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CNL-505 Topic 7: Scenario Analysis Assignment

Directions: 

Read the four scenarios below. Provide a 75-150-word response to each question in all four of the scenarios presented below. Use the ACA and NAADAC Codes of Ethics and other scholarly resources to support your responses. You must provide at least one properly formatted APA citation and accompanying reference to support your response for each scenario.

Scenario One:

Barbara is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) working for a nonprofit social service agency. Many of the clients in the agency are female domestic violence victims. The director of the agency has asked Barbara to develop a counseling group to serve the needs of these individuals.

1. Question One: What ethical matters should Barbara consider as she plans this group?
2. Question Two: What methods should Barbara use to ensure confidentiality in the context of group counseling?
3. Question Three: If breaches of confidentiality occur, how should Barbara manage them?

Scenario Two:

David is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) working for a family counseling center. Steve, one of his adult clients, would like to begin couples counseling with his wife.

• What ethical matters should David consider before beginning to see Steve and his wife?

Ethical considerations should guide David in his family therapy practice to Steve’s family. David has an ethical duty to respect and uphold Steve’s welfare, consider clientele relationship with Steve, and the impact this may cause to the wife. Given this is a client family, David’s roles as a counselor might change. David must be aware of not having bias, prejudice, or discrimination to ether partner (Counseling Staff, 2016). In this family therapy, Steve and his wife must sign against their names that they have informed consent about the information they will share with David. David must be sure to offer equal and fair counseling services to the two. Also, there is need to consider aspects of cultural sensitivity, unexpected potential harms of the couple, and the treatment plan for the family.

• What special issues of confidentiality may arise in the case? How should David address these issues?

First and foremost, advocacy efforts help in securing confidentially by alleviating all systematic barriers that hinder couple growth. David must define the roles of Steve and his wife as his clients, and if this attracts confidentiality conflicts of interest; withdrawal, clarity, or termination of service should be resorted to (Kocet, 2006). The special issues of confidentiality that may arise in this case include:

• If the law regarding abuse of either family member requires so,
• If it is the only option of protecting clients against harming each other,
• If the professional counselor is a defendant in a civil, or disciplinary action whose cause is therapy, and
• If a previous waiver in the form of writing gets acquired.

Steps include the duty to protect or warn which is mandated under the legal rights that must be exercised on each spouse.

• Question Three: How might differences in personal values and gender/cultural issues create ethical dilemmas in this case?

According to Section 5 of the NAADAC, counselors are prohibited from discriminating against clients on the basis of gender, personal values, cultural issues, race, marital status, religion, or physical or mental challenges (NAADAC, 2016). While differences in gender/ cultural issues and personal values between the couple attracts ethical dilemma, David must have the professional skills of accommodating and tolerating all clients’ differences. With deep-rooted religious values and cultural norms, ethical dilemmas arise. For example, if the couple have opposing cultural and religious beliefs.

Scenario Three:

Stephanie is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who has decided to start a private practice as she transitions from public to private practice. As she makes her plans, there are many ethical issues she must consider. While these issues are of concern to all counselors, she must consider how they specifically impact a counselor in private practice.

1. Question One: How can she ethically handle limited resources, deal with cost containment issues, respond to discrimination, and promote community change?
2. Question Two: As a service provider, with what ethical issues and practices related to state insurance laws and managed care must she be familiar?
3. Question Three: What are the ethical obligations and limitations faced by a counselor who serves clients who have been the victim of discrimination, injustice, poverty, or lack of access to behavioral health services? What best practice community based interventions could she refer her clients to?

Section Four:

Amari has recently passed her NCMHCE and will soon be considered an independent clinical practitioner. Her husband is in the military and they travel often.  Amari hopes to strictly provide distance counseling in her private practice.  She has never provided distance counseling nor does she know of anyone who does it.  Rely heavily on Section H: Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media of the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics to consider the following.

1. Question One: What should Amari consider in regards to distance counseling?

Section H of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics deals with distance counseling, technology, and social media. In regards to distance counseling, counselor must uphold and protect client confidentiality (American Counseling Association, 2014). The ethical considerations that govern Amari’s distance counseling include:

Knowledge of legal requirements: The range from competency requirements, special certifications, and the knowledge of statutes and laws that govern distance counseling practice.

Security and informed consent: Amari needs to understand that clients have the right to choose if to use social media, distance counseling, or technology in the counseling process. The need for informed consent between a client and the client helps in providing anticipated treatment on the right time (American Counseling Association, 2015). The counselor must also maintain client confidentiality, acknowledge her limitations, and assure clients of web-based security. Also, Amari should inform the clients of the merits and demerits associated with distance counseling and avoid disclosing client’s private information over social media.