Assignment 2: LASA 1: Ethical Case Study Analysis Paper

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Assignment 2: LASA 1: Ethical Case Study Analysis Paper

Case Study

James is a community counseling student who is interning with the College Counseling Center at the local university. James is a 25 year-old Caucasian male, who attended a private high school in a small rural town. In terms of being a counselor, James admits that one of his challenges is that he has not experienced much diversity in his relationships. He states that this is not a significant issue because he plans on opening a private practice in his hometown as soon as he graduates. Since he “knows the town” he doesn’t feel that this is a big deal. Also, in terms of finding clients, James states that he is sure he will be able to get referrals because his father works for the town newspaper and will run an ad as soon as he moves home.

James admits he has no clinical experience but is pleased, upon arriving at his internship site, to see that his ex-girlfriend is going to be his assigned clinical supervisor. Since they have not seen each other in years, James figures that meeting once a week will give them a good opportunity to catch up on “old times”. James also figures that she could continue to supervise him in private practice until he receives his license. James is relieved because he knows she won’t mind, since he will be graduating in nine months, if he puts her credential, Licensed Professional Counselor, after his name since she is supervising him.

After discussing private practice, James asks his ex-girlfriend if he can begin to see clients right away because he is anxious to get experience and begin working on his practice. Since she figured he would be a pretty good counselor, she agreed and paired him up with Lisa, a 21 year-old Latina female.

During the first session, James was running late and was unable to fully cover all of the intake documents with Lisa. He put them aside and said, “We don’t really need to review these. It is just paperwork required by the Center. Please sign here.” As the counseling session continued, James thought he might have recognized symptoms associated with depression including decreased motivation, loss of appetite and overall dissatisfaction. He thought about bringing these up with his supervisor but forgot once he left the session.

James continued to meet with Lisa. The first few sessions focused mainly on her recent break-up with her boyfriend and the resulting academic difficulties. She was very concerned that her career dream of becoming a lawyer may be in jeopardy.

In the third session, Lisa casually mentioned that she began to experience depressive symptoms as a child when her mother’s partner began to physically abuse her at the age of 5½ years. Lisa told her mother about the abuse, but she did not intervene. Shortly after the physical abuse began, the man began to also sexually abuse her. Once again, Lisa reported this to her mother and also to a teacher at her school, but nothing was ever done. Lisa reported that when she was 7, she placed an unknown prescription medication of her mother’s into this man’s alcoholic drink. Later that same day, the man experienced a stroke and was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Lisa also reported learning that her mother’s partner’s stroke and subsequent death were related to the combination of prescription medication and alcohol. The client has never told anyone other than James that she had placed medication in this man’s drink.

Directions:

Read the case study provided and identify all three of the ethical dilemmas presented.
Describe the nature and all dimensions of the three ethical issues.
Identify the ethical code numbers and definitions of each issue presented using both the APA and ACA codes.
Discuss alternative courses of action that could be taken by the counselor to rectify each dilemma.
Describe the implications of each alternative action; lay out the limitations and advantages of each alternative considered.
Choose one course of action and provide a justification for this selection.
Describe the ethical decision-making model (from your course materials) you used throughout the process to arrive at a final decision (i.e., Forrester-Miller and Davis). Make sure you outline each step.
You will be graded on the process you used to arrive at your recommendations and the reasoning behind picking a specific recommendation (and not the actual recommendation itself). You should utilize and cite at least two peer-reviewed journal articles to include in your research.

The body of the paper should be no less than 5 pages in length. Your paper should be double-spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman font, with normal 1-inch margins, written in APA style, and free of typographical and grammatical errors. It should include a title page with a running head, an abstract, and a reference page.

Save the paper as AU_PSY430_M3_A2_LastName_FirstInitial.doc and submit it to the M3 Assignment 2 LASA 1 Dropbox by Wednesday, April 20, 2016.

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria

Maximum Points

Analyzed the case and identified all three of the ethical dilemmas presented in the case study.

