Introduction
This essay will discuss the legal and ethical concerns when working with children and young people. Confidentiality and safety issues will be discussed with relevant consideration as to how these issues may be addressed when forming a relationship with a child and their parents or caregivers. The influences of power, gender, ethnicity and cultural differences when counselling children and young people will be mentioned, with relevant aspects of key human development theories outlined. There are many things to consider when building a therapeutic relationship with a child or young person and potential challenges will be analysed and discussed. Finally, there are many skills needed to effectively communicate children and young
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Ludbrook highlights that the code of ethics of the association of child and adolescent psychotherapists includes a broad requirement that “its members do not abuse their position by taking advantage of clients for purposes of personal, institutional, political, financial or sexual gain.” (Ludbrook, 2012, p77). The Code of Health and Disability Support Services Consumers’ Rights 1996 outlines that all clients have a right to be respected in relation to their ethnicity, religious values, gender, and cultural differences. When counselling Māori children or young people, then the counsellor must uphold the principles within the treaty of Waitangi. Ludbrook emphasises that in order for counsellors to effectively provide bicultural practice, they must have an understanding of Māori language, traditions and cultural values. (Ludbrook, 2012, p78).
There have been several Humanistic and Existential human development theories which are of great use when counselling children and young people. Some key theorists in these fields include Carl Rogers, who believed in the inherent nature of the individual to find their own answers to the problems through non-directive counselling. Virginia Axline, who, like Rogers, believed in the ability of the child to solve their own problems through non-directive play in a safe environment. Fritz Perls, who emphasised the experience of bodily sensations, thoughts and
TDA 2.3 – Communication and Professional Relationships with Children Young People and Adults Interacting with and Responding to with Children and Young People
As a practitioner it’s your duty to observe and maintain correct procedures to ensure that the children are offered a stimulating environment which will further allow optimum possibilities for development. All those who work with or amongst children and young people have a crucial role to play in helping not only to shape aspects of their lives, but to also aid in enhancing their future development. Therefore it can be stated that how we set up our own working practices can affect children and young people’s development, as will be identified by this essay; below are areas where one should concentrate in order to further
When looking at children and young people’s development it is important to recognise and respond to concerns to ensure that the child or young person receives the help and assistance needed.
The newsletter published by the Dulwish Centre explores the concept of Just Therapy in an application to family therapy. Primarily, this article examines the social injustice around the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. The therapeutic approach considers elements of gender, culture, social, and economic attributes, in contrast to Western methods which tend to dismiss these qualities.
In this assignment I will outline why a child and young people need to be looked after away from their families. There are many reasons why young people and children may need special care and need away from their families. Those reasons may include family breakdown, bereavement, parental illness or incapacity of some kind. They may be linked to behavioural problems or even the child’s own illness. One of these reasons include, abusive parent.
This case had several ethical, legal and professional ramifications, including aspects of cultural differences between non-indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. There is a requirement for counsellors to actively understand the diverse cultural backgrounds, and differences in behaviour of their clients; stated in; The Australian Counselling Association (ACA-Au., 2008); Code of Conduct (2, 2.1), American Counselling Association (ACA, US, 2005), Code of Ethics (A.2c; B.1a; c.2a) and Education Queensland (EQ) Code of Conduct (1994) 2.1.1, and Education Queensland (EQ) (2008) Ethical Code, and Watson, Herlihy & Pierce, 2006.
In chapter 3 it discusses what it means to be an ethical counselor and the ethical dilemmas that a counselor may face in their career. I aspire to be a competent, ethical counselor. When I began my journey of becoming a future counselor, I did not realize the growth that would happen within me. To be an ethical counselor it starts with figuring out who you are as a person. I am a recovering addict.
In no more than 3,000 words you are required to complete an essay on ethical issues in the practice of counseling, by addressing the following question:
I intend to show an understanding of the ethical framework for good practice in counselling, relating it to practice and also my own beliefs and opinions, how this influences the counselling relationship, I will also show the need for protection of self and client.
Child development has been scrutinised through various theoretical frameworks attempting to construct the idea of a ‘perfect’ child; which has become a central part of practice (Woodhead, 2006). The purpose of this essay is to explore child development, whilst demonstrating a critical understanding of dominant psychological theories and how these can perpetuate certain political and ethical perspectives. Bringing alternative theories to the dialogue is an acknowledgement that no one theory can be said to have pre-eminence. The case study (See Appendix) is used as a vehicle to explore the application of a range of theories; and ethical dilemmas practitioners working with children may encounter. Additionally, this case study aims to demonstrate how practitioner’s expectations of children are constructed; by accepting certain theories as ‘facts’ in accordance with: historical, political and cultural nature. Furthermore; I intend to make reference to my own childhood experiences; and how this may affect the lens in which I view child development, for my future practice.
“The code of ethics requires that counsellors offer the highest possible levels of confidentially in order to respect the client’s privacy and create the trust necessary for counselling”. (BAC, 1997:A3).
One of our first theorist is Jean Piaget who was a Swiss psychologist that worked in child development. According to Piaget, people learn from four factors: bio-logical maturation, experience with the physical environment, experience with the social environment, and equilibration. (Schunk p.236). Piaget focuses on the interaction of children; cognitively and morally. He wanted to describe how children create the world around them, also agreeing that
The relationship between a therapist and or counselor is the vehicle that permits the therapist to treat the client. This relationship is based upon an establishment of trust and that trust is worked through the moral actions of the counselor. In the ranges of privacy, competency, dual roles, sexual intimacy, and termination, the counselor must act morally and assemble a working relationship that can convey help and care to the patient. Counseling ethics are central to the identity and function of a counselor and especially a Christian counselor.
Ethics of working with adolescents is not simply a response to their conflicts and dilemmas. It involves a complex deliberation of the legal context, as well as the ethical framework, that guides the practice of a healthcare practitioner (Michaud, Berg-Kelly, Macfarlane, & Benaroyo, 2010). Ethical considerations for an adolescent include the important components of duty of care, confidentiality, consent, and mandatory reporting (Sigman, Silber, English, & Epner, 1997).
There are a number of theorists that have ideas, charts, and graphs about how a child develops. Many are used today to determine when a child is mature, when they can feel emotion, and other important factors to which there are no strict textbook answers for. Piaget and Vygotsky are two theorists that offer theoretical perspectives on how a child develops.