibility of multiple relationship and since Snelling witnessed with his own eyes
what is happening between his client and colleague, he should now then take the action of
reporting Brubaker to his Supervisor or to the higher authority if none for further observation
and necessary investigation.
3. Dalma Norman is a 16-year-old female who is seeing Sasha Turnbull, a mental health
counselor who provides counseling services once weekly at Dalma’s high school. Dalma’s
presenting problem is poor grades, but, after only two sessions, she reveals to Turnbull that she is
2 months pregnant and wants to get an abortion. She contends that her parents are very religious
and that they would not approve of her decision. She reveals that she has already identified a
facility where her abortion can be done and that she has saved up money to pay for the
procedure. Parental consent is not required in Dalma’s state; however, Turnbull is concerned that
Dalma might need family support in making the decision. Although Turnbull attempts to remain
objective and neutral about Dalma’s decision, she is having difficulty because she regrets having
had an abortion herself at age 17. She debates whether she has a responsibility to Dalma to
disclose this information to her parents or whether that would violate the trust of her client.
Define a moral problem that Turnbull has in this situation. Who are the stakeholders, and what
welfare and/or interests are at stake? What is in the best interest of Dalma? Are there any basic
responsibilities to Dalma that may be violated (that is, needlessly harming the client or not being
equal or fair to her)? Are there any overriding self-regarding responsibilities? Are there any
overriding other-regarding responsibilities? What decision do you
think would be justified based on your analysis.
In this case, the problem is that, if Tumbull will not disclose the plan of Dalma which is to
undergo abortion, Dalma might be put into danger during the abortion or there will be
possibility that she will leave in guilt and conscience which may lead her into depression, on the
other hand, if he disclose the information to Dalma’s family, this will now violate the trust of
her client and the autonomy imposed on her.
With this, maybe it would be better to conduct a Family counseling which aim is to make the
family accept the situation of Dalma and at the same time for Dalma to accept and take
responsibility of what happened to her since the problem here just started because of Dalma’s
fear that she might not be accepted which is there is or there is no possibility to happened.
