Institutional Affiliation | Family Therapy

Running head: FAMILY THERAPY 1
Family Therapy
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

A family setting helps a lot in shaping the lives of individuals, it may include persons
related by consanguinity or affinity. Their behavior and social interaction depends on what they
emulate from their elders and parents in the family settings. Family therapy is therefore
necessary. It is important for counsellors to understand their client. That is because different
clients have different family orientations and needs. The diversity nature of the clients raises the
need for each of them to be addressed differently (Milton, 2017).
The appropriate answer would depend on the nature of the issue to be discussed. If it is a
personal issue that does not affect other family members, then the confidentiality aspect shall be
observed and give appropriate counselling (Goldenberg, Stanton & Goldenberg, 2017). If the
issues affects the family relations, then it would be advised that other family members must be
involved to give guidance that will be applied by all the members. A family therapist would
prefer to address a family issue at a family level.
The identified ethical dilemma is informed consent. Majority of the family members
seem reluctant to consent to kind of family therapy that they ought to receive. It leaves the
therapist in dilemma to convince the person on the need of the therapy. To respond to the
dilemma, it is important to explain to the family the need to receive counselling on the particular
issue by highlighting how such a therapy could be a solution to the prevailing situation. Section
A.7.b. of the ACA code of ethics provides for confidentiality rule. It states that a counsellor must
obtain consent from the client prior to their engagement (American Counseling Association,
2014)
The first principle is about marriage partners understanding one another. He states in
most divorce cases, partners do not understand one another. The second principle talks about
what couples should do when they are in a conflict. He advises that reflection on the past
experiences is the best cure. The third principle discusses the importance of a conversation