Responsible Counseling
Question One: What concerns are raised for you by Mary’s situation?
Legal
1. Monitory reporting - Children welfare (Drinking and food)
2. Duty of Care (doing the best thing for the client
Undertake ethical responsibilities
Ethical
1. Patents welfare and wellbeing
2. Confidentiality
3. Safety of her and the children
4. Referrals - Doctor - Bruising anal discomfort, Post natal depression (welfare and wellbeing)
5. Alcohol use and abuse
6. Domestic Abuse
Question Two: Explain your responsibilities as the counsellor in this situation.
1. Ensure Transparency - It will be necessary to explain to Mary about client confidentiality and exceptions in regard to mandatory reporting.
2. Ensure the client is aware of boundaries, by making the client aware of these boundaries it allows in a client centred manner, that will then allow Mary to achieve self-directed positive outcomes.
3. To practice effective counselling skills – This would require us to establish a supportive, trusting, therapeutic relationship with Mary. By doing so it will let her she is in a safe environment and allows her to share her concerns.
4. Develop expectations with the client around their counselling goals. This will allow us to achieve therapeutic outcomes.
5. Seek Mary’s consent to consult if deemed necessary for external referrals. Clearly explain options available to her in regard to any referrals that maybe required.
6. Duty of care is three fold:
i. To Mary, to ensure that she is safe and well. Conduct an informal mental health assessment. Assist and inform Mary in regard to help which is available and allow her to choose the most suitable options as a result of her issues as discussed in question one. ii. To her sons. There is a potential children at risk and reporting maybe necessary and interventions sought. iii. To myself: Mary’s case is multi-layered which will stretch my personal resource to care for myself and my client. Good self-care
Legal
1. Monitory reporting - Children welfare (Drinking and food)
2. Duty of Care (doing the best thing for the client
Undertake ethical responsibilities
Ethical
1. Patents welfare and wellbeing
2. Confidentiality
3. Safety of her and the children
4. Referrals - Doctor - Bruising anal discomfort, Post natal depression (welfare and wellbeing)
5. Alcohol use and abuse
6. Domestic Abuse
Question Two: Explain your responsibilities as the counsellor in this situation.
1. Ensure Transparency - It will be necessary to explain to Mary about client confidentiality and exceptions in regard to mandatory reporting.
2. Ensure the client is aware of boundaries, by making the client aware of these boundaries it allows in a client centred manner, that will then allow Mary to achieve self-directed positive outcomes.
3. To practice effective counselling skills – This would require us to establish a supportive, trusting, therapeutic relationship with Mary. By doing so it will let her she is in a safe environment and allows her to share her concerns.
4. Develop expectations with the client around their counselling goals. This will allow us to achieve therapeutic outcomes.
5. Seek Mary’s consent to consult if deemed necessary for external referrals. Clearly explain options available to her in regard to any referrals that maybe required.
6. Duty of care is three fold:
i. To Mary, to ensure that she is safe and well. Conduct an informal mental health assessment. Assist and inform Mary in regard to help which is available and allow her to choose the most suitable options as a result of her issues as discussed in question one. ii. To her sons. There is a potential children at risk and reporting maybe necessary and interventions sought. iii. To myself: Mary’s case is multi-layered which will stretch my personal resource to care for myself and my client. Good self-care