View Full Version : Unprofessional behavior in counseling
bladerunp1
Apr 17, 2016, 04:13 PM
Challenged client to look at consistent inappropriate behavior by stating 'your behavior is a piss poor excuse for being a man.' Have 8 year exemplary record.
Letter of reprimand?
J_9
Apr 17, 2016, 05:16 PM
Are you the client or counselor?
joypulv
Apr 17, 2016, 05:27 PM
What exactly is your question?
It sounds like you are the counselor, and were given a written reprimand. Wondering why you chose to write here in a way so distanced from who is who and what happened. It might help too if we knew your gender.
So I won't offer much of an opinion yet, other than to say that it does sound like you let personal emotion and negative feelings spill over the edges a wee too much.
Can you apologize to the Powers That Be, and ask that this client be assigned to someone else?
Fr_Chuck
Apr 18, 2016, 07:02 AM
If a counselor would say "your behavior is a piss poor excuse for being a man" and I was the patient, I would have a law suit against the client and be demanding the person be fired.
A letter of reprimand would be a very minor punishment to what could happen.
J_9
Apr 18, 2016, 07:17 AM
If a counselor would say "your behavior is a piss poor excuse for being a man" and I was the patient, I would have a law suit against the client and be demanding the person be fired.
A letter of reprimand would be a very minor punishment to what could happen.
I have to agree here. Demeaning a client is not appropriate in any way, shape, or form.
A counselor is is in a position to empower his/her clients. Derrogatory remarks such as "a piss poor excuse for being a man" are not only unprofessional, but can be downright detrimental to the recovery of a client in certain situations. A counselor should never, under any circumstances, talk down to their client.
A letter of reprimand is minor considering consequences that could have occurred. I hope this counselor has their malpractice insurance up-to-date.
ebaines
Apr 19, 2016, 08:56 AM
You haven't told us the circumstances behind the comment, what the context was when it was delivered, or how it was part of a much larger conversation about what it means to be a man, or even the type of counseling being practiced. It seems to me that if this was part of an ongoing discussion about acting in a mature, responsible way, if it was delivered in private, and as part of a back-and-forth where the definition of "being a man" is understood, then it may be appropriate. But lacking that context we have no way of knowing whether a reprimand (or worse) is warranted.