Counseling and activism

 Introduction

            Counseling is usually taken to be a psychological process which is similar to but not the same as psychotherapy. In this text, I will discuss how counselors should interpret their ethical responsibilities to protect their client’s welfare especially in cases where those clients are clearly disadvantaged or are the subject of discriminatory practices in the community.

Counseling and activism

According to Blocher (2000), the main role of a counselor is to enhance the clients welfare as well as ensure that the clients dignity is respected fully. Taking this primary responsibility into consideration, it would hence be reasonable for the counselor to intervene in cases where the client happens to be disadvantaged. Figler (2007) argues that while the various codes for counselors treat the issue of counselor engagement in the protection of their clients welfare silently, some codes can be said to be implicitly encouraging counselor involvement. This argument is informed by the primary responsibility of a counselor which basically entails the promotion of the clients welfare. Though counselor activism is not explicit in this case, it can be assumed that the counselor in this case must go to a reasonable extent in the protection of the clients welfare. Gladding (2008) seems to support this notion when he states “ … the problem is not the involvement of the counsel;or at the communal level where the welfare of his or her client is involved…. the problem is the extent to which he should be involved.”

Walsh (2003) notes that with regard to the welfare of the client, it is the duty of the counselor to enhance the clients development as well as growth and hence he should do whatever is reasonable in  that respect. This may include engaging in mild activism. Blocher (2000) seems to support Gladding (2008) assertion by arguing that in the pursuit of the clients welfare, the counselor should not go too far such that he is “…..seen to overstep his mandate.”

Conclusion

            It is important to underscore the importance of balancing the need for activism and enhancement of the client’s welfare. An overstatement of either as noted above may result in the counselor overstepping his or her mandate.

References

Blocher, D.H. (2000). Counseling: a developmental approach. Wiley

Figler, H. & Bolles, R.N. (2007). The Career Counselor’s Handbook. Ten Speed Press

Gladding, S.T. (2008). Counseling: A Comprehensive Profession. Prentice Hall

Walsh, W.B. (2003). Counseling psychology and optimal human functioning. Routledge

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