COUN213-Week 3

How does a therapists’ values impact the therapeutic relationship?

• Therapists values influence every phase of psychotherapy includes

  • Therapeutic change

  • Assessment strategies

  • Goals of treatment

  • Design and selection of interventions

What are personal values?

• what we believe is right or wrong shaped by culture, religion, upbringing, life experiences and personal morals

What is the law?

• Shaped by governments, legislation and society’s standards at a given time

What is spirituality?

• Relationship with a higher power and faith that may be used to find meaning in life

What is religion?

• shared set of practices that is associated with specific religious groups

How can spirituality and religion be used in therapy?

• Need to be integrated in therapeutic approach because

  • it plays an important part in the lives or clients

  • may be enabler of growth

  • component of wellness

• this can be a critical source of strength

• acknowledge and respect beliefs

• support emotional wellbeing

• explore without imposing your own values

• work with their values, not against them

• maintain professional boundaries

  • “my role is to support you, not enforce and discuss your religious views”

How do therapists need to manage their own religious values?

• HOWEVER

• we need to be aware of own religious values

• Be aware of verbal and non verbal messages that are being communicated by the therapist

• Countertransference

  • interreligious (different)

  • Intrareligious (same)

What are the 5 values pertaining to abortion?

• Millner and Hank (2002)

• 1. make a comprehensive examination of your own moral views on abortion

• 2. determine when your own personal ethics would make it difficult for you to be objective and respectful

• 3. be prepared to refer clients to other professionals when it is appropriate

• 4. become familiar with state and federal laws pertaining to abortions

• 5. anticipate circumstances that would make it difficult for you maintain a sense of objectivity because of a value conflict

What are some ways to handle abortion and a therapist?

• respect autonomy

• explore her feelings and decision

• support relational concerns

• check emotional support

• follow up

What are the 11 values pertaining to sex?

• Sex only for marriage

• Expression of love and commitment

• Casual sex

• Group sex

• Extramarital sex

• Premarital sex

• Teenage sex

• Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender

• Internet sex sites

• Pornography

• Sex work

What are the ethical principles surrounding suicide?

• Risk assessment

What are the warning signs of suicide?

What are the 6 end of life decisions?

• Aggressive treatment of the medical conditions

• life-sustain treatment

• medical intervention indent to alleviate suffering

• withdrawing life-sustain treatment

• voluntary active euthanasia

• physician-assisted suicide - dr gives the means for patient to commit suicide themselves

What is rational suicide?

• Decided to end his or her life because of the extreme suffering involved with terminal illness

What is euthanasia?

What is assisted suicide?

What is hastened death?

When would people explore making decisions about death?

How would you support someone who is considering death?

• listen without judgment

• explore her decision making process

• assess mental state

• discuss alternatives

• clarify you role and ethical boundaries

• support the family dynamic

• self-awareness and supervivion

What is refusal of treatment?

What are some examples of reproductive technology?

How is transplanation used?

What is death?