Ethical issues in Group and Individual Counseling
Introduction
The counseling profession has a variety of standards that maintain discipline among the professional counselors during their counseling practice. The counselor can counsel the client through either individual or group therapy. The individual therapy entails collaborative therapy between the therapist and the client while group counseling involves the therapist using collaborative therapy to help multiple clients simultaneously (Stanard, 2013). These two methods can be used separately or simultaneously to achieve the desired change in the client. Furthermore, as Kocet (2006) points out, the ethical issues that arise in the process of counseling can be shared in both group and individual sessions or can be unique to one of the counseling methods. The issues often arise as a result of the violation of the codes of ethics by the counselors. They can also occur involuntarily when the therapist violates them inadvertently. To avoid this unintentional violation, the therapists need to have frequent education so as to update themselves with the new developments in the profession.
Moreover, studying the ethical issues that affect the profession is necessary to help the counselors prevent conflict during the practice. The conditions that qualify a particular situation to be an ethical issue can be confusing and technically challenging to the therapist. These conditions make it important for the counselor to deeply research and understand the codes of ethics as they practice (Stanard, 2013). It is also important for the counselor to understand the codes of ethics so as to protect the clients. For instance, the counselor learns from the codes of ethics how to handle monopolizing participants in a group session without causing legal concerns. This paper contains the description of these ethical issues, their appropriate practical demonstrations during therapy sessions and reasons why counselors prefer group session.
Ethical Issues CommontTo Both Group and Individual Therapy
To begin with, leaking information about a client by the counselor is unethical in both group and individual counseling (Stanard, 2013). This ethical requirement can be a challenging, particularly in group therapy since there is less control of information flow in the group by the therapist. Hence, the therapist needs to discuss early with the clients about the importance of keeping confidential the information that they will discuss in the group. The counselor can further inform clients that they are free to avoid sharing anything that they are uncomfortable with (Kocet, 2006). These measures will ensure that the counselor is free from blames concerning information leak from the group by the members.
Although leaking client’s information is unethical, there are situations which require the therapist to give the minimum information about the client to the appropriate authorities. Kocet (2006) argues that this may include cases like informing the police about cases of incest, rape and child abuse to a child. They may also include cases where the counselor determines that the client requires hospitalization, in case information about the client has made an issue in a court of law, and in case the clients requests the counselor to reveal the information to them (Kocet, 2006)
Although the therapist can share confidential information about the client in exceptional cases as this paper has described, the therapist can only give the information in a controlled manner. Stanard (2013) notes that the therapist is required to ensure that the information only reaches the intended persons without leaking. If the transmission is electronic, the counselor is required to use encrypted means such as using 128-bit encryption (Smith, 2003). This measure ensures that the information remains within the relevant authorities
Apart from confidentiality during transmission, the counselor is also required to keep the confidential records safe with restricted access. Finn and Barack (2010) suggest that the therapist should ensure that only authorized personnel get access to the information. The client can sue the counselor when there is a leak of information due to unprotected storage. The client would have a stronger case especially if the leak was the action of the counselors subordinates (Kocet, 2006). This situation makes it important for the counselor to have complete control over the process of information storage.
Besides breaching confidentiality, it is unethical for a counselor to attend to clients in without the clients’ informed consent. The therapist should give the clients full details about the clients’ therapy and let them make decision autonomously (Finn & Barak, 2010). This information should be provided in both group and individual therapy before the counseling sessions begin. Failure to give this information, usually result in legal issue at a later stage between the counselor and the client in a court of law (Finn & Barak, 2010).
Still on informed consent, the consent is only legit if the information provided contains every detail of the therapy process. In the informed consent, the counselor is required to provide necessary information such as the nature, purpose and anticipated duration of the treatment (Kocet, 2006). The counselor should further provide information about third party involvement and the therapist’s legal obligations (Kocet, 2006).
It is also unethical for information that clients share with counselors about themselves to be used in a court of law against the clients. The clients’ interactions with the therapist are privileged communications and the law prohibits such information not to be used in legal proceedings (Glosoff, Herlihy & Spence, 2000). For instance, a counselor can not be forced to give information to the police about a suspected criminal. More so if the therapist got the information during the patients’ therapy sessions (Glosoff, Herlihy & Spence, 2000). This offense is prohibited both in group and individual therapy.
