Four discussion posts. The textbook used is Applied Ethics and Decision-Making in Mental Health by Moyer, M., & Crews, C. (2017). Applied ethics and decision making in mental health. Sage ISBN-13: 9781483349756
Would you agree with that and why do you think the number of teenagers seeking gender treatment has skyrocketed in recent years? To quote an article from the Guardian, referrals for a clinic went from 250 10 years ago to over 5000 now. From a psychology perspective, this indicated something interesting going on that should be researched.
“According to a study commissioned by NHS England, 10 years ago there were just under 250 referrals, most of them boys, to the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Last year, there were more than 5,000, which was twice the number in the previous year. “
DQ2: When dealing with an individual from a special group, it is necessary to consider some ethical principles to ensure respect, fairness, and inclusivity. In this case, some principles include autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. It is also necessary to consider the privacy and cultural sensitivity of the person. It is necessary to allow individuals from special groups to make their own decisions considering their special needs and circumstances. Any action should not be meant to cause harm to an individual in a special group. Their well-being must be promoted to achieve their best interests (Freedom, 2023). They need to be treated fairly and in the most equitable way.
When referring to a person with special needs, it is necessary to use person first. This is a way of showing respect and dignity because it emphasizes their dignity and worth. This also underscores the need to look at individuals holistically while considering their strengths and unique experiences. It also avoids stigmatization because language is a reflective tool. At the same time, the person’s first manner shows ethical commitment to promoting inclusivity, challenging prejudice, and stereotyping people from special groups.
Freedom, A. D. (2023, March 16). Ward v. Polite. Alliance Defending Freedom. https://adflegal.org/case/ward-v-polite
You make some great points in your response and I enjoyed reading it a lot. I also agree, just like you, that it is significant to input ethical principles when working with people of special groups. We can understand why these are classified as special groups, but do you think there is a reason as to why some people in special groups feel completely different than others, which causes them to seek individualized, treatment such as this? Just like other groups of people, I feel as if this specific group could have the possibility of facing discrimination from others so they would possibly want to seek treatment that treats their circumstances as if it was anybody else’s so that they do not feel left out. What do you think?
How would you handle a situation like this if you had a client you had to meet with regularly but they had a smell you “could not stand”?
DQ4: When working with special groups it is essential to always use ethical principles when dealing with this group. All individuals despite their ability must be treated with respect, competence, normal behaviour as one would with anyone else, and integrity. It is important not to make someone feel bad about the condition that they have. It is with respect that one pays more attention to the person and not their disability. It is crucial to stay positive and not be judgmental. Some people can become offended by certain words even if one did not tend to offend them. No matter the condition, people are people, and special groups should never feel dehumanized by their differentness.
Aside from everyone else engaging in treatment, specialize groups do need the same or even more guidance that is provided along side with respect and consideration of a counselor. Even if a counselor does think that they are trained enough to provide assistance to people in special groups, there still may be on subconscious errors that can occur within a session between the specialized client and the counselor. If this type of treatment wasn’t set up for people within those groups, do you think that there would be a lot of conflict or offensive occurrences within sessions?