Problem:
This week's self-inventory was very thought-provoking. Though I did not find it difficult to answer the questions, I found myself thinking a lot about how becoming a counselor is a profession that relies just as heavily on the training as what type of person you are and qualities you possess prior to beginning your career path. There are so many judgments that counselors, professors, supervisors, and students need to make, which is just another reason why practicing ethically is so crucial to the profession. Need Assignment Help?
Although Binh's counselor mentioned the six-session limit during intake, bringing up termination definitively in the sixth session seems to have felt abrupt to Binh, especially given her depression and difficulty with trust and emotional expression. I think I would have revisited the session limit earlier (maybe session 4?) while wokring together with Binh to assess her progress. Discussing the referral as a continuation of care rather than an ending might have reduced her fear of abandonment.
The counselor was not necessarily working beyond the scope of his practice yet, but he recognized that Binh's prolonged depression and suicidal ideations required more intensive treatment than he was trained to provide. Ethically, once he determined that her needs exceeded his competence, he had a responsibility to refer. However, it seems evident that Binh did not fully appreciate the short-term framework, suggesting that the informed consent process could have been clearer and more strongly emphasized.
If I did not believe I was competent to treat Binh, I would not agree to continue seeing her simply because she resisted referral (even if this meant that she did not continue treatment). Continuing treatment under those circumstances would violate ethical standards and potentially place her at risk. Instead, I would validate her fears, explain my ethical responsibility, and offer to coordinate a smooth transition to another counselor.
My question is to reply a post to the student.