Ethics is an important part of the society that examines the moral standards as well as reasonable value upheld for the maintenance of peace and harmony in the society. Matters concerning ethics are regularly encountered not only in the social sectors but also mostly in the workplace and on the areas of professionalism. It is of uttermost importance to uphold and maintain ethics at all times in relation to professionalism and in the interaction with other members of the society. In the case where a therapist is seeing a man with a history of marrying women and not divorcing them, while at the same time the man starts to date the therapist’s sister, the therapist has in relation to this case an ethical value to uphold in spite of his personal sentiments.
The Ethical Issue Involved. The ethical issues that the therapist faces in relation to the situation of his client marrying women without divorcing them, and the client starts seeing the therapist sister involve the need for confidentiality. In addition, the therapist should develop a healthy relation with his vulnerable client, and treat the client with respect to the accepted values of practice, having the client’s best interest at heart with an aim to help them gain total control of his life. On the other hand the client has the total right to obtain services from competent practitioner in a bid to realize his psychological freedom.
Codes of Ethics. The therapist is answerable to a number of ethical codes in the case where his personal interest is in question. Irrespective of personal interest, the therapist is expected to uphold the code of beneficence as well as nonmaleficence in which his priority is to benefit his client (Banyard & Flanagan, 2011). Irrespective of the confidentiality requirement, the therapist is allowed to enact an exception in regard for the need of saving another person from possible abuse and hurt, without placing the client in a total exposure position. The therapist is expected to establish fidelity as well as responsible relationship with his client in a bid to clarify the professional obligations (Steininger et al., 2004). The need for the therapist to practice total integrity as well as justice in relation to his client is unquestionable; this is because the therapist is expected to respect the client’s rights as well as dignity under all circumstances.
The Negative Results the Client or Community Could Suffer. In the case of unethical practice by the therapist, the client, the therapist and the community will face consequences. If at all the therapist chooses to disclose the patient’s condition to his sister, the client’s condition is most likely to worsen because he may fill betrayed and cheated to an extent that he may not accept psychological help by any other therapist. In addition, the society is most likely to lose trust in therapist, under the belief that they are not treated in the required state of confidentiality. In the case that the therapist overprotects the client in all confidentiality and integrity, the client may cause more harm to the society and himself in the sense that he continues to marry different women in the society and eventually move on without divorcing them.
 The Negative Results on the Therapist. The situation facing the therapist is a complicated one that may carry negative consequence to the therapist professionalism. In the case where the therapist chooses to disclose the information concerning the client’s condition so as to protect the members of the society, the therapist losses his professional integrity in the sight of the society. On the other hand, the choice to protect the client may result to drastic consequences as the client may end up causing more harm to many society and the therapist be blamed on the account that he failed to uphold the ethical code in making an exception on the code of confidentiality so as to protect the third party.
The Desired and Most Favorable Action for the Situation. The most favorable action for the situation is the disclosing of the information on the client’s behavior to the relevant authority so as the desired action to be taken in a bid to protect the society. The client should be able to practice integrity even in such situation and to separate his personal sentiments from the professional obligation.
The Course of Action for the Professional. As a professional, the therapist should uphold the necessary integrity obligation as well as place the best interest on helping the client. The therapist should not only practice ethics in relation to the client’s needs but also with respect to the safety of the society and all involved. The therapist should be able to make an exception to the ethical requirements if need to be, without exposing the client to undesirable situations that may cause more harm than good in relation to the client’s state of mind (Stolz & American Psychological Association, 1998).
In order to resolve the case in which the 10 years old student is shy, timid, not dressed well for the cold weather and having bruises on the arms, the counselor should take a legal step of reporting the child’s parents and guardian to child welfare. This is because itv is more than evident that the child is not well taken care of by the responsible personnel, and so whatever the case there is need for legal action and trial. In relation to the case of a professional not measuring up to his responsibilities, there is an urgent need for the person in charge to organize a possible corrective counseling programs and if need be a rehabilitation action should be seriously considered. On the other hand, in a bid to solve the case of the 82 years old mistreated by his son, even though the person wishes no action to be taken in fear of being abandoned, the elderly should be put under home care program while the son is subjected to a legal process.
In my opinion, the therapist should be mindful of the effects of his clients’ action to the community. The client should be informed of the dame that his action cause to the individual involved and the likelihood to breach the confidential code to protect the community from his actions. In my personal opinion, the client should be made to understand the actual gravity of his state and the need for him to put effort in refraining from the undesirable behavior. On the other hand, the therapist should practice integrity and uphold the client’s best interest in to offer competent services, possible.