In addition to the above malpractices, it is unethical for the counselors to get more pay than the services that they offer to the client. This issue commonly arises among the therapists who have unclear billing systems. In both individual and group therapy, the counselors should provide clear information about the services that they offer and the amount that they charge for their services (Kocet, 2006).
Furthermore, counselors become unethical when they give expert opinions basing evidence that has not been provided by the clients. Counselors are only allowed to decide according to what the clients share with them. For example, a psychologist in a child custody case should give opinion basing on what the couples reveal during their sessions and not in favor of the parent with more financial influence (Kocet, 2006).
Although the counselors might get information about their clients from sources outside the required sessions, the counselor can only use the information in the therapy session after the client presents the information (Chang & Chang, 2004). To avoid the temptation of trying to get information outside the agreed sources, the counselors can ask detailed questions to the clients so as to get full information. Besides, they can also discuss with the clients the limitations of their work as therapists (Chang & Chang, 2004). This discussion helps to ensure clarity during the process
In the light of proper ethics, it is unethical for the counselor to conduct deceitful advertising. The counselor should uphold high integrity and avoid information that is misleading, deceptive or fraudulent. The counselors should avoid using testimonials from clients who are vulnerable to undue influence (Stanard, 2013). This caution makes sure that the clients get the accurate information for the clients to act appropriately.
Ethical Issues Unique to Individual Therapy
Apart from the ethical issues that are common to both individual and group therapy, there are ethical issues that are unique to individual therapy. In the first place, it is important for counselors to avoid risky dual or multiple relationships with the clients. These relationships could not only impair the ability of the counselors to perform their duties but also lead to legal issues against the counselors (Mok, 2003).
Not all dual or multiple relationships are illegal. In case the dual or multiple relationships cannot be avoided, the therapist should set clear guidelines for the client to prevent later complications. They include things such as explaining the boundaries early enough before the sessions begin, making sure that the customer is involved in the decision-making process, and asking a fellow professional to supervise you during the therapy (Smith, 2003).
For the above measure to work efficiently, the counselor is expected to consider the power difference between the counselor and the client, the duration that the therapy could take and the possibility of a permanent termination of the relationship (Smith, 2003). Consideration of these aspects will help the counselor to correctly evaluate the seriousness of the relationship before getting into the relationship (Smith, 2003). The counselor will consequently act appropriately.
To illustrate the significance of explaining the rules and guidelines before the therapy, consider the benefits that have resulted from changes in laws governing dual relationship among the counselors (Kocet, 2006). It became easier for a counselor to have a dual relationship with a client after the original code of ethic got new amendments. The new changes allowed the counselor to have multiple relationships with the client provided the relationships will not cause exploitation, harm or impairment (Kocet, 2006).
Additionally, it is unethical for the counselor to coerce the client during therapy. The patient is expected to participate in the activities of the therapy voluntarily without being influenced by the therapist (Stanard, 2013). Although coercing the patient to enroll in treatment is criminal, some situations are exempted. These situations include cases such as coerced treatment of drug abusing offenders to enroll in the addiction treatment program.
Furthermore, this coerced treatment program is getting great support from the government despite the objections that critics raise. Countries such as the United States have majority of the addicts who admitted to the publicly-funded addiction treatment program coming form the criminal justice system (McElrath, Taylor & Tran, 2016). The governments also support the program further by making the treatment a condition of the addicts’ parole and probation.
Next, it is unethical for the counselor to handle a client with an issue that they are incompetent in (Kocet, 2006). In case the counselor has no training in a particular matter, it is important for the client to refer the client to colleague that is more experienced. A counselor can also refer a client in case the client is not benefiting from the treatment, in case the client may be harmed by the treatment or in case the patient finally does not need therapy (Ponton & Duba, 2009).
Although the counselor can refer a client, they cannot do so without substantial reasons. A counselor can face legal charges in case the counselor abandons the client or in case the counselor refuses to help the client due to conflicting social values with the client (Glosoff, Herlihy, & Spence, 2000). For instance, a client can not deny a homosexual counseling service because the counselor has a different opinion on sexuality (Hayes & Hagedorn, 2001).Such an offense is punishable by law.
