Ethical Dilemma: You Are Employed At A Local Mental Health C

Ethical Dilemma You Are Employed At A Local Mental Health Center And L

Ethical Dilemma- You are employed at a local mental health center and lead a group of adolescent males who have been mandated into the conduct disorder group that you facilitate. A lack of participation by any member of the group is viewed as a violation of probation criteria and to be reported to the probation officer. What are the implications of informed consent when working with involuntary clients? Suppose you have four group members who choose to remain silent. They attend, but they do not participate in group activities. What are the ethical dilemmas for you, and how would you respond?

Paper For Above instruction

Working with involuntary clients, especially adolescents mandated to attend therapy sessions, introduces complex ethical considerations, particularly regarding informed consent. Informed consent is a foundational principle in ethical counseling, emphasizing clients' right to understand the nature, purpose, risks, and benefits of therapy (Corey et al., 2014). However, when clients are mandated to attend, their capacity for voluntary participation is compromised, raising questions about the applicability and scope of informed consent.

In such contexts, therapists must balance respecting client autonomy with legal and ethical obligations. While informal consent may be obtained, it is often limited in voluntariness because clients may feel coerced or powerless, which diminishes their genuine ability to make autonomous choices (American Psychological Association [APA], 2017). This situation is further complicated when clients choose silence or non-participation, as it challenges the therapist's role in providing effective treatment while respecting clients' rights to refuse to engage.

Ethically, the therapist faces dilemmas related to respecting the clients' autonomy, maintaining confidentiality, and fulfilling the duty to provide care. When clients remain silent, they exercise their right to refuse participation, but the therapist must grapple with whether continued engagement serves the clients’ best interests and aligns with ethical standards. Ignoring non-participation could undermine therapeutic goals, yet pressuring clients may violate their autonomy. Therefore, the therapist should ensure that clients are fully aware of their rights, including the right to decline participation, and should explore underlying reasons for silence, possibly indicating distrust or discomfort (Sue & Sue, 2012).

In response to these dilemmas, the therapist should adopt an ethically sensitive approach that emphasizes informed, voluntary participation whenever possible. This involves providing clear information about the purpose of the group, confidentiality limits, and the voluntary nature of participation. The therapist should also create a safe space that encourages open dialogue and respects clients’ choices (Harper & Speer, 2008). When silence persists, it is essential to revisit consent and engagement levels, and collaborate with the clients to identify alternative ways to participate that may be more acceptable to them.

Ultimately, working with involuntary clients requires balancing ethical duties to respect autonomy, promote beneficence, and ensure justice. It is crucial to continually assess and respect clients’ rights, even when they are mandated to attend, and tailor interventions to meet their needs while adhering to ethical standards (Pope & Vasquez, 2016). This ongoing process fosters trust, upholds professional integrity, and enhances the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

References

• American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. APA.
• Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2014). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (9th ed.). Brooks/Cole.
• Harper, S. R., & Speer, P. W. (2008). Community-based participatory research. In D. L. Danis, J. R. Garrett, & A. B. Childress (Eds.), Ethics and public health research (pp. 67-82). Oxford University Press.
• Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. (2016). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical guide. Wiley.
• Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2012). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. Wiley.