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Harmony Between Professional Values and Spiritual Beliefs
From the ACA code of ethics, there are two values that were previously not in harmony with my spiritual beliefs. The first one is A.4.b personal values that instructs counselors to refrain from imposing their own beliefs and values onto the clients (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014). The second one is A.11.b values within termination and referral, which states that referring clients to other counselors solely due to the conflict of personal beliefs is unethical (ACA, 2014). The reason why these values previously conflicted with my spiritual beliefs was my poor understanding of how to behave around clients whose ethical or religious beliefs conflict with mine.
A hypothetical situation could involve a conservative client coming to talk about their child coming out as a member of an LGBTQ+ community. Their stance might be highly negative towards the community and their child. The conflict for me would be not to refer them to another practicing counselor due to my own ethical beliefs on this issue. Similarly, I initially worried I would struggle not imposing my personal views on the subject and refrain from judging my client. Likewise, my ethical beliefs concerning abortion, the right to die, and sexual relations outside of marriage might directly conflict with those of the clients. Thus, it is my job to consider whether my worldview directly opposes the clients, and how I am to provide support and beneficial advice. In particular, even if I believe that their beliefs are causing harm to their family members, there is a need to be impartial and fair.
For instance, a situation could involve a client preventing their child from getting an abortion or sending them to conversion therapy because these actions conflict with the clients beliefs. The client could come for me for support to reconcile with their childs sexual orientation or their decision to abort an unwanted pregnancy. My spiritual beliefs tell me that any person has the right to autonomy to make the decisions regarding morality and life that he or she sees fit. Therefore, the clients obstruction of another persons freedom conflicts with my views. I would feel compelled to prevent them from inducing harm; however, I realize it is not my place as a counselor to make such suggestions.
Integrating Professional Values and Spiritual Beliefs
I have realized that if I continue with the counseling profession, I have to follow the ethical guidelines regarding the potential conflict of values. After undertaking this program and familiarizing myself further with the code of ethics, I have worked to harmonize the professional values with my spiritual beliefs. A stepping stone in my development was realizing that I do not have to compromise my ethical and religious beliefs to assist my clients. Further research into philosophy and psychology concerning conflict resolution helped me in reconciling my views. Jungian psychology suggests that instead of perceiving a situation as either/or, the counselors should accept the both/and paradigm (Graham et al., 2015). This acceptance requires recognizing that both realities, mine and my clients, have the right to exist simultaneously. Transcending rather than denying the possibility of both outlooks requires moral courage to face the pain of conflict.
What helped me achieve this transcendence was challenging the idea that the clients beliefs are wrong. I realized that personal views emerge from a complex myriad of upbringing, cultural values, and experiences. This realization will help me treat the client more empathetically and focus on their hurt and emotional needs rather than their beliefs. The client might be struggling to reconcile their own worldview with the issue at hand, and it will be my job to help them through the emotional pain. Responding to the emotional side of the situation will allow me to stay focused and address the clients needs instead of concentrating on the morality of ones opinions.
The Daniel 2.20 text helped me to change my thinking about the judgment of other people. Daniel remains faithful to his God while serving the king of Babylon. The books central question is the conflict between his religious beliefs and his service to the king. Daniel decides neither to renounce God nor to withdraw from his king, which calls for a shift in judgment. Instead, he brings God into his work by firmly stating his beliefs and using them to advise the king on the kingdoms impending demise. Daniels humility helped him advance his career instead of being punished, which is something to which I will aim. The book persuaded me that there is no need to right all the wrongs but rather work on ensuring that one stays true to ones faith and beliefs. Within any workplace, one can encounter unfairness and evil, but these forces do not necessarily represent the only reality of a situation. The book of Daniel taught me to preserve the morality in work and showed me how to navigate challenging work environments when values come into conflict.
Conflict Between Professional Values and Spiritual Beliefs
Another conflict that remains unresolved is challenging my own religious beliefs. Through constant interaction with individuals with opposing views, I realize that some of my own previous opinions might be not what I truly believe. The issue is especially challenging in cases when other people offer reliable and convincing evidence to support the points of view that are different from those that I have had. For example, while I may oppose consensual euthanasia, there is substantial evidence in support of the method because people are suffering from extreme emotional and physical pain that could not be alleviated by any existing treatment or intervention. Cases like these are challenging because there are things that are outside the principles of the Christian religion and there is no guidance to which one can refer to make decisions. In addition, reconciling my religious and spiritual beliefs with the new knowledge that I have acquired from interacting with clients will be challenging. Challenging my belief system might affect my counseling and conflict resolution approaches, but I am open to new experiences and explorations that could help me advance both spiritually and professionally.
Actions to Work Through the Conflicts
Both my spiritual beliefs and the professional code of ethics call for equal treatment of all people. Practicing empathy, respect, and acceptance should be the guiding principles in counseling. Therefore, I should take the time to ground myself and extend compassion onto the client as I attempt to see the situation from his or her point of view. When facing such a conflict, behavioral psychology instructs to relax and ground oneself in the present moment. Conscious muscle relaxation will alleviate the anxiety symptoms that generally arise when faced with conflict. It is impossible to feel relaxed and tense simultaneously, just as one cannot be empathetic and judgmental at the same time (Graham et al., 2015). Therefore, choosing to relax and remain empathetic will help me not impose my views on the client. Additionally, I will actively attempt to stay mindful and refrain from discussing religious topics with my clients. Defending my spiritual beliefs during a session with a client might not be the right place. Maintaining the both/and perspective throughout the session will ensure that I provide the necessary emotional assistance. Not compromising my faith while simultaneously not imposing it on the client will ultimately help me to become a better professional.
References
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA.
Graham, J., Meindl, P., Koleva, S., Iyer, R., & Johnson, K. M. (2015). When Values and Behavior Conflict: Moral Pluralism and Intrapersonal Moral Hypocrisy. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 9(3), 158170. Web.
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