Running head: ETHICS IN GROUPS
Ethics in Groups
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ETHICS IN GROUPS
Abstract
This research paper addresses the hot topic of ethics in groups. Based on the topic, it
highlights the broad understanding of the ethical issues in light of group therapy and
counseling among others. In addition, the research paper contains the first person
discussion of the leadership qualities and the approach to group therapy. The conclusion
of the study is based on the findings of the issues that are discussed in the research
findings. The paper establishes that individual therapy as having historically been cited as
an effective treatment measure with the group therapy being less considered. In addition,
the group psychotherapy has a high level of evidence as far as the treatment of various
problems is concerned. The paper has defined the constituents of the group work in
addition to establishing ethical standards that are ethical through which there can be
advancement of group therapist, counselors, psychotherapist, client and the profession. In
relation to understanding group ethics, there has been an aspect of the professional
practice through which the skills and knowledge is applied in facilitation of the group to
enable a collection of people that are interdependent in mutual goals realization, which
may be related to work or may be interpersonal. The major types of groups that have
been identified include the counseling, psychoeducation and psychotherapy. The group
process use in psychotherapy, counseling and in group therapy has been perceived to a
powerful catalyst through which change and personal growth can be enhanced. Each of
these groups is perceived to have unique purpose through which continuous need for
conducting increasing group ethics in the modern world than ever. Its importance
becomes not only limited to the clients safety but for the profession and therapist which
unique ethical standards pertaining to the group therapy are instituted.
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ETHICS IN GROUPS
Ethics in Groups
The therapeutic groups’ unique power which has been basically responsible for
bringing about changes for members has increasingly been acknowledged of late in the
profession of mental health (Corey and Corey, 2006). Individual therapy has traditionally
been perceived to be an effective type treatment with group therapy being the less
considered option. Markus and King (2003) notes, group psychotherapy has been
perceived to have a high level of evidence in the psychiatric and psychological problems
treatment. In connection to the group work counseling continued establishment, the
practitioners have identified the importance of developing a grounding that is solid in
relation to the ethical issues that are common through which group treatment is likely to
be the result. After the introduction of the primary organization with group work
established ethical standards, the major ethical issues are based on two broad areas; that
of the group’s rights and the ethical issues falling under responsibilities of the group
leader (Fallon, 2006).
The importance of group leader’s awareness is stressed by Bemak and Chung
(2004) based on various impending dilemmas in the group work. The conflicts and
challenges in the groups are highlighted by Bemak and Chang (2004) as natural
phenomenon with the challenges being perceived to be forces that are negative and
excellent reasons for the reluctance to conduct groups by the counselor. It is similarly
held by Kraus, DeEsch and Geroski (2001) that although there is unique therapeutic
power in the groups through which the clients can be in their transitional journey, there is
also threatening potential of the groups through which there is a possibility of harm being
produced to the members. Therefore, it will be important to define the constituents of the
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group work in addition to establishing ethical standards that are ethical through which
there can be advancement of group therapist, counselors, psychotherapist, clients and the
profession.
As the foundations for the standards that are ethical are laid, establishing the
boundaries of what the group work is made up of will be very essential. The group ethics
term has been well-expressed by ASGW (2000) in which it has incorporated the various
ways through which group working is enhanced to the counselors. Through group work,
there is an aspect of the professional practice through which the skills and knowledge is
applied in facilitation of the group to enable collection of people that are interdependent
in mutual goals realization which may be related to work or may be interpersonal. As
Corey and Corey (2006) notes, the group therapy etiology originates from its use on the
basis of psychotherapy, although in the understanding of group therapy, a wider
population is encompassed consisting of leaders and members of the group.
Due to the continuous expansion in group variance, there has increasingly been
the need to have ethical guidelines that are clear. Some groups have been perceived not
be naturally therapeutic together with having characteristics that are unique. Four major
types of groups have been identified by ASGW (2000), which are; counseling,
psychoeducational, task and psychotherapy. Each of these groups is perceived to have
unique purpose through which the group variances used today is demonstrated. Based on
the fact that the groups are ranged into various types, group intervention setting and
group member rights awareness has been perceived to be important. Those with a
consideration of connecting with the therapy group are usually not aware of basic rights
as members of the groups as well as their responsibilities. In connection to orientation,
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ETHICS IN GROUPS
screening as well as consent that is informed, there is the need for the group members to
have an assurance of the appropriateness of the other members for the functioning at the
group level.
