While completing the values checklist, I learned many things about myself. The two main things that I have learned is that I am generally accepting of a client’s freedom to choose so long as the client is not placing others at harm, and I am judgmental of men who want to dominate women. After completing the checklist, I understand that as a counselor many times clients will come in with values that are vastly different from mine, and my job is not judge, but to understand. If the issues of the client appear to be too outlandish for me to overcome, I will seek supervision and reflect on why this client is challenging for me.
Therapeutic Neutrality Therapeutic neutrality appears to be synonymous with the idea that counselors should not impose
I foresee that I will have trouble not imposing my values on female clients who are submissive and in abusive relationships and end-of-life decisions. I am from a male-centric culture and I fought to choose my way of life, so I sometimes find demure, dependent women to be annoying. I can foresee myself struggling not to impose my values on these women. My issue with end-of-life decisions is that I equate it with suicide. I would have a difficult time convincing myself that a person who struggles with a terminal medical illness should have a right to end his or her life over someone who has severe depression and poor quality of life. I understand that the argument is that the person with a medical terminal illness is living with physical pain and it is only a matter of time before the person dies, but I just always think about the what
But, the job of counselors is not to impose their values, but help clients explore how their current issues are affected by their own value system. A counselor who is struggling with a client can find that the issue may have to do with value conflicts. In that instance, it is vital that the counselor seek supervision. Supervision allows counselors the ability to address their concerns and be taught ways to overcome bias and get closer to therapeutic neutrality. I know as a counselor that there will be times that I will need supervision when dealing with difficult clients, and I must be open to the idea that it may not be the client that is the