Multicultural Supervision CROSSING COLOR BARRIERS

Ethical and Legal Concerns

Section I of the ACA (2014) Code of Ethics on Resolving Ethical Issues mandates professional counselors to behave ethically and to obey the law. They are fully aware that client welfare and the trust enjoyed by their profession entirely depend on a high level of professional conduct on their part. They adhere faithfully to the ACA Code of Ethics and other applicable codes. They base their solution to an ethical issue or dilemma on the Code, consultation, relevant ethical standards, principles and laws. In cases when ethical responsibilities conflict with established laws, regulations and/or other governing legal authority and no solution is achieved, they may choose to yield to the requirements of these legal authorities (ACA).

Section B.1.c. On Respect for Confidentiality obliges counselors to guard all confidential information of both current and future clients (ACA, 2014). They reveal specific information only with the client's consent, by court order or sound legal or ethical justification. Section B.2.d. On Court-Ordered Disclosure states that such a court order to release confidential or privileged information but without the client's permission, counselors shall first attempt to convince and secure the client's written informed consent to the release of the information. If the client is unwilling, counselors shall first attempt to block the disclosure or at least allow only a limited amount of information. It should be narrowed down only to the most necessary details in order to protect the client-counselor relationship (ACA).

Section E.8. On Multicultural Issues and Diversity in Assessment of the Code obligates counselors to recognize the impact of client's color, culture, ethnic group, and race when testing and evaluating their cases as well as framing the results in the proper perspective. And in reporting these results, counselors give due regard to the client's personal and validity or reliability of the results according to the circumstances attending the assessment or with respect the client's cultural norms. They also give full and qualified recognition of the effect of culture on the way they define a client's problems and experiences. His or her socioeconomic and cultural experiences are given special consideration when diagnosing mental disorders. They maintain an awareness of historical and social prejudices when diagnosing he pathologies of clients and groups of other cultures. At the same time, they keep an awareness of, as well as address, their own biases about diverse groups (ACA).
Most Significant Concerns of a Supervisor, Priorities

These are to supervise only one's area of expertise, to avoid dual relationships, to regularly evaluate the competence of a supervisee, and to be always available for supervision (ACA, 2014; DeTrude, 2001). Section C.2 on Professional Competence, the counselors can practice only in their area of competence. They achieve multicultural counseling competency by working with clients from diverse populations. Dual relationships are of five categories, namely, circumstantial multiple roles, structured multiple professional roles, shifts in professional roles, personal and professional role conflicts, and the predatory professional. These relationships can be held in check when counselors remain aware of the power differential between the supervisor and the supervisee in the form of an "abuse of power," often of a sexual nature. If the boundaries between them are unclear, the supervisee may mis-interpret it as an occasion to cross these boundaries. Section F.3.a clarifies that they are to maintain ethical professional, personal, and social relationships.(ACA, 2014). A supervisor should always be aware about taking the risk of extending the relationship beyond professional boundaries. Doing so exposes them to harming and impairing their…