Ethics of Religion

Implementing religion or spirituality into therapy can have a very beneficial effect if done ethically. However, as with any type of approach, ethical guidelines should be considered and followed. For example, if the client is not interested in religion or spiritual approaches, it would be unethical to force these values on to him in therapy even if the therapist believes it would help (Rosmarin, 2018). One must respect the client at all times. Indeed, even Christ did not force Himself on those who asked Him to go away (Mark 5:17). With regard to competence, multiple relationships, imposing religious values in therapy and obtaining informed consent, there are serious ethical implications that have to be considered and this paper will explore them from the standpoint of the Christian worldview statement of GCU.

The APA Code of Ethics

As a professional therapist, ones duty is always to abide by the American Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics. The five main principles of the APA Code of Ethics are:

1. Beneficence and nonmaleficence, i.e., do good and no harm to others

2. Fidelity and responsibility, i.e., know ones duty and loyalty to the client

3. Integrity, i.e., honesty in accordance with the ethical code

4. Justice, i.e., fairness without discrimination to others

5. Respect for rights and dignity of others, i.e., protect human rights of clients via privacy and respecting boundaries between professional and personal life.

One standard of the APA Code of Ethics that quickly emerges from these principles is Standard 10.06, which states that psychologists must not engage in sexual intimacies with individuals they know to be close relatives, guardians, or significant others of current clients/patients (American Psychological Association, 2002, p. 15). This standard is founded upon each of the five principles of the APA Code of Ethics, but especially the last one in which respect for boundaries is clearly acknowledged. The professional therapist must respect this boundary because he is...

This accords with the GCU Christian Worldview Statement (n.d.) as well.

The GCU Christian Worldview Statement (n.d.) asserts that the integration of faith and work may be understood as the application of the Christian worldview within the context of work in ways that honor God, serve neighbors and contribute to the advancement of the society (p. 1). In other words, the therapist has to serve the interests of the client using the same kind of love with which he serves God. This is an inherently selfless love. Thus, one can see how a therapist who violates the professional relationship with a client by entering into a sexual relationship is actually violating the APA Code of Ethics as well as the Christian ethics guide.

Applying Christian Worldview Ethics to Therapy: Implications

The Christian worldview can be used to help guide the professional in each of the following areas by reminding the professional that the tenets of his Christian faith align with the principles of the APA Code of Ethics. Sometimes a Christian may feel compelled to catechize to others or to share his faith with othersand perhaps he might feel this goes against his professional code. But when he is acting in his...

…Christian counselor could do in this situation is refer the client to another counselor, or if he is able he could treat the clients psychological issues without addressing the counselors own perspective on sexual values. Indeed, the counselors values should never even come into the picture: the clients values are what matter. But again is this practical or possible as Lankster et al. (2019) ask? It is and must be, says the Code of Ethics.

Informed Consent

When it comes to informed consent, the counselor must always obtain this. From a Christian worldview perspective, it means explaining to the client what the counselor is intending to do and asking permission to do it before it is done. The client should be free to say yes or no for instance to a discussion of Christian values. So for example in dealing with the homosexual client, the counselor could say, I am a Christian. Christians believe certain things about lifestyle choices. Would you be interested in hearing about this? If not, it is okay, we can proceed constructively regardless. If you have any questions, I can answer them. That would be an appropriate way to obtain informed consent from the Christian worldview perspective and in accordance with the APA Code of Ethics: it is respectful, professional, and competent.

Conclusion

The counselor must act ethically. That means operating according to the APA Code of Ethics. The Christian worldview is not out of alignment with this Code either. On the contrary it lines up well with it as can be seen from this paper, which treats on issues of competence, relationships, imposing religious…