Running head: EFFECTS OF VALUE-IMPOSITION ON COUNSELING 1

Effects Of Value-Imposition On Counseling

Name

School or Institution Name

 
Conflicts in counselling 2

MANAGING CONFLICTS DUE TO VARIATIONS IN COUNSELOR-CLIENT

PERSONAL VALUES.

Counseling is founded on healthy ethical practices. Counselors undergo pieces of training

as a prerequisite to obtaining licensure to operate. Even with the emphasis on ethical conduct,

violations persist, putting the welfare of the client, community, and the counselor in jeopardy.

One complicating factor in ethics is addressing conflicts in values between the client and the

counselor. Conflicts in personal values lead to counselors imposing their values on patients,

which violates ethical counseling standards.  

Being a staunch Christian, I believe in a higher divine power that helps solve personal

and social problems. I regard religion as the best alternative counseling technique: it creates

more robust mental well-being, physical health, and more satisfying relationships. Moreover,

religion has helped me and some friends develop a higher purpose in life and meaningful

relationships with community members. Due to this, predisposition is usually inclined to suggest

religion as the best route for people suffering from depression.

In my current profession as a social worker in a local community college, I still have a

preference for religious intervention practices in dealing with depression issues, even though my

agency offers several interventions for managing depression. Recently, when dealing with a

teenager who had struggled with depression for more than six months, my intrinsic

predisposition for offering spiritual advice as a solution to the Kid's depression kicked in;

however, the Kid did not share the same ideologies as me concerning the presence of divine

power that could help improve his sense of well-being. When explaining the possible depression-
Conflicts in counselling 3

intervention methods, I employ a series of verbal and non-verbal cues. Verbally I will encourage

the patient the many benefits religion offers in dealing with depression and how satisfying the

experience can be. Non- verbally, I can express facial cues of happiness and excitement while

sharing religion's ability and effectiveness in solving a client's issues.

Dialogue 

ME: (Excited and enthusiastic in helping our new client) we have successfully solved

various types of our clients' depressions by advising them to participate in religion.

Client: I am not spiritual; besides, I do not believe in the presence of divinity. I would

appreciate it if you would book me with a psychiatrist or offer me a prescription.

ME: (Feeling less excited) I recommend trying religion first; so far, it has been more

useful than conventional psychiatry practices.

Client: (in a raised tone) I told you am not interested in that route (NASW code of

ethics, right to self-determination)

ME: I strongly believe in the ability of religion to improve well-being. What do you say,

you try religion for a month if you are not satisfied we book you for free with our professionals.

Client: (reluctantly) which religion do you suggest?

ME: (Excited and feeling helpful) you can try Christianity- I too am a Christian. I can

book you with my pastor for more assistance. (Violation of NASW code of ethics, conflict of

interest)
Conflicts in counselling 4

The act of imposing ones' values (religion predisposition) as the best alternative to a

client violates SW standards of self-determination and has a conflict of interest. The SW

standards state that social workers should promote clients' right to self-determination and help

clients clarify or achieve their goals. SW Standards on conflict of interest are violated through

influencing clients to adopt a particular religion similar to that of the practitioner. Such violations

pose a risk to the well-being of the client and social worker.

Strategy For Helping Social Workers Keep Off From Self-Imposing Their Values

To Clients

The best strategy for counselors to keep them off from imposing the values to clients in

check is to develop self-awareness. Developing self-awareness is the most incredible tool

counselors can use to prevent themselves from Value-imposing. The process of figuring one's

Moral values entails taking a comprehensive inventory of your personal feelings, behaviors and

observing how your actions influence client sentiments or actions, especially those that provoke

anger or strong negative emotions (Goreczny et al., 2015). 

Another strategy for developing self-awareness is through seeking supervision. Even the

most talented counseling professionals need clinical management from time to time, especially

when dealing with challenging or demanding clients where decisive value differences come to

play (Veach et al., 2012). Supervisors help gauge the tempo of conversation and notice when

councilors' emotions begin to get out of hand. Moreover, supervisors help when a councilor

cannot figure out what is happening or when their values are so strong that they cannot act

without being biased or judgmental - they help ensure neutrality.

The other approach in the self-awareness strategy is the maintenance of neutrality.

Professors Ralph Dolgoff, Donna Harrington, and Frank M. Loewenberg, in their book, "Ethical

Decisions for Social Work Practice," suggests that when a practitioners' values conflict with

those of clients, it is best to maintain a neutral attitude as much as possible (Veach et al., 2012).

 Although it may not always be realistic, an apathetic attitude can help you keep your values in

check. It involves listening to and acknowledging what the client says without judgment or bias.

This neutrality concept is captured in Carl Jung's psychodynamic theory. The theory

suggested a possible standpoint for counselors who experience conflict between personal values

and ethical guidelines. This standpoint requires accepting that one's personally held values are

not superior to others. In this case, a counselor chooses not to surrender either value. By

accepting both values, the counselor subjects himself or herself to experiencing tensions caused

by varying values, beliefs, and ideologies until a standpoint and resolution can be achieved,

which transcends the opposing values without denying either one of them (Elliott, 2020). This

approach requires a strong will-power to bear the tensions and moral courage to view opposing

certitudes objectively (Elliott, 2020). The cognitive-developmental theory supports the

possibility of achieving this standpoint.

 
Conflicts in counselling 6

Reference

Elliott, G. (2020). When Values and Ethics Conflict: The Counselor's Role and Responsibility.

Retrieved 17 November 2020, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ954289.pdf

Goreczny, A. J., Hamilton, D., Lubinski, L., & Pasquinelli, M. (2015). Exploration of counselor

self-efficacy across academic training. The Clinical Supervisor, 34(1), 78-97.

Veach, P. M., Yoon, E., Miranda, C., MacFarlane, I. M., Ergun, D., & Tuicomepee, A. (2012).

Clinical supervisor value conflicts: Low-frequency, but high-impact events. The Clinical

Supervisor, 31(2), 203-227.

Wade, M. (2020). Ethics Inquiries -. Retrieved 17 November 2020,

from https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/ethics/ethics-

columns/ethics_april_2015_personal-values.pdf?sfvrsn=1e24522c_4