Bret Hendricks

The Use of Expressive Techniques in Counseling

ABSTRACT This manuscript explores and identifies the use of expressive techniques in counseling. Although verbal techniques are important, sometimes the best of verbal techniques are not sufficient. Creative, expressive techniques can add a new, important dimension to counseling. Such expressive techniques as cinema, art, and music are described to help counselors deal with ethical dilemmas, grief and loss, and substance abuse. These techniques can assist counselors and their clients in reframing ideas, shifting perspectives, externalizing emotion, and deepening an understanding of an experience or an issue.

Ethical Code for the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors

The Board of Directors of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) requested the IAMFC Ethics Committee to revise the IAMFC Ethical Code (2006). The revised Ethical Code of the IAMFC focuses on current issues in marriage and family counseling. The Ethical Code of IAMFC (2011), which appears in the following article, has been approved by the Board of Directors of IAMFC and the American Counseling Association and is consistent with the current Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association (2005).

E-mail and Ethical Issues

The proliferation of the use of e-mail and texting has created some ethical dilemmas for family counselors. Although e-mail can expand and encourage communication, it is not problem free and, in fact, can pose problems. There are issues with privacy, confidentiality, and maintaining an appropriate professional relationship. Family counselors should be aware of the promises and pitfalls in using e-mail and related technologies.

Shelly: A Case Study Focusing on Ethics and Counselor Wellness

Counselors experience stress and anxiety as part of their profession. However, frequently counselors do not attend to their own needs regarding self-care and wellness, thus, placing themselves at risk of ethical violations relating to counselor impairment. In this article, a case study is presented with a correspondent wellness plan illustrating ways that counselors might implement self-care strategies to improve their wellness. The wellness treatment plan is written in conjunction with a physician, a cardiologist, who suggests simple ways to assess and monitor wellness.

Ethical Imperatives for Intervention with Elder Families

This article discusses the ethical dilemmas common to counseling practice with elder families and describes virtue ethics, rule ethics, and principle ethics in their application to the unique challenges of the life stage of diverse adults 60 years and older. The Five P Model of Ethical Decision Making of Gamino and Ritter is examined as a process for conceptualizing the ethics of care in complex situations like those of elder families. The authors challenge family counselors to expand their gerontological knowledge, including that of end-of-life care and bereavement, and to use a developmental lens when taking perspective on issues of aging clients and their families.

Evaluating the Success of a Parent-Professional Autism Network Implications for Family Counselors

Family counselors working with families and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders may seek assistance from a variety of sources in order to support their clients. Despite the need, few community resources are available to meet the varied and complex needs of families. The authors discuss a community-based program that can be used as an adjunct to family counseling. Specifically, this study used a survey and interview to examine perceptions of the benefits of participation in this program. The study identified four themes: (1) knowledge, (2) altered living patterns, (3) heightened coping skills, and (4) desired changes. These themes supported parental views of the success of the parent-professional networking group. Considerations for both family counseling practice and research are considered.

Postmortem Confidentiality: An Ethical Issue

In an era of increased need and expectation for confidentiality, the counseling record of the deceased client challenges confidentiality. Using ethical codes and legal mandates, the authors explore whether the counseling record of a deceased client should be released when the client’s will and the client’s counseling records are silent on this issue.

The Professional Will: An Ethical Responsibility.

Attention is directed to the ethical responsibility for the counselor to develop a professional will. Essentially the professional will is a roadmap for what the counselor directs to happen in the event that the counselor becomes incapacitated due to sudden death or illness. A model of a professional will is provided.

Wills An Ethical Responsibility

This article is written to focus on the need for the client and counselor to have a will that focuses on who has access to the client’s counseling records. Specifically, the focus is on the importance for the client to indicate who has access to his or her records following his or her death or incapacitation. In addition, this article focuses on who has access to the counselor’s records if the counselor should die or be incapacitated. The authors believe that it is the ethical responsibility of the counselor to discuss wills. Case examples are provided and recommendations are made.

Counseling Suicidal Adolescents Within Family Systems: Ethical Issues

Major ethical considerations must be taken into account when providing counseling services to suicidal adolescents and their families. This article explores these ethical issues and the American Counseling Association and International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors ethical codes relevant to these issues. Related liability and malpractice information is also discussed, including how counselors can follow professionally accepted standards of care and what must be done to improve client care and decrease the chances of a lawsuit.