Ethical issues in supervision
- 1. CARING COUNSELING CENTER Ethical Issues & Multiple Relationships in Supervision Presented by Beth Ruff & Alex Huguelet P: 555.123.4568 Street P: 555.123.4568 123 West Main 123 West Main Street New York, NY 10001 | | | F: 555.123.456710001 New York, NY www.carecounseling.com F: 555.123.4567 _______________________ www.carecounseling.com
- 2. Focus Questions What are the most critical ethical issues in 1. supervision? What are the most important ethical 2. responsibilities supervisors have toward supervisees and supervisee’s clients? What kinds of training, coursework, and other 3. professional experiences are essential for competent supervision? If you were a supervisee, how would you ideally like your supervisor to address multiple roles 4. and relationships that might be a part of the supervisory process? As a supervisee, how have your relationships with supervisors changed over time? What 5. lessons can you apply from these experiences when you assume a supervisory role? What kinds of activities that extend beyond the formal supervisory relationship do you think 6. might be appropriate for a supervisor to engage in with a supervisee? 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com Ethical Issues in Supervision
- 3. What are the most critical ethical issues in supervision? Balance • The rights of clients • The rights & responsibilities of supervisees • The responsibilities of supervisors to supervisees and supervisee’s clients Competence • Competence of supervisor • Competence of supervisee Multiple Roles and Relationships • Role conflicts • Avoiding Dual relationships 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 4. What are the most important ethical responsibilities supervisors have toward supervisees and supervisee’s clients? Before supervising, obtain training & education to ensure competence Limit one’s clinical Assess supervisee’s practice & supervision competence and training to one’s area of needs at beginning of competence relationship Promote ethical practice of supervisee by drawing Treat supervisee with attention to ethical issues. respect and provide Model ethical practice & timely and meaningful decision making feedback 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 5. MODELING ETHICAL PRACTICE 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 6. MODELING ETHICAL PRACTICE Confidentiality • Model professional behavior by dealing appropriately with confidentiality issues with supervisees. • Supervisors have responsibility of keeping information obtained in supervisory relationship confidential. • Explain the limitations and parameters of confidentiality. • Explain what will be shared with supervisors, faculty, for evaluation • Do not share personal information shared in supervisory sessions • Maintain confidentiality of supervisee’s clients 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 7. ETHICAL DECISION MAKING • Supervisors have a responsibility to teach supervisees how to think about ethical dilemmas. • Familiarize supervisee’s with ACA code of ethics • Teach ethical decision making model 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 8. ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 1. Identify the Problem 2. Identify Potential Issues Involved 3. Review Relevant Ethics Codes 4. Know Applicable Laws & Regulations 5. Obtain Consultation 6. Consider Possible and Probable Courses of Action 7. Enumerate the Consequences of Various Decisions 8. Decide the Best Course of Action 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 9. ETHICAL DECISION MAKING RESOURCES FOR CODE OF ETHICS American Counseling Association http://www.counseling.org/resources/cod eofethics/TP/home/ct2.aspx American School Counselors Association http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.a sp?contentid=136 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 10. ETHICAL DECISION MAKING FULL HOUSE STYLE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxRpGMeJPs8 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 11. What kinds of training, coursework, and other professional experiences are essential for competent supervision? Competent Supervisors… 1. Are trained in supervision and periodically update their knowledge and skills on supervision topics through workshops, continuing education conferences, and reading. 2. Must have the education, training, and experience necessary to be competent in the areas of clinical expertise in which they are providing supervision 3. Must have effective interpersonal skills and be able to work with a variety of group and individuals in supervision 4. Must be cognizant of the fact that supervision is a situational process that is dependent on interaction between supervisor, supervisee, the setting and the clients 5. Must be flexible and able to assume a variety of roles and responsibilities 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 12. What kinds of training, coursework, and other professional experiences are essential for competent supervision? Competent Supervisors… 6. Must have a broad knowledge of laws, ethics, and professional regulations that may apply in a variety of situations that could arise in supervision 7. Stay focused on the fact that a primary goal of supervision to monitor clinical services so that the welfare of the client is protected 8. Are willing to serve an evaluative function with supervisees and provide feedback about their performance on a regular basis 9. Document supervision activities in a timely and accurate fashion 10. Empower supervisees. Supervisors assist supervisees at both problem solving current situations and developing a problem solving approach that they can apply to nearly any clinical situation long after the supervision has ended. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 13. Incompetent or Impaired Supervisors • Engages in exploitive or harmful dual relationships with supervisees • Sexual contact with supervisees • Misuse of power • Extreme burnout • Makes poor decisions due to inexperience • Creates a negative experience for supervisee 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 14. Incompetent and Impaired Supervisees • Skill deficits • Gaps in knowledge • Subject clients to personal bias & stereotypes • Personality issues • Substance Abuse • Mental illness/Personality Disorders • Interpersonal sensitivity • Need for control • Personal Problems affecting work • Using one’s position to meet personal needs at the client’s expense. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 15. Monitoring Trainee Competence SUPERVISORS have a responsibility to recognize, monitor, and take action with incompetent or impaired supervisees. Dufrene & Henderson (2009) designed a framework for remediation with counseling trainees. This table describes areas in which to monitor supervisee’s competence Professionalism Counseling Skills Documentation Interpersonal Demeanor 1. Demonstrates basic counseling skills. 1. Completes and submits 1. Receptive to feedback from supervisor. 2. Consults with other professionals and application for clinical work. 2. Open to self examination. coordinates services related to clients. 