What are your thoughts about the ethics of forming social or intimate relationships with former clients?

CASES INVOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMAS
1. SEXUAL ATTRACTIONS:
You have been treating a client for 6 weeks. While working with this client you discover that your sexual attraction to him/her has been growing as the counseling relationship develops. It is becoming more and more difficult to focus on the therapy process because of this attraction. In fact, you also notice that the client appears to be flirting with you as well. You end up thinking about the client alot and even extend the therapy sessions in order to spend more time with the client. Due to these distractions, you are unable to focus on what the client is saying in the therapy sessions and you begin to feel a sense of guilt for being preoccupied with wanting to be liked.
a. Do you think you need to discuss your attraction with the client? Explain why or why not.
b. Do you believe you need to discuss this attraction with another professional such as a colleague or supervisor?
c. Would you continue working with the client or refer him/her to another counselor?
If you choose to refer, what reasons would you give to the client?
2. A COLLEAGUE HAS AN AFFAIR WITH A FORMER STUDENT:
You discover that the clinical director of the agency you work for is having an affair with one of the former students who completed an internship at the agency under his/her supervision.
a. What are your thoughts? Do you see a difference between a licensed therapist having a relationship with a client or and instructor having a relationship with a student?
b. What are your thoughts about the ethics of forming social or intimate relationships with former clients? What factors need to be considered before entering into this type of relationship?
c. What if the colleague approaches you to discuss having the relationship with a student? What would you say?
3. RACISM AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES:
You have observed a colleague making derogatory comments about minority women. You have knowledge of this colleague having several minority women on his caseload and have concerns about the quality of care they are receiving.
a. Would you confront the colleague? Why or why not?
b. What would you want to ask him or tell him?
c. What ethics issues are involved in this situation?
4. CASES CONCERNING CONFIDENTIALITY:
Refer to the general guidelines for confidentiality in this book to answer the following questions.
a. One of your clients at the community mental health clinic is an adolescent girl with severe depression. She tells you after three months in therapy that she feels suicidal. She then proceeds to ask you for information on how to commit the act. How do you respond to her? Do you notify her parents? What other actions might you take in response to her announcement?
b. You are counseling with a 15 year old client and the parents request a session with the two of you to discuss progress. What information can you share with the parents and what can you not disclose? What might you discuss with the client prior to a meeting with the parents? What if the client is adamant that they do not want you to meet with the parents or tell them anything?
CASES INVOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMAS
1. SEXUAL ATTRACTIONS:
You have been treating a client for 6 weeks. While working with this client you discover that your sexual attraction to him/her has been growing as the counseling relationship develops. It is becoming more and more difficult to focus on the therapy process because of this attraction. In fact, you also notice that the client appears to be flirting with you as well. You end up thinking about the client alot and even extend the therapy sessions in order to spend more time with the client. Due to these distractions, you are unable to focus on what the client is saying in the therapy sessions and you begin to feel a sense of guilt for being preoccupied with wanting to be liked.
a. Do you think you need to discuss your attraction with the client? Explain why or why not.
b. Do you believe you need to discuss this attraction with another professional such as a colleague or supervisor?
c. Would you continue working with the client or refer him/her to another counselor?
If you choose to refer, what reasons would you give to the client?
2. A COLLEAGUE HAS AN AFFAIR WITH A FORMER STUDENT:
You discover that the clinical director of the agency you work for is having an affair with one of the former students who completed an internship at the agency under his/her supervision.
a. What are your thoughts? Do you see a difference between a licensed therapist having a relationship with a client or and instructor having a relationship with a student?
b. What are your thoughts about the ethics of forming social or intimate relationships with former clients? What factors need to be considered before entering into this type of relationship?
c. What if the colleague approaches you to discuss having the relationship with a student? What would you say?
3. RACISM AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES:
You have observed a colleague making derogatory comments about minority women. You have knowledge of this colleague having several minority women on his caseload and have concerns about the quality of care they are receiving.
a. Would you confront the colleague? Why or why not?
b. What would you want to ask him or tell him?
c. What ethics issues are involved in this situation?
4. CASES CONCERNING CONFIDENTIALITY:
Refer to the general guidelines for confidentiality in this book to answer the following questions.
a. One of your clients at the community mental health clinic is an adolescent girl with severe depression. She tells you after three months in therapy that she feels suicidal. She then proceeds to ask you for information on how to commit the act. How do you respond to her? Do you notify her parents? What other actions might you take in response to her announcement?
b. You are counseling with a 15 year old client and the parents request a session with the two of you to discuss progress. What information can you share with the parents and what can you not disclose? What might you discuss with the client prior to a meeting with the parents? What if the client is adamant that they do not want you to meet with the parents or tell them anything?
CASES INVOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMAS
1. SEXUAL ATTRACTIONS:
You have been treating a client for 6 weeks. While working with this client you discover that your sexual attraction to him/her has been growing as the counseling relationship develops. It is becoming more and more difficult to focus on the therapy process because of this attraction. In fact, you also notice that the client appears to be flirting with you as well. You end up thinking about the client alot and even extend the therapy sessions in order to spend more time with the client. Due to these distractions, you are unable to focus on what the client is saying in the therapy sessions and you begin to feel a sense of guilt for being preoccupied with wanting to be liked.
a. Do you think you need to discuss your attraction with the client? Explain why or why not.
b. Do you believe you need to discuss this attraction with another professional such as a colleague or supervisor?
c. Would you continue working with the client or refer him/her to another counselor?
If you choose to refer, what reasons would you give to the client?
2. A COLLEAGUE HAS AN AFFAIR WITH A FORMER STUDENT:
You discover that the clinical director of the agency you work for is having an affair with one of the former students who completed an internship at the agency under his/her supervision.
a. What are your thoughts? Do you see a difference between a licensed therapist having a relationship with a client or and instructor having a relationship with a student?
b. What are your thoughts about the ethics of forming social or intimate relationships with former clients? What factors need to be considered before entering into this type of relationship?
c. What if the colleague approaches you to discuss having the relationship with a student? What would you say?
3. RACISM AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES:
You have observed a colleague making derogatory comments about minority women. You have knowledge of this colleague having several minority women on his caseload and have concerns about the quality of care they are receiving.
a. Would you confront the colleague? Why or why not?
b. What would you want to ask him or tell him?
c. What ethics issues are involved in this situation?
4. CASES CONCERNING CONFIDENTIALITY:
Refer to the general guidelines for confidentiality in this book to answer the following questions.
a. One of your clients at the community mental health clinic is an adolescent girl with severe depression. She tells you after three months in therapy that she feels suicidal. She then proceeds to ask you for information on how to commit the act. How do you respond to her? Do you notify her parents? What other actions might you take in response to her announcement?
b. You are counseling with a 15 year old client and the parents request a session with the two of you to discuss progress. What information can you share with the parents and what can you not disclose? What might you discuss with the client prior to a meeting with the parents? What if the client is adamant that they do not want you to meet with the parents or tell them anything?

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