Can A Therapist Testify For His Her Client In A Gainful Case?
Can A Therapist Testify For His Her Client In A Gainful Case?
I. Case Study Abstract
The identified case study is Dahlia Dicord, MSW. The case involves a psychotherapist,Ms. Discord, and her patient, Melissa Malfunction, who was involved in an automobile accidentthat left her with anxiety and mild depression. Ms. Malfunction wants Ms. Discord to testify forher before an administrative judge so that she can receive disability insurance payments. Ms. Discord cannot be an independent evaluator and witness in her client’s case, so she should recommend an independent counselor to interview Ms. Malfuction and make recommendations for her before the judge.
II. Case Study Description
The case involves a psychotherapist, Ms. Discord, and her patient, Melissa Malfunction, who was involved in an automobile accident that left her with anxiety and mild depression. Ms. Malfunction wants Ms. Discord to testify for her before an administrative judge so that she can receive disability insurance payments. In this way, Ms. Malfunction wants Ms. Discord to be her therapist and evaluator simultaneously, which will complicate their working relationship. The important people in the case scenario include the therapist, Ms. Malfunction, the client Ms. Malfunction, the judge, and another stakeholder.
III. The Ethical Conflict
the ethical issue in the case is that Ms. Malfunction wants Ms. Discord, the therapist, to testify in court that she is disabled to get insurance payments. Nevertheless, based on the evaluation of Ms. Malfunction, Ms. Discord has concluded that she can still work (Koocher et al., 2016). Therefore, completing disability for Ms. Malfunction to get insurance payment will be contrary to her professional finding and will be going against her conscience as it will compromise her professional integrity.She is a therapist in this case and cannot act as an expert witness to avoid multiple role relationship conflicts.
IV. The APA Code of Ethics Principles
Based on the APA Ethics principles, the principles that will apply to this case include justice, respect for people s rights and dignity, integrity, fidelity and responsibility, and beneficence and nonmaleficence (APA, 2016).
V. The APA Code of Ethics Standards
section 1 of the provided standards requires solving an ethical issue. The APA Code of Ethics Standards applicable to this case include privacy and confidentiality, human relations, resolving ethical issues, competence, assessment, therapy [y, and record keeping and fees (APA, 2016).
VI. Statement of Culture and Social Orientations
When developing the cultural and social orientation statement in this case, the focus should be on the economic and social situation of Ms. Malfunction presently. In this way, she uses pain medication and cannot care for herself, so she needs any income (Koocher et al., 2016). Because of accidents that altered her lifestyle, she may have lost her social and economic bearing in the community. She may have also lost her connections with family and friends; any financial support will elevate her status again in the community.
VII. Statement of Multiple Relationship Issues
Ms. Malfunstion was expected rather than required to be open about the intended therapeutic relationship between her and Ms. Discord which she did not. Ms. Discord’s relationship with Ms. Malfunction is purely therapeutic, and she cannot be an expert witness as it will result in conflicts from multiple role relationships.
VIII. The Ethical Decision-Making Model (Eight Step Model)
The eight-step decision-making model steps include determining the ethical problem, researching applicable guides, and lines, thinking about possible factors, discussing the issues with peers and making recommendations, reviewing legal beliefs and arising issues, creating contingency decisions, identifying issues that may emanate from the decision, make decisions and implement it (APA, 1990). Based on the case, all eight steps in the decision-making model will apply to the scenario.
IX. Ethical Strategy
Ms. Discord has to identify an independent counselor to evaluate and review Ms. Malfunction’s case and make recommendations to the court. This ethical strategy will help preserve the client and therapist’s dignity. By using an independent counselor to write a report or testify on her behalf, she will avoid the unethical implications synonymous with multiple-role relationships (APA, 2016, s 2.01.a).
X. An Alternative Decision-Making Model
In this case, the alternative decision-making strategy will use the restorative justice model, which will bring the parties to the issue together and solve the conflicts amicably (Koocher et al., 2016). here, a solution will be brainstormed, and a plan will be formed and adopted to move the people forward.
XI. Conclusion
Based on the case scenario, Ms. Discord has to identify an independent counselor to evaluate and review Ms. Malfunction’s case and make recommendations to the court. This ethical strategy will help preserve the client and therapist’s dignity. Similarly, it is the best strategy since no conflict of interest that may emanate from multiple role relationships which compromise professional ethics will be experienced.
References
American Psychological Association. (2016).Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.Retrieved from www.apa.org/ethics/code/
American Psychological Association. (1990).Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services to Ethnic, Linguistic, and Culturally Diverse Populations.Retrieved fromhttp://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/policy/provider-guidelines.aspx
Koocher, G. P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2016).Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases(4thed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