2. Completes and submits logs on 3. Exhibits appropriate boundaries with 3. Demonstrates advanced counseling skills. time. clients, peers, colleagues, 3. Completes and submits supervisors, and faculty. evaluations on time. Procedural Compliance 4. Demonstrates his or her theoretical 4. Completes and submits 1. Knowledgeable of site and university orientation. audio/video tapes of counseling rules and procedures. 5. Able to conceptualize client cases sessions. 2. Attends supervision on time weekly. 5. Takes notes during supervision. 3. Participates in required staffing and 6. Writes client case notes. meetings. Professional Identity 1. Identifies appropriate counselor roles in specialty area. 2. Demonstrates ethical behavior. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 16. Taking Action with Incompetent Supervisees As gatekeepers, it is of the utmost importance for supervisees to hear from their supervisor about problems before it is too late for them to take corrective measures. Supervisors have an obligation to provide their supervisees with regular, specific, and ongoing feedback. Examples of corrective measures could include • Increased supervision • Leave of absence • Personal therapy • Taking additional courses or workshops • Repeating practicum or internship experiences 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 17. Multiple Roles and Relationships in the Supervisory Process • A multiple relationship occurs when a supervisor is simultaneously in a professional role and at least one more role (professional or nonprofessional) with the supervisee. • Supervision becomes more complicated when supervisors take on two or more roles. • If a multiple relationship is neutral or beneficial, supervisors should explore with the supervisee the pros and cons of the relationship. • Ethically, supervisors need to clarify their roles and be aware of potential problems that can develop when boundaries become blurred. • This will also help the supervisee practice and develop appropriate boundaries. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 18. Managing Multiple Roles and Relationships • Multiple roles and relationships cannot always be avoided. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to manage them in ethical and appropriate ways. • The bottom line is to avoid multiple relationships that could impair the supervisor’s objectivity, competence, effectiveness or will harm the supervisee. • Avoid multiple role relationships that involve an abuse of power. • A boundary crossing is a departure from standard practice that could potentially benefit the client or supervisee. A boundary violation is a serious breach that causes harm to the client or supervisee. • It is during the practicum and internship experience that many students will actually get to grapple with boundary issues for the first time. • Some writers have said that avoiding certain multiple relationships could be harmful to some clients and that therapists need to use their professional judgment. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 19. Special Situations • MENTORING • If a supervisory relationship also takes on a mentor- mentee relationship, the critical point is that the person with the greater power initiates a discussion about this type of collaborative project. • To be a true mentor and allow a supervisee to know you outside of your authority role may leave you feeling vulnerable. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 20. Special Situations •DOCTORAL AND MASTER’S STUDENTS • In counselor education programs, doctoral students often are in roles with master’s level students in which they hold a position of authority. • These multiple relationships should not be discouraged, but there needs to be an open discussion about keeping watch for boundary violations. • SOCIALIZING • However minor the social situation may seem, supervisors still need to think about the potential issues that could surface and how attending a social function might either enhance or inhibit the professional relationship. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 21. More Special Situations • SEXUAL ATTRACTION • The attraction isn’t the problem. It is what individuals do with the attraction that determines if it is appropriate or inappropriate. • It is the supervisor’s responsibility to create a safe learning environment for supervisees. • If you find yourself sexually attracted to a supervisee, you should examine your feelings and consider that sexual harassment could be a real issue for you. You need to deal with this in your own therapy and supervision. • Preoccupation with clients is problematic, while transient sexual feelings are normal. • Sexual feelings for clients are common among students as well as professional practitioners. It is crucial for trainees acknowledge these feelings to themselves and to their supervisors and take steps to deal effectively with them. • It is important to normalize the feelings of attraction and distinguish them from feelings of sexual misconduct. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 22. And More Special Situations • SEXUAL INTIMACIES • Although multiple relationships are common in university settings, sex between students and their professors and supervisors is forbidden by ethical standards. • It results in a loss of objectivity and an abuse of power. • Additionally, it is poor modeling for supervisees and their relationships with clients. • If a problem does arise, the supervisor has the responsibility to take steps to resolve them in an ethical manner. • Bottom line: If you want to practice ethically, don’t do it. • Any form of sexual intimacy between supervisees and their clients is inappropriate and unethical. • The supervisor has a legal and ethical obligation to do everything possible to intervene immediately should sex between the supervisee and the client occurs. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 23. Combining Supervision and Counseling • There is a basic agreement that the supervision process should concentrate on the professional development of the supervisee rather than personal concerns. Supervision and counseling have different purposes. • Referrals should be made to a therapist when a supervisee experiences a personal problem that interferes with their providing care to the client. • Personal problems or limitations of supervisees should be challenged during supervision. • The purpose of discussing supervisee’s personal issues in supervision is to help them work with clients more successfully, not fix the problem. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 24. Changing Roles and Relationships • Students and supervisees can become valued colleagues • It is important to have open discussions to sort out any issues that may arise. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com
- 25. References Corey, G., Haynes, R., Moulton, P., & Muratori, M. (2010). Clinical Supervision in the Helping Professions: A Practical Guide. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Dufrene, R. L., & Henderson, K. L. (2009). A framework for remediation plans for counseling trainees in G.R. Walz, J.C. Bleuer & R. K. Yep (Eds.), Compelling counseling interventions: VISTAS 2009 (pp 149-159). Alexandria,VA: American Counseling Association. 123 West Main Street P: 555.123.4568 New York, NY 10001 | F: 555.123.4567 | www.carecounseling.com