Group Counseling

Ethical and Legal Issues in Group

Counseling

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 1
What does it mean to be ethical
group practitioners?
n More than just breaking laws or ethical code

``````High Level of Consciousness`````

What are the typical misconducts?

n Most importantlyThe Power of the Leader..

How can this lead to unethical misconduct?

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 2
 SO what is it then

n The power of group ..

Therapeutic effects vs. potentials harms

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 3
 The leaders

n Skills,
n Styles,
n Personal characteristics
n Competence
Combined with
n ethically & legally sound principles

Plus
n Experience

~~~~~~Makes effective group

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013
6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 4
Group counselors to know & abide
by
n Ethical Guidelines for Group Counselors:
Association for Specialist in Group Work (ASGW, 1989)

Other relevant ethical codes

n Code of Ethics and standards of Practice
American Counseling Association (ACA, 1995)
n Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
American Psychological Association (APA, 1992)
n Code of Ethics
American Assoc for Marriage & Family Therapy
(AAMFT, 1991)
n Code of Ethics
National Assoc of Social Workers (NASW, 1990)

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 5
Ethical Issues in Group
Membership
n Involuntary membership
n Informed Consent
n Psychological Risks for members
n Freedom to withdraw from group

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 6
 Involuntary membership

n What if it is not voluntary but force

membership?
n How to deal with those who refused?
n How their perceptions affect their views
towards group?
n What can we do about it?

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 7
 Informed Consent
n Make them aware of their rights &
responsibilities as participants
n Provide adequate information in order to
make informed choices
n What else to tell them?

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 8
Freedom to withdraw from
group
nOnce committed to time limited and closed
group, can one leave the group anytime they
want?
n What is the procedure of premature
termination?
q Explain during 1st meeting
q Must inform leader & members before leaving

n Why discussion about leaving important?

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 9
Psychological Risks for Members

Group counselors explore with group

members the risks of potential life changes
that may occur because of the group
experience and help members explore their
readiness to face these realities

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 10
Psychological Risks for Members

n Before and after

n In and out side group
n Conflict within oneself
q Coping with changes
q Decision
n Roles of the group leaders:
To minimize the risks
q How to prepare them for all these?

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 11
Confidentiality

Its for Confidence: How can it be broken?

n So does that mean never talk about group even with

someone we can trust?
n What if I want to share what we learn?

~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~Sign contract to honor

confidentiality~~~~~~~~

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 12
Confidential except
(i) Likely to do serious harm to themselves or
others
(ii) Abuse of children or elderly suspected
(iii) Ordered by court to provide info
(iv) With client specific written permission
(Page 36, Corey 2004)

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 13
Confidentiality
n Be familiar with local law*
n Counselors limitation to
confidentiality
n Minor,

n Privileged Communication*

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 14
Confidentiality

Leader can do little to guarantee the policy of

confidentiality will be respected by others

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 15
More on Ethics in Group Work
n Uses and Abuses of Group Techniques
q Aggressions potential harm

q The use of techniques (p38)

n The roles of leaders values in group

q Aware of it clarify your own
q Impose values is disservice

q Issues such as religion, abortion, extramarital affair

n Multicultural Awareness
q Attempt to understand others diverse background & how ones
own values (culture, racial identity) impact values/belief abt
counseling process
q APA guidelines adopted (Page 41)

n Ethical and Legal Standards (page 43-44)

n Legal Safeguard (page 44 46)

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 16
Values in Therapeutic Group Process

n Risks taking behavior

n Choosing for oneself preferred
n Expressing emotions healthier
n Self-disclosure and expressing vulnerability
n independence & autonomy
n Directness in communication
(page 41, Corey)

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 17
Ethical & Legal Standards
n Legal Liability & Malpractice
q Liable to civil suit ~
n If fail to exercise due care & act in good faith
n For not doing right or for doing wrong to another
q Liable to Malpractice suit ~
n If member prove personal injury or psychological harm due to leaders failure
to render proper service thru negligence or ignorance
n Kirby (1990) 3 important legal Issues
q Confidentiality
q Duty to protect
q Billing practice
n Bases for malpractice (page 43 44)
Ex. Sexual r/ship; improper diagnose; misrepresent
ting professional training & skills; failing to warn &
protect potential victim as threat made

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 18
Legal Safeguard for Group Practitioner
n Effective screening
n Informed choices & Informed consent procedure ~ using contract
n Parental consent
n Maintaining confidentiality
n When legally must break confidentiality discuss with member get written
release
n Scope of practice (with education, training & experience
n Boundaries of law (mandatory reporting)
n Rationale for techniques chosen
n Informed about research findings for effectiveness
n Dont promise
n Respect diversity
n Suggest alternative treatment
n R & D improve update leadership skills/ supervised experience (ASGW
professional standard for training of group workers)
n Malpractice insurance? Details (Corey & Corey pg 44-46)

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 19
Values in Therapeutic Group Process

n Risks taking behavior

n Choosing for oneself preferred
n Expressing emotions healthier
n Self-disclosure and expressing vulnerability
n independence & autonomy
n Directness in communication
(page 41, Corey)

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 20
 End of the Unit

HANIZA RAIS hanrais@gmail.com 2013

6/7/13 EDUCATION IIUM 21