16

Described the nature and all dimensions of the three ethical issues.

16

Identified the ethical code numbers and definitions of all issues presented in the case study using both the APA and ACA codes.

28

Discussed alternative courses of action that could be taken by the counselor to rectify each dilemma.

20

Described the implications of each course of action; laid out the limitations and advantages of each alternative considered.

20

Chose one course of action and provided a justification for this selection.

16

Described the ethical decision-making model (outline the steps) used throughout the process to arrive at a final decision.

28

Included information from at least two external scholarly references.

12

Writing components:

· Organization (12)

· Usage and Mechanics (12)

· APA Elements (16)

· Style (4)

44

Total:

200

Working With Immigrants and Refugees: The Case of Abdel

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iscussion 1: Treatment Evaluation

Many social work students dread taking research classes. They often view the courses as unnecessary to be a good social worker when, in fact, the opposite is true. How do you really know that your interventions are working, unless you evaluate them? As a social worker it is essential to identify in a quantifiable manner whether a treatment is helping the client or if it needs to be abandoned for another approach. In the past, social workers depended on recognizing a client’s progress through their own observations. Today, with a significant push both in the field of social work and among insurance companies to provide evidenced-based practice, social workers now are expected, more than ever, to evaluate their practice. Selecting the proper measurement/evaluation tool, based on the clients’ presenting concerns and treatment goals, will provide the evidence-based practice that is expected by the field.

For this Discussion, review this week’s Resources, including the course-specific case studies. Search the Mental Measures Yearbook database to identify potential scales that could be used to evaluate the treatment. Select one of the scales you identified and consider why it might be useful in evaluating treatment. Finally, think about the validity and reliability of that scale.

Post a description of the scale you might use to evaluate treatment for the client in the case study you selected and explain why you selected that scale.

Be sure to reference the case study you selected in your post.

Finally, explain the validity and reliability of that scale.

 

REFERENCES

 

  • Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year.Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
    • Working with Immigrants and Refugees: The Case of Abdel

 

 

 Working With Immigrants and Refugees: The Case of Abdel

Abdel is a 40-year-old male, who was resettled as refugee in a major city on the East Coast. Abdel has a bachelor’s degree in theology from his home country and is fluent in English and four other languages. He fled his home country after being imprisoned and tortured for his political activism against an oppressive governmental regime. Prior to his resettlement, he spent 12 years living in a refugee camp in an African nation. Abdel was defined as a refugee by a United Nations affiliate within 6 months of arriving in the camp. He then waited 10 years before receiving word that he would be resettled to the United States and another 1½ years before arrangements were finalized.

Abdel was unable to contact his wife before escaping prison and fleeing his country; he has not been able to contact her in over 12 years, and her current whereabouts are unknown. He has heard that she remarried and had children after presuming him to be one of the missing dead. Abdel struggles between wanting to find his wife and wanting her to have a happy life uncomplicated by his survival. His mother and father passed away while he was in the camp, and he has no other family. Abdel made many friends while living in the refugee camp, and the relative of one friend now rents him a room in the United States. His housing is in the suburbs and a half-day journey from the resettlement agency that provides him the majority of his services.

One month after arriving in the United States, Abdel saw a pamphlet regarding special services available for refugee survivors of war trauma in his resettlement case manager’s office and asked for more information. After learning that the war trauma program provided medical, psychological, and legal assistance, he sent an email with details of his trauma history to the program coordinator asking to participate in the program. Abdel reported that during his 6 years of imprisonment, he had been repeatedly beaten, deprived of food and water, and denied treatment for injuries and illnesses resulting from the assaults and unhygienic living conditions. Abdel experiences chronic back pain and has significant dental damage as a result of his torture history. He expressed concerns about his difficulty finding employment and worries about how he will pay for rent and basic needs when his 8 months of refugee cash and medical welfare benefits end. He requested assistance finding employment training programs, accessing information regarding college scholarships to further his education, and securing social supports to help him feel more connected to his new community.

