Ethics in Group Work

1
Ethics in Group Work

• Ethical considerations begin with recommendation
  that each group leader becomes aware of his / her
  own personal biases and subtle unethical
  behaviors
• Ethical behavior requires a high level of
  consciousness both personally and professionally

2
Ethics in Group Work

• Questions to consider
• What am I doing?
• Why am I doing it?

3
Ethical Codes

• The rules professional members must adhere to in
  their practices
• Examples American Psychological Association,
  American Counseling Association
• Not following these codes may result in
• Being expelled from the organization
• Loss of license
• Vulnerability to malpractice suits

4
Ethical Guidelines

• Suggestions aimed at increasing ethical and
  professional behavior
• Example Association for Specialists in Group
  Work Best Practice Guidelines

5
Ethical Issues in Group Work

• Three steps to assure ethical and legal practice
  (Gumaer Forrest, 1995)
• Be knowledgeable of the ethical codes
• Use critical thinking skills and professional
  standards of practice in considering ethical
  situations
• Demonstrate an interest in ethical group practice
  through supervision and striving for competence

6
Ethical Considerations

• Areas in which ethical considerations may arise
• Involuntary membership
• Informed consent
• Freedom to withdraw from a group
• Psychological risks to members
• Confidentiality and privileged communication
• Uses and abuses of group techniques
• Leaders values

7
Ethical Considerations (cont.)

• Areas in which ethical considerations may arise
  (continued)
• Multicultural awareness
• Dual relationships
• Responsibility
• Counselor competence

8
Ethical Principles for Group Leaders

• Reflect on personal identity - needs, behavior
  styles, roles and functions in the group
• Know what type of group youre designing - be
  able to state the purpose and client
  characteristics
• Use screening method to determine suitable and
  unsuitable applicants
• Ask group members undergoing psychotherapy to
  consult therapist before becoming involved in the
  group

9
Ethical Principles for Group Leaders (cont.)

• Inform members of expectations and encourage them
  to develop a contract to assist them in obtaining
  their personal goals
• Inform members of techniques to be used,
  exercises, and ground rules
• Dont undertake a project beyond the scope of
  your skills / training make your qualifications
  available to members in writing
• State the focus of the group clearly

10
Ethical Principles for Group Leaders (cont.)

• Protect members rights to self-determination,
  particularly concerning self-disclosure and
  participation in activities
• Know and be able to articulate rationale for
  using group exercises
• Relate practice to theory - stay grounded in
  diverse theoretical orientations in your personal
  style
• Know the dangers of meeting your needs at the
  expense of members needs

11
Ethical Principles for Group Leaders (cont.)

• Inform members of the psychological risks before
  and during participation
• Emphasize the importance of confidentiality to
  members before and during group as well as upon
  termination of the group
• Be open with members about your values when
  appropriate but avoid imposing them on members
  respect others cultural backgrounds and values

12
Ethical Principles for Group Leaders (cont.)

• Watch for symptoms of psychological debilitation
  offer referral resources
• Encourage members to discuss their experiences in
  the group assist members in evaluating their
  progress in meeting goals
• Assist members in applying what they are learning
  to their daily lives
• Schedule follow-up sessions
• Develop a method of evaluation

13
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning

• Professional context and regulatory requirements
• Know, understand, apply relevant codes of ethics
  and standards of good practice
• Scope of practice and conceptual framework
• Define the scope of practice related to core and
  specialization competencies
• Be aware of personal strengths and weaknesses
• Articulate framework to guide practice and
  rationale for techniques used

14
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning (cont.)

• Assessment
• Self - actively assess knowledge and skills
• Ecological
• Community needs
• Agency / organization resources
• Sponsoring organization mission
• Staff competency
• Attitudes regarding group work
• Professional training levels of potential group
  leaders
• Client attitudes toward group work
• Multicultural and diversity considerations

15
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning (cont.)

• Program development and evaluation
• Identify type of group to be offered
• Concisely state the group purpose and goals
• Set fees consistent with organizational fee
  schedule give consideration to financial status
  of group members
• Choose appropriate techniques and leadership
  style
• Have an evaluation plan
• Take current professional guidelines into
  consideration when using technology

16
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning (cont.)

• Resources
• Coordinate resources needed and to be used (e.g.,
  funding, facilitators, space, marketing, etc.)
• Professional disclosure statement
• Confidentiality and limits to confidentiality
• Theoretical orientation
• Nature, purpose and goals of the group
• Group services available
• Role / responsibility of group members
• Leaders qualifications to lead group

17
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning (cont.)

• Group and member preparation
• Screen prospective members if appropriate
• Facilitate informed consent (oral and written)
• Obtain appropriate consent forms for work with
  minors and other dependent group members
• Define confidentiality and its limits - inform
  participants whether legal privilege applies to
  group discussions

18
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning (cont.)

• Professional development
• Remain current and increase knowledge and skills
  through professional development, professional
  supervision, and continuing education
• Seek consultation supervision for ethical
  concerns
• Seek appropriate professional assistance for
  personal problems or conflicts
• Seek consultation / supervision when working with
  a group for which all knowledge and skill
  competencies have not been achieved
• Keep abreast of group research and development

19
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Planning (cont.)

• Trends and technological changes
• Be aware of and responsive to technological
  changes
• Mental health delivery systems
• Legislative and insurance industry reforms
• Shifting population demographics and client needs
• Technological advances in the Internet and other
  communication and delivery systems

20
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Performing

• Self-knowledge
• Awareness of strengths/weaknesses and their
  impact on the group
• Group competencies
• Basic knowledge of groups and principles of group
  dynamics able to perform core group competencies

21
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Performing (cont.)

• Group plan adaptation
• Apply and modify knowledge, skills, techniques
  according to the group type, group stage, and
  unique needs of various cultural and ethnic
  groups
• Monitor groups progress toward group goals
• Clearly define and maintain ethical,
  professional, and social relationship boundaries
  with members
• Therapeutic conditions and dynamics
• Implement appropriate models of group
  development, process observation, therapeutic
  conditions

22
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Performing (cont.)

• Meaning
• Assist members in generating meaning
• Collaboration
• Assist members in developing individual goals
• Respect members as co-equal partners in the group
  experience
• Evaluation
• Formal and informal
• Between sessions and at conclusion of group

23
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Performing (cont.)

• Diversity
• Practice with sensitivity to client differences
  including but not limited to ethnicity, gender,
  religious affiliation, sexuality, psychological
  maturity, socioeconomic status, family history,
  physical characteristics or limitations,
  geographic location
• Seek information regarding these cultural issues
  both by interaction with participants and by
  using outside resources

24
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Performing (cont.)

• Ethical surveillance
• Employ appropriate ethical decision-making model

25
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Group Processing

• Processing schedule
• Process workings of the group with self, group
  members, supervisors or other colleagues as
  appropriate
• Reflective practice
• Synthesize theory and practice
• Practice and incorporate learning outcomes
• Attend to session dynamics of members and their
  interactions
• Attend to relationship between session dynamics
  and leader values, cognition, and affect

26
ASGW Best Practice GuidelinesBest Practice in
Group Processing (cont.)

• Evaluation and follow-up
• Evaluate process and outcomes
• Utilize results for on-going planning,
  improvements or revisions, and/or to contribute
  to professional research literature
• Conduct follow-up contact with group members
• Consultation and training with other
  organizations
• Provide as needed and appropriate