Next, it is unethical for the counselor to invade the client’s privacy (Ponton & Duba, 2009). The counselor is required by law to respect the client’s privacy even when they feel the client is not sharing everything. The client can only to share with the therapist the information that the client feels comfortable to share. The counselor should only solicit information that is private to the client if the therapist believes the information is beneficial to the counseling process (Ponton & Duba, 2009).
Ethical Issues Unique to Individual Therapy
There are ethical issues that are unique to group therapy. First, it is unethical for the counselor to give unequal treatment to some clients in a group therapy. It is the counselor’s mandate to ensure that all the clients are getting fair treatment in a group therapy. In case there is a monopolizing individual in the group, the counselor should redirect the person to individual therapy where the person can get individual attention (Ponton & Duba, 2009).
It is also unethical for the counselor to force a client to remain in a group even when the client clearly has no interest in the group session. The client has a right to walk out of the group without explaining to the counselor (Ponton & Duba, 2009). To make the client remain interested, the counselor can regulate the amount of time each client gets to share their experiences so that every client gets equal time.
Moreover, it is unethical for the counselor to be insensitive to a particular culture in during therapy sessions in a group setting. The counselor is expected to communicate information that is developmentally and culturally appropriate (Ponton & Duba, 2009). The counselor should use an explicit language that every participant will be able to understand. This clarity will help to avoid future legal issues that might arise due to the misunderstandings (Stanard, 2013).
Reasons for Choosing Group Therapy Over Individual Therapy
First, group therapy provides a supportive environment to the client. This environment enables the clients to be able to learn from each other about new and efficient ways to deal with their challenges. New ideas will develop within the group on how to address the problems. These ideas tend to be more accepted by the clients since they come from fellow clients who have had previous experience in the challenges (Husaini, et al., 2004). Therefore, the counselor gets an easy time to help the client since the counselor only has to guide the proceedings so as to achieve the appropriate results.
Second, group therapy enables the clients to avoid isolation and loneliness. The clients get a sense of belonging in the company of their fellow clients. By coming together, the clients counteracts the loneliness and isolation since they notice that the challenges are not facing them alone (Weis, 2003). It is comforting for the clients to know of another person facing the same problems as they do, especially if the individual is not a member of the clients’ family or friendship circle (Weis, 2003). This comfort helps the counselor to make the client to open up and recover faster.
Third, group counseling is usually highly organized in systematic procedures (Jennings, & Sawyer, 2003). The members of a group can decide to use a particular manner to handle their issues. The counselor will then supervise the process as the participant discuss in a particular way. This organization helps the counselor to completely cover all the details of the client’s problem (Jennings, & Sawyer, 2003).
Fourth, group therapy is relatively cheaper as compared to individual therapy. The reasonable cost is due to the initiative of insurance companies to sponsor most of the group sessions. For those without insurance cover, they can get help through sliding scale fees. These measures ensure that the therapy becomes affordable to the client. It also ensures the counselor gets paid for the services (Akinbami, Gandhi & Cheng, 2003).
Additionally, group therapy gives the opportunity for the clients to help each others mutually. The groups have clients with diverse problems. The clients share, discuss and provide solutions to their problems within the group. This teamwork helps the client to improve their self-efficacy at the same time get solutions to their problems (Chang & Chang, 2004). The members eventually feel like a family in the company of the other members.
Finally, group therapy makes the counselor to deeply explore the client’s problem. This deeper analysis comes from the different perspectives that the group members have (Stanard, 2013). The clients get close to each other making it possible to help each other at personal levels. The aspects provide unique solutions to the client hence increasing the chances of finding a suitable solution especially for very complicated solutions (Stanard, 2013).
Conclusion
Judging from the information above, understanding the ethical issues is an essential step when practicing to avoid dishonorable termination of your practice as a counselor and possible legal charges. Mastering the new and developing issues in practice helps to protect the counselor from making mistakes due to ignorance. The information also provides the basis of how group therapy is better than individual therapy, hence, contributes in solving the uncertainty that a client might have. The inclusiveness of group therapies and ability to improve effectiveness of therapies makes it a better option as compared to inodvidual therapies.
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