In this paper, I will point out four sections of the ACA Code of Ethics and four sections of the AMHCA Code of Ethics that a counselor has broken. Then I will work thru an ethical decision-making model for this ethical dilemma. Ethics are an integral part of counseling and it is imperative that we are able to recognize issues when they arise. Linnea is an LPCC, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in New Mexico and she has her own private practice. She has recently started to see a client, an attractive woman who is a professional blogger. This client was referred to Linnea by Linnea’s sister. Linnea comes to find out that this client is the on and off again girlfriend of Linnea’s sister. Linnea’s sister did not mention this relationship to Linnea. Linnea has been working with this client for several months. They have been working on inappropriate sexual behaviors that the client possesses. Soon Linnea soon finds out that her client is sexually attracted to her.
The client makes many sexual advances toward Linnea. She denies the advances at first but soon succumbs to the temptation of the client. At first, they just go to lunch, drinks, or dinners a few times a week. Then the relationship turns sexual. Linnea is confused about what to do, she knows that she should not be having a dual relationship with her client. She finds out that the client has been blogging about the relationship. Linnea panics and retaliates by responding to the blogs with her own blog. The blog is filled with client details, denial of the relationship, and threats of lawsuits. Linnea goes to her sister for guidance. She is close to her sister and thinks she can get some clarity on what to do next. Her sister finally tells her that she used to date this woman and then her sister informs her that the client has had these types of behaviors before.
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Linnea tells her sister all about the therapy she has been doing with this client and also about her relationship. Linnea never seeks advice from her supervisor. The ACA and AMHCA ethical codes that are being violated in this case scenario are, A.5.a. Sexual and/or Romantic Relationships Prohibited and I. Commitment to Clients 4. Exploitive Relationships. Linnea has broken these two codes by having an intimate relationship with her client. A counselor is not to engage in a sexual relationship with a client. Linnea should have continued to deny her client's advances and if it did not cease then she should have referred the client out. The next codes broken are, B.1.c. Respect for Confidentiality and I. Commitment to Clients 2. Confidentiality. Linnea broke these codes by talking with her sister about the therapy sessions and writing a blog about the client. Counselors are supposed to protect the confidentiality of current clients. The third set of codes that were broken were, H.6.d. Use of Public Social Media and C.
Counselor Responsibility and Integrity 1. Competence. I. maintain high standards of professional conduct. Linnea broke these codes by using social media as a platform to destroy the client’s character. She should have never talked about a client on social media or with her sister. Counselors are to take every safeguard to avoid disclosing information on public social media. The last set of ethical codes that have been violated are, I.2.c. Consultation and B. Commitment for Clinical Supervision. Linnea should have consulted a supervisor when the client first told her of the attraction and kept in close contact with this supervisor throughout the course of this client’s treatment. She definitely should have never consulted her sister in matters that should be handled professionally. When a counselor is uncertain about whether a particular situation is in violation of the ACA Code of Ethics, counselors must consult with other counselors. (AMHCA Code of Ethics, 2015) and (The American Counseling Association, 2014.) The ethical decision-making model that I would use in this dilemma would be the Kitchener and Anderson (2011) model from our text.
The first step is ethical sensitivity and personal and professional values. Linnea should have trusted her first instinct to deny the client's advances. 2. Identifying the facts and stakeholders, the facts are that relationships with clients are prohibited and the stakeholders are the client, the counselor, and the therapy community. 3. The central issue is the professional conduct of this counselor. She had the option to do the right thing by keeping a professional boundary. 4. Referring to regulations, laws, guidelines, and standards, Linnea should have sot supervision on this matter if she was confused about her ethical responsibility. I think that as a counselor who already has a private practice, she should have known better. 5. Search out ethical literature that explained the reasons for keeping professional boundaries and maybe even share with the client. 6. Apply ethical principles, Linnea should have known the ethical codes and used them in this situation. 7. Seek supervision, supervision, supervision, supervision! 8. Deliberate and decide, Linnea should have taken time to consider her actions and the ramifications of those actions. 9. Informing your supervisor, document the decision.
Linnea did not consult a supervisor. If she had this situation could have been avoided. 10. Reflection, Linnea would need to take time to reflect on this situation and figure out what she could have done differently and what she could have done better. It was interesting coming up with an ethical dilemma case study. It showed me how very easy it can be to break the codes and how important consultation and supervision really are in our profession. There are so many ways in which our ethical codes can be broken that it is daunting to think of trying to remember them all and keeping these codes first and foremost in our minds. For me, I think that keeping in mind that Do No Harm is the basis for the codes will help keep me using my professional values and listening to my gut when I think something might be unclear, but most of all SEEK SUPERVISION! References American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author “AMHCA Code of Ethics.” AMHCA Code of Ethics - American Mental Health Counselors Association, www.amhca.org/learn/ethics. Welfel, E. R. (2015). Ethics in counseling and psychotherapy. (6thed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole.
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