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Chapter 2

 

    I think the thing that stood out most to me from the section of the chapter on ethics was that effective practice is ethical. I believe we as future counselors look at effectiveness as a research-based procedure or series of steps that we follow accurately to achieve the desired outcome. In fact, much of effectiveness happens within a far grayer area as part of ethics. Ethics will help us determine the best manner in which to treat our clients; when we are being ethical, we will realize the greatest gains in our counseling endeavors. I understand where the ethical concepts of social justice and action may be considered to be controversial, yet I do not consider them to be so. I believe that as counselors we are called to be advocates for our clients, and I do not feel that this is negotiable. During sessions, when issues of social justice and advocacy come up, we are directed by ethics to be clearly on the side of our clients and put our own beliefs and feelings aside in order to work toward their greatest good. I think this follows through to actions of advocacy in social circumstances, as well. We cannot be for our clients in one environment while we work against them in a larger context.

            When I consider working with people who are different from me, I worry some about biases of which I am unaware. Since beginning the counseling program, I have been concerned that my unconscious biases would bring harm to one of my clients. Having said that, I feel that I will work with those who are culturally diverse as well as I will work with any other client. I admit, I do have difficulty perceiving myself as a multicultural person. I simply fail to see myself as diverse. I have been working on developing a broader understanding of culture, and I hope that it will improve my perspective. Concerning children’s rights, I believe this to be the driving force behind all of my work, whether when I was a teacher or as I become a counselor. I often feel that adults fail to see children as wholly complete people with their own distinct personalities and feelings. As an adult who is gifted to be able to consider them in this way, I can advocate for them and assist other adults in their lives in seeing them in a different light. In addition, I feel driven to advocate for children in many direct ways that I would feel unequipped to advocate for other populations.

            Overall, I understand that wellness and positive psychology have a vital role in counseling as a whole. I do believe it is easy to get caught up in the diagnosis and evaluation of negatives and issues without regard for those things that make our clients strong and resilient. At this point in time, I will need to make a conscious effort to focus more directly on wellness and positive psychology. Up to this point, it seems that my education and training has been focused on weaknesses rather than strengths, so it will require determination to apply this positive mindset toward clients’ concerns. The therapeutic lifestyle changes have all been proven to have great value, and I understand that all people, regardless of whether they are involved in counseling, need to implement more of these changes into their lives. Personally, I have the hardest time with physical activity. There are few exercise-type activities that I enjoy and in which I want to participate. Also, as stated earlier in this essay, I need to improve my perception of my personal cultural identity and learn to see the diversity within myself.

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