Abdel appeared very discouraged when he began the program. I asked him to identify what he would like his life to look like in 10 years, and Abdel said his dream was to complete a second degree in theology, resume a role as a religious leader in his new community, have stable income through gainful employment, and live in safe and independent housing. Abdel viewed his anger as negatively affecting his life and thought his goals would be hindered if he did not learn to regulate his emotions. We worked together to identify his triggers, which appeared to stem from fears regarding money and feeling a loss of control over the direction of his life. Using the strengths-based approach, I encouraged Abdel to recognize his resilience and identify qualities he possessed that could be turned into coping skills to use when he began to feel angry, overwhelmed, or fearful.

As Abdel developed confidence in his ability to manage challenging situations, he began to participate in more independent activities. He found a church with services in his native language and began developing friendships within the congregation. Abdel was able to transition from using the agency as his primary support system to having community-based supports. I continued to aid Abdel in navigating the public benefits system and applying for jobs, and his church community helped him with finding housing and applying for scholarships. By the time his 8 months of refugee cash assistance ended, Abdel was employed at a retail store and was able to afford shared housing. At a service plan review 11 months after initially seeking assistance, Abdel determined that he had achieved most of the service plan goals and could achieve the remaining goals without additional program support.

Distinguish how gender may have influenced the communication within your family.

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To prepare for this discussion, reread “Becoming a woman, becoming a man, and becoming a person” in your textbook. Your book talks about “the family as a primary socializing agent” (Ivy, 2008, p. 78). Using the Argosy University online library resources, the Internet, and your own unique family perspective, prepare a response related to the following questions:

  • Distinguish how gender may have influenced the communication within your family. How about birth order (youngest, middle, oldest, only)? Other factors?
  • Analyze what worked well and what did not work well as far as communication went within your family (listening, conflict resolution, pattern of communication, etc.).

Post your responses in one or two paragraphs.

All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.

Explain multicultural considerations your colleagues would need to keep in mind in their social work practice.

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RESPONSE 1:

 

  • Respond to at least two colleagues with a critique of their analysis.
  • Explain multicultural considerations your colleagues would need to keep in mind in their social work practice.
  •  Specifically, explain how marginalized racial and ethnic groups identified in your colleagues’ posts might perpetuate a marginalized group status.
  • Explain how a marginalized group may identify and adopt the norms of a dominant group. Finally, explain the implications for social work practice.

 

 

Collegue 1: 

 

Dominance within and amongst social groups is perpetuated when it is not challenged (Adams, Blumenfeld, Castaneda, Hackman, Peters and Zuniga, 2013).  This was evident in the case of 24 year old, Aaron, an immigrant from Guyana who sought guidance due to symptoms of depression and anxiety (Plummer, Makris and Brocksen, 2014).  Further exploration into his background, revealed a strained relationship with his parents, particularly after the untimely death of his younger brother (Plummer, et. al., 2014).  At the foundation of this strained relationship was a different in cultural values held by Aaron and his parents.  Aaron, having immigrated to the United States seven years after his parent’s immigration, attempted to maintain the traditional values of his homeland, while his parents often ridiculed him for holding these connections tightly (Plummer, et. al., 2014).

 

Since the case study indicated that his parents often “made fun of him,” it is clear how dominant groups may, too, alienate Aaron (Plummer, et. al., 2014). Despite living in the United States for several years at the time of his initial evaluation, Aaron continued to speak with an accent.  This is one, of perhaps many, characteristics that continues to inadvertently place Aaron within the margins of society; upon first meeting, dominant groups can immediately recognize Aaron is not “one of them” (Adams, et. al., 2013). Prejudicial views can prohibit Aaron, or other immigrants, from transitioning into mainstream society, without always being deemed “different,” or marginalized (Adams, et. al., 2013).

