¶ … clergy psychotherapists are noted by Haug (1999) to encounter a complex mix of ethical dilemmas as a result of their dual roles. The pastoral counselors deal with several boundary issues as well as potential roles conflicts in the professional life. In this paper we evaluate these boundary issues as well as the potential role conflicts that the pastoral counselors face in their professional capacities.
The boundary issues and role conflict faced by clergy psychotherapists
The work of Haug (1999) has indicated that the acknowledgement of power as authority as well as the maintenance of clear as well as safe professional boundaries appears to be very complex issues facing the clergy psychotherapists. The boundary issues as well as role conflicts are noted to be rampant in a legacy that is marked with dual training, lack of sufficient attention to the necessary professional ethics and differing levels of role expectations as well as professional socializations of the psychotherapists as counselors and clergy makes it very critical for them to acknowledge the boundary issues in the field of counseling.
Haug (1993) indicated that most of the violations to the professional codes of conducts are never intentional and are perpetrated by counselor who are well-meaning but lacking supervision, education as well as self-control. Haug (1999) therefore suggested the establishment of strict behavioral rules as well as guidelines to be used in addressing the boundary issues.
The boundary issues as well as role conflict are noted by Haug (1999) to be as a consequence of the interplay between power and authority. These two present a complex mix for the counselor as the misuse of power appears to be the main reason behind boundary violations as noted by Peterson (1992).
The issue is further complicated by the mere fact that the responsibility of maintaining a well kept and clear boundary that is necessary for the protection of the client's well-being lies with the counselor as noted by Bograd (1992). The aspect of role conflict emanates from the fact that the clergy psychotherapists often confuse their usual pastoral duties with their roles as counselors. As usual clergy, they enjoy an unparalleled level of trust and this can at times be misused by the unethical pastoral counselors. Some of the boundary issues arise from gender issues, lack of professional education, idealization and professional socialization.
Transgressing boundaries can be helpful or harmful
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