Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “ethics as the study of standards of conduct and moral judgment. ” Christian ethics simply deal with distinguishing right and wrong behavior for a Christian. Christian counseling honors the commitment of all Christian counselors. Christian counselors can avoid the differences that tear at the unity of so many other helping disciplines by submitting to remain united in Christ. This unity challenges us to pursue excellence in all our work to maintain integrity in all our relationships.
(Clinton, Ohlschlager, 2002). Ethical decision-making is often not easy part of being a counselor. It requires virtues such as character, integrity, moral courage, and knowledge. Unethical behavior in counseling exists everywhere but it is up to the counselor to act in a professional and unbiased manner. There are four guidelines to determine whether counselors act in ethically responsible ways: o Personal and professional honesty – counselor needs to be open honest with themselves as well as their clients.
There should be no room for hidden agendas, as this will place the counselor on shaky ground. o Act in the best interest of clients – Should not impose their own personal values on clients and ignoring what the client wants. o Act without malice or personal gain – Counselors will be confronted with difficult clients as well as passive clients, it is best to remember that any err in judgment can become detrimental to their relationship. o Justify an action – If client has doubt about their therapists decision, the counselor must be able to defend their reason.
The purpose of the codes of ethics established within the counseling disciplines are of protecting clients, providing guidelines for therapists and clarifying the professional credo of the organization. The primary purpose of these codes is to safeguard the welfare of clients by providing them with information that will be used in their best interest. Ethics codes are also designed to provide assistance for professionals in their work so they can provide the best service possible.
With this said, these codes do not convey the ultimate truth, nor do they provide ready made answers for the ethical problems therapists are most likely to face. Confidentiality is the foundation of safe therapy. Confidentiality should be recognized as the healing power of a trusting relationship. Without trust, it is unlikely that people could live together in a harmonious and healthy environment. However, we are also aware that the human condition is also flooded with trust violations. We have all experienced pain and anger when others have broken their word by divulging our secrets that were entrusted to them.
These painful reactions speak to trust and confidentiality’s power to a healing and trusting relationship, whether it is between friends, family, spouses or therapists and clients. It is rooted in a client’s right to privacy which entails a certain amount of complexity for counselors. Honoring confidentiality and dealing with breach of contract are tantamount of being a therapist. Clients assume and expect that whatever is revealed to a counselor will be kept confidential. In essence, we should not confuse trust with absolute confidentiality.
It is much more than simply keeping secrets. Therapists need to be discreet and invested in the public and their client’s best interests which may include keeping interactions and records private and protected. Conscientious counselors will honor their commitment to this therapeutic law but are aware of limitations and it is their responsibility to advise their clients of these limitations up front. Counselors are advised to lean to the side of being overly cautious in protecting their clients confidentially, except in the case of a serious infraction, such as child abuse.
One contrast between the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is that the AACC will not disclose any confidential material without written consent from the client or the client’s representative. In regards to a counselor’s competency level, the therapist has the moral, ethical, and professional responsibility to admit to himself and to the client when the situation exceeds his ability to continue assisting with their problem.
Effective programs combined with academic and personal learning can collaborate and provide an integration of study and practice to further solidify their competence level. It is important to remember therapeutic relationships can experience failure if counselors cannot assess how far they can go with their client’s and when to recognize when to refer clients to other specialists in which to seek consultation with other professionals.
While both organizations respect the boundaries of competence, the AACC make only truthful, realistic statements about their identity, education, experience, and credentials while avoiding exaggerated claims. In addition, while the ACA recognizes that counselors should use their knowledge and skills to work in a diverse client population, the AACC desires to help clients who have issues concerning the Christian faith while ignoring conflict with popular culture.
Here is a food for thought: Can a gay counselor be deemed competent as a Christian counselor or for Christian clients dealing with homosexual thoughts? Can a Christian counselor be deemed competent for advocating adoption as an alternative to abortion? Where counselor competence may be of particular importance to the Christian client concerning issues and values of the Christian faith, it is important to notice the areas of conflict bought on by popular society.
No matter how harmless a relationship seems, a conflict of interest usually exists and any professional counselor’s judgment is likely to be affected. Such relationships are not built on mutuality because of the past therapeutic nature of the people involved. In other words, the client was more vulnerable than the counselor. This shows how the counselor can misuse their power and influences in a variety of ways that can harm the client. The thoughts and emotions that take place will have an impact on the therapeutic relationship.
Therefore, as a matter of ethics, counselors should remove themselves from socializing or doing business with former clients; accepting gifts from them; or entering into a counseling relationship with close friends, family members, students, lovers or employees. (Gladding, 2007). Under the AACC’s codes of ethics, the Christian counselor has the burden of proving a justified dual relationship by showing that informed consent, including a discussion of how the counseling relationship might be harmed as another relationship proceeds.
Under the ACA’s codes of ethics, the counselor must document prior to the interaction the rationale for the interaction and its potential benefit.
References
Clinton, T. , Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian Counseling: Foundations and Practice of Compassionate Soul Care, Volume One. Corey, G. , Corey, M. , Callanah, P. (2007). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, Seventh Ed. Gladding, S. (2009). Counseling: A Comprehensive Profession.