 

In order to be an effective resource for Aaron, the social worker must be culturally competent, understanding his culture in Guyana as well as his unique challenges to assimilate into the United States.  When Aaron discusses the rejection of his parents, he is need of a professional to validate his feelings, while working toward developing his own sense of self-identity (Adams, et. al., 2013).  Aaron requires direction to achieve his own personal set of goals.  These dichotomous goals include maintaining his traditions and restoring a relationship with his parents (Plummer, et. al. 2014).

 

Reference

 

Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2013). Readings for diversity and social justice. (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press.

 

Plummer, S. B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Walden International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-Reader].

 

 

 

 

Collegue 2: 

 

     In many cases some groups gain privileges over others on the basis of their racial or ethnic differences perceived. Racial or ethnic differences can take place for many reasons but the primary reason is often economic, social or political power (Chang & Dodd, n. d.).

 

The negative impact of dominant culture on immigrants and refugees includes not being accepted as a full member of society. Some Americans are still opposed to a large scale of immigration due to ignorance and prejudice. Aaron experienced this with his parents, he was rejected and not accepted. Aaron felt if he was to be accepted his parents should have brought him and his brother both to the United States.

 

Aaron’s family already criticizes him for the use of his cultural traditions, so racism and prejudice will impact his assimilation greatly. Immigrants who become racialized and are treated as disadvantaged racial or ethnic minorities, may find their pathways to economic mobility and assimilation block because of racial/ethnic discrimination (Brown & Bean, 2006).

 

As a social worker, when Aaron discusses his family’s rejection, I would suggest to Aaron to  talk to his parents and ask them why they are being so negative towards him and try to understand their reasoning. I would suggest that his parents attend counseling as well and help them realize that one of the reasons that Aaron still accepts his culture’s traditions and customs could be because he didn’t leave his country until he was 15.

 

References

 

Brown, S. K., & Bean, F., D. (2006). Assimilation Models, Old and New: Explaining a Long-Term Process. Retrieved from http://www.migrationpolicy.org

 

Chang, H., & Dodd, T. (n. d.). International perspectives on race and ethnicity: An annotated bibliography. Retrieved from http://www.edchange.org

 

Plummer, S. B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Walden International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-Reader]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONSE 2:

 

Respond to a colleague’s post by explaining why you agree or disagree with your colleague’s use of a particular theoretical approach and/or practical skill in working with Dalia.

 

 

Collegue 3:

 

Dalia is a 14-year-old girl dealing with behavioral issues. Her behavioral issues include argumentative behavior, fights with peers, poor concentration in class, highly sexualized behavior and she later admitted to drinking occasionally with friends (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). She has a fake ID, and used it to get a tattoo without permission from her parents (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Dalia’s parents both work a lot, and each blame the other for her behavioral issues (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Dalia expressed that she has a decent relationship with her older brother, who lives in a different state, and a not so cool relationship with her sister who is in college (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Her sister was a very good student, and Dalia feels that she is constantly compared to her (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). I identified Dalia’s self-harming behavior as drinking at a young age, having a fake ID, and having highly sexualized behavior. Each of these things can lead Dalia to many harmful events and situations in her life.

 

According to Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory, at the age of 14, Dalia is in Stage 5 which states that she is in a transitional period in her live and trying to find who she is (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). She is examining her role in life, and trying to create her identity. Dalia is having a hard time because her parents aren’t around, and she notices that the family dynamic has changed since her brother and sister left home (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). She also feels that she is being compared to her sister at school (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2016) also talk about the “looking-glass self” which suggests that people associate who they are with how people relate to them. These two theories suggest that Dalia’s interactions with her family and her teachers may have caused her behavior. As she is developing and trying to find her identity, she is having issues because the way she views herself and the input she gets from the people around her don’t match. So she is exploring and experimenting to try to figure out the kind of person that she wants to be.

 

 

References

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (2014). Working With Children and Adolescents: The Case of Dalia. In Social Work Case Studies: Foundation Year. Laureate Education, Inc.

 

 

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding Human Behavior and Social Environment, 10th edition. Boston: Cengage Learning.