Screening is aimed at; (a) determining the compatibility of an individual for
specific group and (b) determination by the person the compatibility of the goals set
under it. There is also the right of the group member to be aware of the groups purpose, a
group format description, the group leaders qualification, the expenses and fees that have
to be met when joining the group together with the knowledge of the circumstances
through which there may be breaking of the confidentiality on the basis of reasons that
are legal, professional or even legal before even becoming a member in the group (Corey,
Williams and Moline, 1995). A further suggestion is held by Lasky and Riva (2006) that
it would also be ethical if the limitations and values of the group are discussed as well as
the psychological risks which participants in group may bring forth and ways through
which these risks can be dealt with . The new and prospective members are basically
prepared by the counselors through provision as much information as necessary on the
proposed group. Through screening, orientation and procedures of informed consent, an
appropriate match is provided between the individual and group through which there may
be a likelihood of prevention of further complications.
Basically, the major standards in relation to group therapy according to APA
(2002) stated, “When psychologist provide services to several persons in a group setting,
they describe at the onset the roles and responsibilities of all parties and the limits of
confidentiality” (p. 15). The support that is added to the relevance of acquiring consent;
that is informed to the members of the groups at the beginning of the group therapy can
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ETHICS IN GROUPS
be seen in the ACA (2005) in which the members are informed by the group counselors
whether they will participate on the basis of involuntary or voluntary.
Participation is also another ethical dilemma in which the dilemmas that are more
specific will include issues related to indirect participation, the right of the members to
leave the group, in addition to participation that is mandatory to various activities that
takes place during the period of the group work. As Glass (1998) notes, the outlook
facing an increasing number of therapist involve treatments which are not there in
accordance to their will or whose refusal to participate is as a result of various reasons.
The endeavor of the counselor is aimed at ensuring that there is informed consent for the
members even if it is based on their involuntary basis (ASGW, 2000). The autonomy
respect for the individual is perceived to be essential as there is emergence of
cohesiveness between the members of the group. Through the group leaders, the
member’s rights are protected against intimidation, physical threats, and undue pressure
from the peers and coercion in a reasonable manner (ASGW, 1989). The groups are
basically aimed at helping the member in establishing their own answers and not through
pressuring them into acting according to appropriate perception of the group. There may
be an onset of a coercive feeling by the member in which information that is private and
damaging may be disclosed if there is no protection. The reducing coercion likelihood in
a group therapy is perceived to be significant to the rights of participation in addition to
allowing the therapeutic agent to work the magic within the group.
In relation to privileged and confidentiality communication, ensuring that there is
confidentiality in group therapy has been perceived to be the group counseling most
challenging aspect (Lasky and Riva, 2006). The steps that have to be taken by the group
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counselor are aimed at protection of the members through definition of the confidentiality
and limitation that are potential to maintenance of group work. Although it is the duty of
the therapist in creation of an atmosphere that is positive through which there is
maintenance of the confidentiality, this results from the laws and jurisdiction through
which their region are governed. Through communication that is privileged, there is legal
concept which ensues to the client that the disclosure of the information to the relation
that is therapeutic will not in the legal proceeding be exposed by the therapist. However,
the privileged communication concept availed to the relationship at the individual level is
not perceived to be applicable to group therapy based on the fact that the acting of the
other members will on the basis of third party. Through the group counselor, there may
be the exemption from testifying, which may be obligated to the third party (Corey et al.
1995). The beneficial communication has not at the first place been aimed at protection
of the communication that is made within groups, and it is also important to note that it
does not unfortunately apply the work groups. In addition, a study by Pomerantz, (2004)
postulates that the group communication client’s falls under the privilege of the therapist.
Glass (1998) notes that the group leader’s action, responsibilities and attitude are
where the various ethical issues that surround the group work originate from, and do not
come from the group. The group ability of reacting to the group incidents that are
conflicting or challenging is one of the group leadership most important aspect. To enable
the group leaders in responding to the group members in a way that is ethical, the
guidelines of ethics as specified by APA, ACA and ASGW will have to be complied too.
As the modern group therapy continue to be characterized with intense sensitivity in
ethical issues, the importance of training leaders that are competent has been perceived to
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ETHICS IN GROUPS
be a characteristic that is essential in the graduate programs of counseling. The
importance of group leaders training has been strongly emphasized with the following
particular competence in skills being stressed on: the group opening and closing ability,
modeling behaviors that is appropriate for the members in the group, incorporation of a
self disclosure that is appropriate to the group, receiving and giving feedback, assistance
of the members in attribution of their experience with meaning together , with assisting
the members in integration and application of their learning. Also the core competencies
of the group should be outlined, the practice scope and nature, the group members
assessment together with their living and working social systems, the group intervention
planning, the group intervention, co-leadership and leadership implementation, and
practices that are competent in diverse ways (ASGW, 2000). The need for these standards
increased awareness is supported by Markus and King (2003) in a study in which only
the pre-doctoral psychology are not routinely perceived to provide group psychotherapy
sufficient for training. The importance of training group leaders that are of high quality
through group work listing as an important content area of the curriculum has been
strongly stressed. There is in addition the need for provision of participation option in
group activity during the training in which self-understanding is promoted in addition to
increasing the interpersonal skills and self analysis (Barlow, 2008).
