Legal and Ethical Considerations for Group and Family Therapy
Newly-weds and family therapists feasibly face more ethical challenges than individually aligned therapists, yet moral philosophy and ethics have not been of great assistance. Often it appears to be that issues at hand are yet to be attended to as far as group and family therapy is concerned. For instance, there is differ in group and family therapy from those for individual treatment when it comes to legal and ethical considerations. These differences have impacted therapeutic approaches for clients in group and family therapy. Therefore, the topic seeks to address the legal and ethical concerns for group and family therapy and how the difference might impact my therapeutic approaches.
legal and ethical considerations for group and family therapy versus individual therapy
Firstly, there are similarities between individual and group therapy. For instance, the backdrop of both treatments needs to be one of acceptance, free from physical or emotional harm, and that which encourages personal growth. Whether the patient is participating in group or individual therapy, unique techniques need to be applied to each person even in a group setting. However, even though the participants may have similar issues, they may be addressed from person to person. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Similarly, the most notable difference between the two therapies is confidentiality and privileged communications because of the presence of a third party (McClanahan, 2014). For instance, in group therapy, It is up to the other members to maintain the group’s confidentiality. If confidentiality is broken, there needs to clear expectations of what will happen if the group’s confidentiality is breached (McClanahan, 2014). However, since there may be incidence where confidentiality and privilege communication must be broken whether it is a group or individual therapy, it is never the case when it comes to individual therapy where there is that one on one contact with the therapist.
How the differences might impact my therapeutic approaches for clients in group and family therapy.
The difference might impact my therapeutic approaches in many ways. For example, since in group therapy, the patient should have an expectation of confidentiality among the group members. I will have to approach such a group with confidentiality. Such an approach will not only instill the privacy of a patient to a particular group but also make them viable. Similarly, when there is an imminent threat of harm to self or others, I will have to disclose to family members or authorities (depending on the situation) what they have been privileged to (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2014). When such is done, it will help promote group cohesiveness, which can increase the patient’s desire to participate in the group (Wheeler, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion, as stated above, there is a factual difference between group and individual therapy, which have impacted my therapeutic approaches for clients. Therefore, consistency in terms of awareness needs to be made with confidence, especially when it comes to maintenance of the patient’s trust.
References
McClanahan, K. (2014). Can confidentiality be maintained in group therapy? Retrieved from http://nationalpsychologist.com/2014/07/can-confidentiality-be-maintained-in-group-therapy/102566.html.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2014). HIPAA privacy rule and sharing information related to mental health. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/mhguidancepdf.pdf.
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.