Description
Elaine is a full-time counselor working in a clinical mental health agency that serves children and adults. She has a 17-yr old female client who has recently ended a physically abusive relationship with her boyfriend. The client’s ex-boyfriend is an 18-yr old male, and they dated for 2 years before breaking up 6 months ago.
Client told Elaine that if she sees her ex-boyfriend, she will kill him and would view her own actions as self-defense. The state in which Elaine practices does not have a duty-to-warn law; but it does have laws regarding client confidentiality.
1. What is her legal obligation to her client, the ex-boyfriend, and herself as a counselor?
2. What is her ethical obligation to her client, the ex-boyfriend, and herself as a counselor?
3. What factors might be important for her to consider?
4. What ethical concerns will she need to consider?
5. Use an ethical decision-making model to help answer these questions.
