Randolph K Sanders is a PhD clinical psychologist in independent practice in Nre Braunfels, Texas. He is the former executive director of the Christian Association of Psychological Studies (CAPS). Sanders also served as the ex-officio member of the committee that revised the CAP statement of Ethical Guidelines. Sanders is a renowned writer and speaker on matters concerning ethics in psychotherapy. He provides psychiatric services on anxiety, individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, career, and life adjustments, with more than 40 years of experience in the field of psychology.
The book Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Psychologists, therapists, and Pastors' primary focus is maintaining Christian counseling ethics among Christian mental health professionals. It is a crucial text among Christian psychologists, counselors, and pastors, as well as the Christian universities and seminaries. The book assesses and weighs the various significant development of the intervening years that have changed the landscape of counseling. It addresses the ethical concerns among counselors when they are addressing cross-cultural spiritual and value issues.
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The book explores the different ethical issues involved in multi relationships, confidentiality, documentation, therapist competence and character, addressing spiritual and value issues in therapy, teletherapy, individual and couple therapy, counseling with minors, psychological first aid after disasters, and counseling cross-culturally.
Ethical Dilemma
Like any psychiatric career, Christian counseling is full of dilemmas that the professionals’ are required to make the right decisions and act ethically. Several theories have been established, including deontological and teleological, to determine actions that are considered ethical and unethical. The deontological approach of ethics emphasizes the essence of the act; hence, defining acts as either good or bad. In the case of teleological, also known as the utilitarian approach of ethics, an action is judged as either good or bad based on its outcome. The utilitarian approach assumes that an act that creates more good than harm is ethical.
Ethical codes always have aspirational ideas and mandatory obligations as levels of principles. The aspirational ideals are defined as the ideal moral principles, and overarching visions of an ethical therapist should inspire. However, the complex nature of life together with human being tend to make the realization of the aspirational ideals impossible. Five moral ideals are foundational to ethical codes in mental health facilities. These include ensuring autonomy, no maleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity.
The principle of beneficence and no maleficence emphasizes ethical therapists to benefits their clients without any harm. In this case, professionals ensure that they are knowledgeable and have attained the necessary skills to ensure that they do not expose clients to danger. The principle of fidelity and responsibility emphasizes that ethical therapists should be trustworthy. Professionals should be able to trust their clients to do their best and uphold clinical standards. The principle of integrity seeks to emphasize honesty and consistency among ethical therapists. On justice, the principle emphasizes that it is the responsibility of therapists to treat all people fairly and avoid cases of discrimination. They have the responsibility of protecting the rights of the vulnerable in society. The final principle is on respecting the rights of people and ensuring dignity. Therapists are required to respect all people that they work with by respecting their worth, privacy, rights, self-determination, and confidentiality.
Principles of Christian Therapists
Counseling is considered a calling. Therefore, Christian therapists consider their service to others as part of their ministry in Christianity. They often consider their work as a vocation of service as opposed to a job. Christians also consider it as stewardship of talent. Counseling is a gift from God and should be used to help others. Christian counseling can be perceived as a continuation of Christ’s healing ministry, even though therapists are trained to gain competence and skills. Christian counseling can also be perceived as the complex nature of the reign of God. God is present in all aspects of human life, including professionally. Therefore, he is always there to encourage and give guidance to therapists when they are making difficult decisions about their lives and those of their clients.
Christian therapists are required to practice their career with humility. They should always accept their mistakes and therefore avoid the assumption that their knowledge and religious beliefs make them inoculate from errors. Therefore, they should use God as their role model to ensure that they always do well and do not harm their clients in whatever way. As practitioners, they should be able to control, manage, and remain disciplined throughout their services. Therapists are required to understand that their decisions affect the entire community and not just their clients. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that they do not harm others through their actions. Establishing a trustworthy relationship, showing concern for honesty, and promoting Christian love and justice are principles that guide Christian therapists.
Mandatory Obligations
These are the sufficiently focused and specific rules and regulations used as standards of practice and are enforceable if a practitioner violates them. Some of the fundamental obligations that Christian therapists are required to uphold include competence. They should ensure that they are professionally qualified for the task before serving others. It is unethical for anyone to practice as a counselor while they have not been trained on it. Second is confidentiality that entails protecting the client's information. Therapists are also required not to practice multiple relationships with clients and instead remain strictly professional. As Christians, therapists are required to avoid giving false information and always ensure that they inform their clients about the possibility of sharing the information with a third party.
Christian Mental Health Care Today
Like any other therapist, Christian therapists are trained hence receiving certification and license for the practice. Counseling has become essential in Christianity hence helping many people with mental issues. It is unethical for anyone to provide services without the recommended certification. The credibility of a counselor is essential in gaining the trust of their customers.
Cultural and religious Trends
Christian therapists serve individuals from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Therefore, they are required to practice understanding and not judging to ensure that they understand their counselees. Therapists are required to serve all clients with fairness, regardless of their religious and cultural beliefs. Besides, they should put the needs of their customers first as opposed to their own. Factors like a way of life, should not determine the kind of services provided. Like their counterparts, Christian therapists are required to practice respect for their clients and ensure total confidentiality for the information shared. Clients tend to have trust with practitioners if they can practice confidentiality.
Ethics and Scripture
The bible requires God’s servants like elders and oversees who have the responsibility of guiding his people to practice gentleness, self-control, respectfulness, temperance, and avoiding greed. These are the same characteristics that Christian therapists are required to uphold and ensure that they are working according to the law of Christ of loving one another.
Conclusion
Pastoral ministry refers to shepherds, whose task is caring for sheep. It is related to God's servants taking care of God's people. It is when an appointed leader guides the people to meet their spiritual needs through Christ. Pastoral ministers usually have the responsibility of restoring faith, hope, and love in the hearts of God's people. Similarly, Christian therapists help their clients overcome various challenges in their lives, based on Christian beliefs. Like the ministers, Christian therapists believe in God's revelation when making decisions and helping others. They believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide them into making the right decisions. The two are similar in that they emphasize restoring the faith and hope of others. When clients visit therapists, they believe that they can help them tackle the issues in their lives. For instance, if a client whose family member has died visits a therapist, they hope to find the comfort and encouragement they need from the therapists.
Generally, therapists help people to see that everything is possible, and every problem has a solution. Often, Christian therapists may pray for their clients, hence nourishing then spiritually and enhancing their faith in God. Both the Christian counseling and pastoral ministry are services rendered to God through His people on earth. They are all considered callings. They are required to show love and care for others as commanded by God.
