Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
 
USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Counselling Ethics Question
Post Info TOPIC: Counselling Ethics Question
Coast Watcher

Date:
Counselling Ethics Question
Permalink Closed

Ever since USM-GC reopened after the hurricane, a coast professor who is a licensed social worker has been designated, by the administration, as counselor for the USM-GC community. Since USM-GC has no other counselling services available, and since there has been no shortage of traumatized folks needing therapy/counselling, the counselling this person has provided has probably been quite important (I qualify this because I don't know anyone who has sought counselling at USM-GC).


My questions are these: Is it ethical to have a member of the faculty be the only counsellor for the coast campus? Isn't a certain conflict of interest inevitable?


A non-university acquaintance of mine--a clinical psychologist--is of the opinion that there is an ethics conflict inherent in this situation, that it is unethical for a professor to stand in this sort of double relation, as counsellor to people who are also colleagues and co-workers. Further, this acquaintance speculated that such a double relation would make it less likely that people who really needed counselling would seek it.


Any opinions?


 



__________________
one opinion

Date:
Permalink Closed

You have good points, but there are many professors in counseling psychology in universities that also see patients which may or may not be students.  Your point about there just being one is well taken.

__________________
Mitch

Date:
Permalink Closed

Hello:


I am a licensed psychologist (clinical). I don't know the specifics of this case. In general, having a faculty member provide counseling or psychological services for another faculty member raises all sorts of multiple relationship issues that are easily avoided by providing alternative arrangments. There are instances where this may be appropriate, but they are few and far between.  


 



__________________
Little old lady

Date:
Permalink Closed

Holy Boundary Issues! Who thinks up this stuff? Who would seek counselling from a co-worker? I have two precious friends who are psychologists. Wouldn't dream of letting them treat me.
Is this the university's way of saving a buck, to keep from paying for some appropriate help?
(as for myself, I'm contemplating alcohol. Better late than never.)

And Mitch -- will we get well? Everyone I know is hurting so much.

__________________
Gone, gone, gone

Date:
Permalink Closed

Everyone I know is hurting so much.

You are so right. And this includes many of the people who have left. Some have survivor's guilt, especially about the storm. Others grieve for what they left behind and for what they and the university have lost.

Still, those of us who are gone cannot possibly imagine what it has been like to live through the last few months. When that is added to the university situation.....

__________________
Mitch

Date:
Permalink Closed


Little old lady wrote:

Holy Boundary Issues! Who thinks up this stuff? Who would seek counselling from a co-worker? I have two precious friends who are psychologists. Wouldn't dream of letting them treat me. Is this the university's way of saving a buck, to keep from paying for some appropriate help? (as for myself, I'm contemplating alcohol. Better late than never.) And Mitch -- will we get well? Everyone I know is hurting so much.


Based on several events that have occurred this week on Hardy Street, I believe that we are in for some real rough seas this semester. Sigh.



__________________
TRS-80

Date:
Permalink Closed

Do you care to elaborate? I'd like to know what's coming (and prepare for it) rather than getting blindsided.

__________________
Little old lady

Date:
Permalink Closed


Mitch wrote:


Based on several events that have occurred this week on Hardy Street, I believe that we are in for some real rough seas this semester. Sigh.


I was thinking of the larger picture, hurricane and all, but your response certainly doesnt' cheer me up. It's hard to believe things could get much worse.

Those who have gone should not feel guilty. You may have your own battles and calamities down the road -- just keep us in your hearts and prayers.

__________________
confused

Date:
Permalink Closed

Yeah I missed that.  What happened on Hardy?

__________________
Mitch

Date:
Permalink Closed

TRS-80 wrote:

Do you care to elaborate? I'd like to know what's coming (and prepare for it) rather than getting blindsided.

We don't prepare well here. We react and try to put out fires. With luck, gasoline is not thrown on the flames.


I can't elaborate, sadly.


I know that it is usually bad form to say one is keeping one's options open (my wife and kid really do not want to move). But I did ask some former USM administrators who I trust to serve as references for me should an opportunity (or immediate need) arise. This is the first time I have done this in my (almost) 10 years here. I say this to put my comment in context.


I have also been told that the Dome has (at least in the past) received systematic feedback about the goings on on these boards (HR's duties). Whether true or not, the source was close enough to the President to make me wonder.


It has not been a good week. And it is only Tuesday...  



