Ethical considerations in marriage and family therapy across cultures

¶ … Culture Interest

Ethical Considerations Relevant to the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy

We are living in an extremely difficult and increasingly complex world. Every issue that is raised has several varied points-of-view and dialogues. Similarly, traditional institutions such as religion and marriage are also being questioned by a good number of people. Seeing all this, it can be easily concluded that there are very few absolutes that are out there to guide our lives. If that is the case, it means that we are all left to ourselves to weigh up and assess the circumstances and to make decisions accordingly. This is what we call the ethical position. However, people need to interact and exchange their experiences socially to create new ideas. This social exchange of views helps people to analyze and comprehend the problematic situation and so that fruitful steps can be taken to avoid the difficulties. This interaction takes place on a daily basis and also occurs in the relationship between therapist and client. The ethical position thus, allows the therapist and the client "to own their presuppositions and understand the effect that they have on their lives." It is an exceedingly important characteristic required in a therapist to maintain ethical requirements while counseling the couples or during family therapy (Inger & Inger, 1994).

Ethical practice by a therapist is the use of his good and conscientious moral sense. Ethical practice by a therapist usually occurs if he abides by the existing laws that pertain to his/her clients, follows his/her professional code of ethics and possesses good clinical knowledge and proficiency (Hecker & Wetchler, 2003).

Black Marriages

Black marriages have often been viewed as systems which have inherent troubles and weaknesses. Black people repeatedly face issues that encompass female-headed households, separation, and divorce (Brannon, 1983, p. 169).

It is a universal truth that unavoidable problems do arise whenever two people are involved in a passionate interpersonal relationship like marriage. It is considered as a healthy bustle for a couple when they try to resolve their own problems. However, sometimes there are issues that do not resolve and are obviously unsuccessful to counter. This is the time when the professional help is healthy to inquire about (Brannon, 1983, p. 169).

All people, whether White, Caucasian or Black consider family as the most basic institution and as the heart and basis of their distinctive civilizations. When it comes to facing impossible and difficult situations and issues, black families are known to show an amazing ability in surviving them. The therapists who work with black families to counsel them agree that black families possess an extraordinary capability in taking up the impossible opportunities and turning them into the social investment of permanence and accomplishment (McFadden, 1983, p. 209).

There are three relevant dimensions that are needed by the therapists counseling black families. They are cultural-historical, psychosocial, and scientific-ideological dimensions which are really useful in learning, understanding and comprehending the diverse styles of blacks as a people. Therapists find black families as units of special interest due to the fact that they possess several unique characteristics. Not only black family is a symbol of harmony and potency, it also represents a practicable strength for substance and development. Before dealing with a black family, it should be ethically considered by the therapist to know and understand the beliefs, past, psychology and sociology (McFadden, 1983, p. 209).

While working with a black family, the therapist must follow some ethical rules and considerations which seem relevant during the practice of marriage and family therapy. Firstly, the confidentiality concerns are to be held high by the counselor. Therapists must value and safeguard confidences of each individual client. They are required not to disclose any information that they acquire through professional relationship. Secondly, the therapists must retain high values of professional uprightness, honesty and proficiency. They need to function ethically and effectively in every sense. As black families, generally, do not have adequate financial resources, the therapists (on humanitarian and ethical basis) should make financial arrangements with them in the early phase of therapy. One of the most important ethical considerations while counseling is the maintenance of equal relationship with both the parties in conflict. A therapist must not become the advocate of a single party. A therapist must also keep this in mind that he/she must not work towards changing a client according to his ideas and opinions. This decision should not be in the hands of a therapist as far as ethics are concerned in this profession. They should assist the couples or families to discuss the values they want to keep hold of, amend or dispose of (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011).

A family therapist must also endeavor to smooth the progress of understanding the black family assemblage. He must also know how this constellation affects the functions within the family. This is one of the most basic ethical requirements for a therapist not to interfere in the functions of the concerned family. Rather, he should assist the troubled family members to understand each other so that they could solve their problems with mutual acceptance. It is also the ethical responsibility of a counselor to make an individual realize his/her self-value and the worth of his/her family and culture. He can only be successful in facilitating the family or couple by signifying and supporting open communication with the disturbed and bothered couple or family. As mentioned earlier, a therapist must not favor one particular side as it is both ethically and professionally wrong. He must strive to scrutinize the behaviors of apprehensive individuals and should make them understand how their behavior affects the other side (McFadden, 1983, p. 222).