The Case of Frank and Judy.
During the past few years Frank and Judy have experienced many conflicts in their marriage. Although they have made attempts to resolve their problems by themselves, they have finally decided to seek the help of a professional marriage counselor. Even though they have been thinking about divorce with increasing frequency, they still have some hope that they can achieve a satisfactory marriage.
Three couples counselors, each holding a different set of values pertaining to marriage and the family, describe their approach to working with Frank and Judy. As you read these responses, think about the degree to which each represents what you might say and do if you were counseling this couple.
Counselor A. This counselor believes it is not her place to bring her values pertaining to the family into the sessions. She is fully aware of her biases regarding marriage and divorce, but she does not impose them or expose them in all cases. Her primary interest is to help Frank and Judy discover what is best for them as individuals 459460and as a couple. She sees it as unethical to push her clients toward a definite course of action, and she lets them know that her job is to help them be honest with themselves.
What are your reactions to this counselor’s approach?
▪ What values of yours could interfere with your work with Frank and Judy?
Counselor B. This counselor has been married three times herself. Although she believes in marriage, she is quick to maintain that far too many couples stay in their marriages and suffer unnecessarily. She explores with Judy and Frank the conflicts that they bring to the sessions. The counselor’s interventions are leading them in the direction of divorce as the desired course of action, especially after they express this as an option. She suggests a trial separation and states her willingness to counsel them individually, with some joint sessions. When Frank brings up his guilt and reluctance to divorce because of the welfare of the children, the counselor confronts him with the harm that is being done to them by a destructive marriage. She tells him that it is too much of a burden to put on the children to keep the family together.
What, if any, ethical issues do you see in this case? Is this counselor exposing or imposing her values?
Do you think this person should be a marriage counselor, given her bias?
What interventions made by the counselor do you agree with? What are your areas of disagreement?
Counselor C. At the first session this counselor states his belief in the preservation of marriage and the family. He believes that many couples give up too soon in the face of difficulty. He says that most couples have unrealistically high expectations of what constitutes a “happy marriage.” The counselor lets it be known that his experience continues to teach him that divorce rarely solves any problems but instead creates new problems that are often worse. The counselor urges Frank and Judy to consider the welfare of their three dependent children. He tells the couple of his bias toward saving the marriage so they can make an informed choice about initiating counseling with him.
What are your personal reactions toward the orientation of this counselor?
Do you agree with him stating his bias so obviously?
If he kept his bias and values hidden and accepted this couple into therapy, do you think he could work objectively with them? Why or why not?
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Commentary. This case shows how the value system of the counselor can determine the direction of counseling. The counselor who is dedicated to preserving family life is bound to function differently from the counselor who puts primary value on the welfare of individual family members. What might be best for one family member is not necessarily in the best interests of the entire family. It is essential, therefore, for counselors who work with couples and families to be aware of how their values influence the goals and procedures of therapy. In ethical practice, clients are encouraged to look at their own values and to choose a course of action that is best for them.
Kleist and Bitter (2009) advocate for an ethical process for family practitioners from the perspective of virtue ethics—that is, from consideration of what constitutes the “good life” for individuals, systems, and human life in general. Through consideration of ethical codes and legal requirements within a process they call participatory ethics, family members are made aware of counselor values and concerns; are informed about professional, ethical, and legal standards affecting their situation; and are asked to share in the process of finding a resolution to any ethical dilemmas that may emerge.
Write a 350-to 700-word paper identifying the ethical issue or issues.
Describe the ethical issues that confront you as the caseworker.
Describe how you are going to help resolve these issues while maintaining ethical standards.
Cite the principles or core areas you are applying from the AAMFT Code of Ethics.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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