ETHICS SCENARIO: EVALUATING YOUR BIASES
Shannon meets with Linda, her supervisor.
Linda: Hi, Shannon! I’m glad we’re meeting about this case again. I’ve been wondering how it’s going for you.
Shannon: It’s actually going pretty well. At first I was really annoyed at you for not telling me I could transfer them to someone else.
Linda: I’m glad you’re aware of that, and feel comfortable telling me about it.
Shannon: Well, as it turns out, now I’m glad you wouldn’t let me. It’s been a hard case. But they’re doing so much better! I feel like I was able to establish a good rapport with Andy and Jennifer—which was hard at first. I mean, I grew up in a small town and I just wasn’t aware of anyone who was not like me. I never had a friend or relative who I knew to be gay – not even in college. So it was a challenge to think about working with this case.
Once I was able to build a strong rapport, it was easier for me to help them work through their religious differences. I still don’t really believe in gay marriage, but I want them to make it as a couple if that’s what they want. And I think it is. They’ve agreed to hold off on children for a little while and explore what parenting might look like together. And Andy’s coming to Thanksgiving dinner, where the cousin and aunt will be. I guess this case has been a lesson for me. I knew this was true, but now I feel like I know it more – therapy is about the client, not me.
Linda: That all sounds positive. And it sounds like you worked through some of your own biases.
Shannon: Yeah, I guess I did. Like I said, I still don’t believe in gay marriage. But I’ve been pondering what that means. And I’ve also had to put aside my feelings about people who aren’t religious. I mean, growing up in a little town like this, you just don’t get to meet people who don’t go to one Lutheran church or another. It’s good for me to have the chance to work with someone who sees the world so differently than I do. It makes me realized how sheltered I can be sometimes.
Linda: It also sounds like you were able to put aside your feelings about your own beliefs to work with this couple.
Shannon: Well, I found myself leaning in that direction sometimes. But I think I was able to catch myself before I let that get in the way of helping them.
Linda: And that’s great, Shannon. All counselors have biases—whether that has to do with religion or personal experience or whatever. It’s impossible to not bring your own background and beliefs to the table. The trick is to be self-aware of these biases and to know how they impact your perception. It sounds like that’s exactly
1) Seeking Out Supervision and Evaluating Your Biases
You have observed Shannon meet with her supervisor and discuss the case. Shannon also shared her experiences working with this couple.
For this discussion’s initial post, address the following:
. What behaviors or statements indicate how Shannon has demonstrated growth as a therapist?
. Identify Shannon’s biases and discuss the ways these biases affected her beginning efforts with the clients.
. In what ways did Shannon change from her beginning experiences with this couple to the termination of her therapeutic relationship?
. In what ways have you identified your biases during this quarter?
2) Professional and Personal Reflection
For the final course discussion, write a post of at least 250 words addressing the following:
How have you grown, personally and professionally, through your work and your studies in this course?
What insights about your own qualities as a professional marriage and family therapist have you gained?
What have you learned about how your status in various dimensions of culture (for example, gender, race, religion and spirituality, sexual orientation) influences your ethical decision-making process?
What ethical or legal issues have the potential to interfere with your ability to fulfill your professional obligations?
What steps can you proactively take to expand your connection with a group of your professional peers?
Last Completed Projects
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