__________________
truth4usm/AH

Date:
Permalink Closed

I have also been told that the Dome has (at least in the past) received systematic feedback about the goings on on these boards (HR's duties). Whether true or not, the source was close enough to the President to make me wonder.

Mitch:

These boards are a public forum. There is no reason ole Shelboo himself can't come read what's going on. Not sure why this is news to anyone.

Truth (Andrea)

PS--Hi, Shelboo!

__________________
Mitch

Date:
Permalink Closed

truth4usm/AH wrote:

I have also been told that the Dome has (at least in the past) received systematic feedback about the goings on on these boards (HR's duties). Whether true or not, the source was close enough to the President to make me wonder. Mitch: These boards are a public forum. There is no reason ole Shelboo himself can't come read what's going on. Not sure why this is news to anyone. Truth (Andrea) PS--Hi, Shelboo!
You miss the point. If true, then HR was engaging in some sleazy activities on the public dime.

__________________
confused

Date:
Permalink Closed

truth4usm/AH wrote:

There is no reason ole Shelboo himself can't come read what's going on. Not sure why this is news to anyone. Truth (Andrea) PS--Hi, Shelboo!
HAHAHAHAHA

__________________
LVN

Date:
Permalink Closed


Mitch wrote:

We don't prepare well here. We react and try to put out fires. With luck, gasoline is not thrown on the flames.
I can't elaborate, sadly.
I know that it is usually bad form to say one is keeping one's options open (my wife and kid really do not want to move). But I did ask some former USM administrators who I trust to serve as references for me should an opportunity (or immediate need) arise. This is the first time I have done this in my (almost) 10 years here. I say this to put my comment in context.
I have also been told that the Dome has (at least in the past) received systematic feedback about the goings on on these boards (HR's duties). Whether true or not, the source was close enough to the President to make me wonder.
It has not been a good week. And it is only Tuesday...  

I found this post extremely disturbing. Are we about to see the NST?

But yes, we have always known that the board was open and read in the dome. We've seen the sophisticated troll attacks.
I know that doors I need to be opened are closed to me (such as returning to work at USM) because of my participation here. I'm pretty sure I lost a shot at a good job because of it. Many posters are wary, if not frightened, lest they become known.
I commend your outspoken manner and your courage in posting under your own name. Good luck. I hope there's no "immediate need" - - -


__________________
stinky cheese man

Date:
Permalink Closed

mitch--i agree with truth's note that this is an open forum. and i know you well enough to know you know that as well. if you didn't think administrators or their subordinates would monitor this website, then??

__________________
stinky cheese man

Date:
Permalink Closed

mitch--i didn't notice your later point about monitoring on the public dime. i'm not sure what you mean about that (ever go to cnn online during the day? or another website), but could have been done at night. again, a public website. but i'd like more evidence of the HR surveillance.

__________________
TRS-80

Date:
Permalink Closed

Two things:

HR can monitor the board, record certain posts, and place them in a "file" or other format to be delivered to SFT.

When it comes time to sign P&T folders, give raises, etc., SFT could pull out that file and check names against names in the folder.

__________________
LVN

Date:
Permalink Closed

You mean nobody knows how to "print"?
And what names? The only names on here are me, Truth, Judd, Lares, Berman, and a few others. And Truth and I don't work there.

Sounds like a lot of extra work for somebody. Be glad I'm not your president. If I had an entire website dedicated to firing me, I'd be walking up to people on campus and saying, "Yo, you, you gotta problem?" I would certainly be reading it myself.

__________________
Another goner

Date:
Permalink Closed

What a shame if HR is involved in monitoring this board and reporting after what that office and its head went through with Mark Dvorak.

__________________
truth4usm/AH

Date:
Permalink Closed

You miss the point. If true, then HR was engaging in some sleazy activities on the public dime.

Gotcha, Mitch. I figured after the G/S firings, everyone at USM knew that their work email accounts and web surfing history was being monitored. I have plenty of USM friends who only email me on their home email accounts and computers.

As to the other assertion about SFT keeping files on people...wouldn't doubt it for a moment. He's just that petty, petulant, and insecure. USM will never reach any "world-class" status under his thumb.

Here's to hopes for a better prez in 2007!

Truth

PS--Hey, there, Shelboo! Yes, we're talking about you!



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Counselling Ethics Question
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard