As in discussing a case study of a 10 year-old female client, the whole case study will be directed towards the scenario of child sexual abuse (CSA). According to Singh, Parsekar & Nair (2014), child sexual abuse is a global issue that costs grave lifelong outcomes. There are many definitions that are related to child sexual abuse (CSA). However, as defined by the World Health Organization ([WHO]), 2014), child sexual abuse is “the involvement of a child sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend and is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else violate the laws of social taboos of society.” Fontes & Plummer (2010) stated that CSA is found in most of the cultures around the world and is almost uniformly concealed in secrecy and silence. As a counsellor, in confronting and dealing with a child client, abiding to ethical decision making in an attempt to carry out an effective counselling is vital.
Corey, Corey & Callanan (2011) came up with eight essential steps in ethical decision making process. The first is to identify the problem or dilemma faced by the child client. In the case, it involves a 10 year-old female client, a stepfather who molested her and the mother who realized the changes in her daughter. As to analyse the effects of the incident to the client, it is reported by the mother that her daughter was behaving “ in an uncommonly l reserved manner.” Since the case involves a child, seeking legal issues is advisable and the best way to deal with the case is to bring it to the professionals and higher authority to best sort out the child client’s sexual abuse. The counsellor need to look carefully at their own feelings and experiences and how they influence their behaviour as well as involving emotions in a controlled manner for dealing with child sexual abuse. The child should be approached with extreme sensitivity and their vulnerability should be recognized and understood.
The second step is to identify the potential issues involved. Corey et al., (2011) mentioned the involvement of considering the six moral principles in applying into the case of the child. The moral principles are autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity and veracity. By doing so, the ethical dilemmas faced by the counselor could be resolved. For instance, beneficence promoted the well-being of the client. In this case, it is important for the counselor to not be too direct and be hasten in asking the child client her experiences. This is due to the client might feel ashamed of what happened to her. Hence, the right approach is needed to determine the potential issues that might be involved.
The third step is to review the relevant ethic codes (Corey et al., 2011). Since the counselor is dealing with a child, the counselor should refer to available ethic codes and guidelines. Though the counselor can have the access of discussing to bring up the issue to national organizations in order to know more about the legal issues that should be taken to solve a minor case who is underage as well as ethical issues, the decision making should be solely based on the counselor’s wise manner of perceiving the issue. For instance, the ACA code of ethics can be made into a best guide of reference. When a client is unable to give a voluntary consent; minors, incapable adults, or other persons, the counselor is responsible of seeking approval from the clients for the services that would be provided and include them in decision making. Furthermore, the counselors acknowledge the need of balancing clients’ ethical rights to make choices , their capability of giving consent to receive services, as well as parental or familial legal rights to protect these clients and make decisions on their behalf (ACA, 2014, A.2.d). On top of that, it is important for counsellors to protect the privacy of the information of the client (ACA, 2014, B.5.a). As the aforementioned ethical guidelines, the counselor should be aware of the ethical guidelines especially when dealing with a child client.
Corey et al., (2011) came up with the fourth step that is to be aware of applicable laws and regulations. The counselor who has the case in hand should familiarise with relevant state and federal laws that might be applicable to ethical dilemmas as well as understanding the rules and regulations of a particular organization where the counselor works to avoid any legal actions taken on the counselor in charge.
The fifth step is to obtain consultation as what Corey et al. (2011) states, especially in areas that are not entirely familiar to the counsellor to avoid any malpractice. Regarding this case, the counsellor should consult with the agency team about the dilemmas that are at hand. The consultation should be made professionally and sensitively and the parents of the minor have to be notified. Furthermore, another way the counsellor can broaden the consultation is by researching relevant professional publications. The final three steps respectively, are to consider possible and probable courses of action, enumerate the consequences of various decisions and to choose what appears to be the best course of action.
Minors who have been or are sexually abused may demonstrate identifiable physical or behavioural signs. As a counsellor, one must know about physical and social markers (signs and side effects) of maltreatment. It is usually exceptionally troublesome for a child to converse with anybody about the sexual maltreatment. Indicators may caution one to the likelihood of sexual maltreatment. The initial phase in advising kids is to shape a confiding relationship, with the goal that children can communicate what is at the forefront of their thoughts and in their heart. This implies the counsellor needs to know how to communicate with a child.. It is vital that the instructor makes the minor feel sheltered and comfortable. The counsellor must give the child a chance to disclose his or her experience of the sexual maltreatment and emotions about the occasion. It is important for the counsellor to pursue the childs lead, however may on some occasion delicately present the issue of the sexual abuse. When working with children, you are working with their heads, hearts and imagination. When you enter the childs world, it is imperative to pursue the childs lead. In counselling, it is critical that the counsellor pursue the child's lead. It is troublesome for children to articulate their experience of sexual maltreatment. They may not have the right vocabulary to depict sexual acts or occasions; they may feel exceptionally humiliated or despicable about examining sexual issues with a grown-up; or there might be solid social taboos against the discourse of sexual issues. It is vital for an advisor to know about the childs sensitivities and troubles when discussing sexual issues.
At the point when the child unveils any kind of sexual abuse, the data should be treated with the most extreme sensitivity and confidentiality. Just the significant individuals ought to be informed to guarantee that the child isn't damaged any further because of the disclosure. The safety of the child must come first. On the off chance that somebody inside the family or home condition is named as the culprit (the individual who has submitted the maltreatment), the issue of protecting the child should be raised immediately with the police, social welfare office, or other fitting office. In a perfect world the culprit should move far from the home. Be that as it may, if this isn't conceivable, the kid might have the capacity to remain with a more distant family part until the childs long haul assurance is anchored. In the event that the childs wellbeing isn't anchored he or she could be mishandled once more.
Counsellors need to comprehend that the end result for children who have revealed abuse may not be what they want. Which is why counsellors can assist children with coping with this and to comprehend that it isn't their fault. It is vital to report sexual maltreatment to the police so the abuser can be captured and indicted. As counsellors it is vital to take a gander in one’s own sentiments and encounters and how it impacts the behaviour. Understanding ones intentions in working with explicitly manhandled kids is a critical piece of knowing yourself. Knowing yourself makes it simpler to be completely forthright and direct with children.