John has been attending counselling sessions for several months seeking help with the difficulties he is finding in dealing with his relationship break-up. He and his partner were together for ten years and have two children, a boy aged 9 and a girl aged 7. John has access to them every other weekend and for […]
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Ethics & Legal Issues
Boundaries in Counselling
Boundaries are a crucial aspect of any effective client-counsellor relationship. They set the structure for the relationship and provide a consistent framework for the counselling process. Some boundary lines are clear. Most counsellors would acknowledge that it is ethically problematic, for example, to counsel your ex-partner because the pre-existing relationship impairs objectivity and serves to […]
- August 20, 2008
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- Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Book Review: Culturally Relevant Ethical Decision-Making in Counseling
Houser, R., Wilczenski, F.L., & Ham, M. (2006). Culturally Relevant Ethical Decision-Making in Counseling. London: Sage Publications Ltd. 334 pages. ISBN: 1-4129-0587-7. Counsellors are active participants in the counselling process, and the intimate relational aspect of counselling such as ethical decision making requires that counsellors have an understanding of ethics that goes beyond a basic […]
- August 15, 2008
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- Book Reviews, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: A Client Who Tells Offensive Jokes
You have a client of the opposite sex who is coming to see you weekly about problems with family and social relationships. He/she has been attending sessions with you for two months and seems likely to be a long-term client. Although initially very quiet and reluctant to discuss issues, you have succeeded in gaining his/her […]
- August 8, 2008
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: A Highly Stressed Client
A client comes to you having had to quit work due to a degenerative visual impairment. He has a 3 year-old child and his wife is expecting another baby. His sight may continue to deteriorate or it may remain at the current level. He is suffering stress, feelings of grief and loss and anxiety about […]
- November 24, 2007
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Disability Issues, Ethics & Legal Issues, Stress Management
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Counselling Dilemma: A Multicultural Issue in a Relationship
An Asian couple has been referred to a counsellor for marriage guidance. The impact of migrating to Australia has taken its toll on their relationship. In the session, the husband seems quite controlled and reserved, whereas the wife cries often but says little. The counsellor is a novice in the area of multicultural difference, but […]
- September 12, 2007
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Multicultural Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: A Sensitive Client Request
You have a long-term client who is suffering from liver failure. Trevor is 45 years of age and was diagnosed with this condition approximately 3 years ago. His state of health is rapidly deteriorating and he has recently been hospitalised, awaiting a transplant. Trevor has a rare blood type and all attempts to acquire a […]
- July 31, 2007
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- Ageing Issues, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: Accidental Death of a Client
You had been counselling your client Renee for approximately two years and in that time had developed a very strong counselling relationship. Renee was a highly motivated client who worked very hard to overcome the challenges in her life. Renee had missed a session during the week and you were quite concerned because this was […]
- July 12, 2007
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: Client Referral
In this scenario, the counsellor has been experiencing deteriorating health problems and is required to go into hospital in 2 weeks time for major surgery. It is likely that the counsellor will be spending a few weeks in hospital and some further months at home recovering from surgery. The counsellor runs an independent practice and […]
- June 19, 2007
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- Addictions, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: An Adolescent Client
You have been counselling a family for 2 months and you have reached the end of your program with them. Both the mother and father are satisfied with the outcomes of the therapy, however their teenage son would like to continue to see you. He has specified that he would like to continue therapy about […]
- May 23, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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