Ethical Issues in Couples and family therapy

Issues in Couple and Family Therapy

1 ) If you were a counselor , in this case how might you deal with Mr Cole 's refusal to disclose his affair in a conjoint session

I would have tried prepared Mr . Cole to disclose his relationship in the conjoint session by understanding his fear and objectives . As he had clearly expressed that he wanted this relationship with other woman at the same time he wants to save his marriage for four of his children . I would have prepared Mrs . Cole at the same time to stay

clam and understand situations

2 ) In this case , did the counselor effectively address informed consent and confidentiality rules as they apply to both individual and couple sessions ? What would you do differently

I think counselor has done excellent job in terms of dealing with the informed consent issues and confidentiality rules . Extending the same , I would have focused on resolving issues by encouraging each individual for bridging their communication gap and understanding the reasons of Mr . Cole falling out for another relationship . The possibility that this is the root cause of problems of Mrs . Cole cannot be ignored . I would have tried to find out more about the nature of relationship Mr . and Mrs . Cole had been expecting from each other , where things went wrong This would have helped me to design better counseling sessions and prepare each individual to understand and accept the situation and find out what is best for each individual concerned with the issue

3 ) What ethical considerations are involve in deciding what would be the most appropriate form of treatment individual , conjoint , or family therapy

There are various contradictory and ethical issues involve in the case These are as follows

As a wife Mrs . Cole have right to know about her husbands relationship with other woman

As an individual Mr . Cole has right to have confidentiality of information shared with the counselor

Counselor 's prime objective is to help the patient to deal with current problem and warn for future problems . In the case of Mr . Cole 's relationship with other woman , the possibilities of sexual transmitted diseased cannot be ignored

Diana , the counselor had clearly committed to Mrs . Cole that she would not keep any secrets

As per AAMFT 's (2001 ) code therapists , have responsibilities to clients confidentiality , professional competence and integrity and have responsibilities towards their own profession . In real time situation these factors may contradict with the ethical and moral issues

4 ) If you were working with a couple , might you be willing to see each of them for individual sessions- Why or why not

If I were working with the couple , I would have very much interested in individual sessions with them . I believe each individual behaves in different manner in the presence or absence of other individual . It is clearly stated in the case that Mrs . Cole was experiencing most of the problems in the presence of Mr . Cole . In the conjoint sessions may be she would...