Counseling: Navigating Conflicts of Values.

There are various conflicts in values that might emerge between a professional counselor and the clients. As a professional counselor, I believe that clients' personal and religious values that do not conform to the general social norms are usually difficult to address. I believe that conflicts concerning sexual orientation and gender identity may pose a conflict due to their sensitivity. The paper examines conflicts of values that may occur in professional counseling and how to balance the career and be respectful to the clients' value system.

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As a professional counselor, I believe that I have strong principles and values concerning various issues that which may result in extreme dissonance between my stand on the situations and the requirements of the code of ethics. I might find it conflicting to advice gay clients considering that I have been raised in a normal family set-up. Although I am well-informed to counsel the clients, the conflict of values is likely to be present. Another conflicting situation is counseling issues connected to termination of pregnancies. I believe that every life is sacred and should not be taken easily. Therefore, if I find a client willing to terminate her pregnancy, I will likely have conflicting views on the issue. Another potential conflict is assisted suicide which may make it difficult to advise my clients considering that I believe that no person has the right to end life.

Counseling values and ethical practice are the foundation of the practice. The ACA Code of Ethics (2014) stipulates that counselors are conscious of-and avoid imposing their own values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors (Elliot, 2011). It is however not possible to provide counseling that is values-free. The counseling process is filled with value-laden issues -with the inclusion of the objectives that a counselor emphasizes on, the diagnosis to be provided to the client and the counseling theory applicable to any particular case. Thus, a counselor must be conscious of their values and how they might influence the counseling relationship. In that case, they must offer clients with an absolute, non-judgmental platform where they present their concerns.

As a professional counselor, I am likely to use various strategies to balance 'being myself' and being respectful to my clients' value system. In a potentially conflicting issue, I am likely to examine my own beliefs about the concern as a professional and as an individual. In case I hold strong principles about the issue, I am likely to proceed carefully. If I cannot counsel a client on the potentially conflicting issue like pregnancy termination without imposing my views-then I am expected to refer the client. However, I am likely to inform the client about the legal options of the issue like termination of pregnancy. Another strategy in conflicting values would be to present my views in a non-judgmental manner. As a professional counselor, I would present my views in a way that the client can approve or reject them without risking the relationship.

Conclusively, there are various conflicts in values that are likely to emerge between a professional counselor and the clients. Some of the issues include sexual orientation, termination of pregnancy, and assisted suicide. Although counseling involves the presentation of values, there is a way in which a counselor can make it simple for the client to choose the best option. Presenting values in a non-judgmental manner can work for both the counselor and the client.

References

Elliott, G. R. (2011). When Values and Ethics Conflict: The Counselor's Role and Responsibility. Alabama Counseling Association Journal, 37(1), 39-45.