The Practice of Clinical Psychology Worksheet

University of Phoenix Material

The Practice of Clinical Psychology Worksheet

Answer the following questions. Your response to each question must be at least 150 words in length.

1. What are at least two legal issues associated with clinical psychology? Provide an example of a situation that could be legal but unethical. Explain your response.

Confidentiality and ethical codes are legal issues that fumigate problems in clinical psychology. Confidentiality intersects the jurisdiction of legal and ethical consideration in the aspects of psychotherapy. A therapist must maintain professionalism at all times. The patient has a right to share his or her treatment with the psychotherapist and believe the information he or she converse will be keep in safe keeping. Therapists are legally responsible for withholding the client’s confidentiality. There are some exceptions to release this information such as homicide or suicide, sexual abuse, or imminent danger to self or others. Code of Ethics is a set of guidelines clinical psychiatrists have to follow within a therapeutic profession. The rules are set in a professional manner and its use is to protect the client and the professional therapist in psychotherapy. Psychiatrists have to maintain confidentiality concern when documenting clinical sessions. In any area, if the psychiatrist has to go to court, the plan of action must coincide with the treatment the psychiatrist diagnosed.

2. What are at least two ethical issues associated with clinical psychology? Provide an example of a situation that could be ethical but illegal. Explain your response.

Clinical psychology ethics often associate itself with the ethics of the psychologist. The psychologist or psychiatrist maintains an intimate yet professional relationship with his or her clients. The intimacy is a comfort zone done for the client, but there are ethical boundaries that must stay in place. Psychologists learn through school the rigors of practice when diagnosing clients and how to remain calm. Psychologists must maintain control factors to continue diagnosing clients without becoming bias. They have to practice within the guidelines of their license. Teaching in an area outside of his or her practice is illegal, but it can be ethical. Psychologists have to stay abreast on the educational changes within his or her field of training. According to Plante, 50% of information in school changes in several years. Each decade psychiatrists or psychologists have to go back and retrain themselves with the new form of training.

3. Define professional boundaries, boundary crossings, and boundary violations. What effects do boundaries have on the therapeutic relationship?

A dual relationship is the most professional boundary violation (Plante, 2005).
Dual relationships are situations in psychotherapy where several roles exist between the client and therapist. An example of a dual relationship would be when a client is a friend, business partner, employee, friend, or the student of the therapist. Dual relationships can cause problems because of the boundary lines. Certain activities individuals do as a couple or with a friend, therapists cannot do with the client even though he or she is part of the dual relationship. The problems come about when the therapist steps outside the line of therapy. Certain dual relations are helpful because certain sessions are for therapy such as hiking, walking, confirmation, funeral, or sending cards. The problem arises when the therapist cannot perform his or her job professionally and provide the best help possible as a licensed therapist. Sometimes with dual relationships, a therapist should direct the individual to see another professional who is on the outside looking in; therefore no code of ethic is in violation. The professional should be able to assess the situation and direct the individual in the right direction for professional and licensed treatment.

4. What are at least two cultural limitations associated with assessment and treatment? In your response, discuss the use or misuse of assessment instruments, therapy techniques, research results, or any other facet of clinical practice that could have potentially harmful, culture-specific implications.

Cultural differences are important in clinical psychology. Clients who attain help with different religions, beliefs, race, and economic status require different needs and expectations. The clinical psychologist must place his or her own cultural bias to the side so he or she can provide the client with unbiased therapeutic needs. Cultural understanding expands through every area of clinical psychology. Cultural limitations include different educational backgrounds and the understanding of normal day experience. According to http://www.bukisa.com/articles/56870_cultural-understanding-in-clinical-psychology, Western cultures believe if a child is hostile to animals in an aspect he or she gets pleasure from killing them, he or she may have antisocial behavior that gets worse over time. In the Eastern world, individuals kill dogs and cats as a means of survival. Without proper context, treatment can be skewed because of cultural differences. Many behaviors problems are culturally specific requiring culturally psychological treatment approach (Plante, 2005).

Reference
Hogan, T. P. (2007). Psychological testing: A practical introduction (2nd ed.) Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Plante, T. G. (2005). Contemporary clinical psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.