A great deal of power is usually enhanced by the group leaders and there is need
for ensuring that their own values are not forced on the groups. In this area, the ethical
concern includes the leaders using their group in advancing the agendas that are personal
to them in addition to meeting their own needs at the group member’s expense (Corey et
al. 1995). Awareness is usually developed by the group counselors in their own needs
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and values as well as the potential impact that they usually cause to the probable
intervention (ASGW, 1989). In relation to this, there exist a real difference between
exposure and imposing of one’s values (Brabender, 2006), As self values are imposed by
the group leader, it is usually a show of disrespect for the integrity of the members
although at times, it is perceived to be appropriate in exposing the values in case there is
conflict to the member’s values based on the fact that they are usually not evitable in
addition to being the psychotherapy pervasive part (Corey et al. 1995).
My leadership qualities are numerous; however is it discipline that enables me to
work toward my vision or goals as a leader. Unquestionably my leadership is marked by
other characteristics such as patience, honestly, strength, sensitivity, objectivity,
trustworthiness, caring, openness and, confidence (Jacobs, Masson and Harvill, 2009.) I
am usually able to direct my actions as well as those of the group or team towards the
goal. My leadership is also marked by actions, which has been guided by my daily quest
toward my vision in a trend through which I am also able to inspire others. The strength
in me to be a great leader is guided by integrity, dedication, creativity, fairness and
assertiveness. My effort to excellent leadership is basically motivated by the fact that I
have a clear vision through which I am well aware of where I am going. In addition, I
believe that I now have a better understanding of what success feels like and based on
this, I now have a laid out strategy through which l am able to achieve that success.
However as a potential leader, I clearly understand that having a vision is simply not
enough and that I must also have experience. According to Jacobs et al. 2009, Effective
leaders have spent considerable time talking to all kinds with all kinds of people, not just
those like themselves. The broader the leaders range of life experiences, the greater the
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chances for understanding the diverse members of a group” (p. 25).
The ability of the leaders in developing a perspective that is multicultural is one
ethical issue that is most pressing; surrounding group work based on which there is need
of development of a perspective that is multicultural. As society face changes toward a
population that is more diverse, there is the need for the group intervention meeting these
challenging needs in addition to being the responsibility of the leaders making it happen.
According to my understanding of group therapy, there seem to be a self awareness
component that is diverse in addition to intervention strategies that are diversity
appropriate. The ASGW (1998) principles, reminds me that basically, there is for certain
a place which can be considered as the group workers starting point through which there
can be increased awareness and skills in facilitation of the groups with membership
representing the societal diversity. In relation to this, I see the importance of therapist
having a dire need for becoming group leaders that are diversity competent. In addition, if
there has to be effectiveness of the group therapist in the population, training will be
critical to enhance cultural competence (Bemak and Chung, 2004). As the group therapist
strive to emerge aware of their personal biases, it will be important that they build on the
standards through which there will be a foundation (Corey et al. 1995). To the therapists
that are offering group therapy as well as individual to the same person, the risk of
confidentiality breach and informed consent is high based on the fact that remembering
the information that was shared may be difficult. Before entering a counseling
relationship that is dual it is important to be aware of the precursors. In dual relationship
situations where the therapist provides both individual and group therapy to a patient it
can increase the risk of confidentiality breach and informed consent is high based on the
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fact that the therapist may experience some difficulty remembering which environment
the patient disclosed which information (Glass, 1998).
Conclusion
The group process use in psychotherapy, counseling and in group therapy has
been perceived to be a powerful catalyst through which change and personal growth can
be enhanced. Similarly, there can be a likelihood of misusing this power if the
performance is done without ethical standards application. Based on the ethical standards
that are established by ACA, APA and ASGW, group members’ rights are promoted as
well as their responsibilities. It is also clear that there are some challenging situations
arising from the group counseling which will result in therapeutic energy and are
perceived to be the commonly avoided rich moments. Such challenges should be
capitalized on by the group counselors in addition to harnessing the distinctive power
which has potential of being provided by the group process (Kraus et al. 2001).
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Association for Specialist in Group Work. (1989). Ethical Guidelines for Group
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Association for Specialist in Group Work. (1998). Principles of Diversity Competent
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