Case Vignette 1 - Elen

  Case Vignette 1 - Eleni   Eleni has started a new job as a wellbeing co-ordinator at a secondary school and she is the first trained counsellor that has been employed in this role. The principal outlines that all parents have signed a form upon enrolment allowing their child to see the wellbeing co-ordinator if they wish. On Eleni's first day, Bing, a 15-year old student drops in to Eleni's office to work through some issues he has been experiencing with his outside of school sporting team. A good rapport develops quickly between Eleni and Bing. In the course of discussion, Bing reveals that he is same sex attracted, and he is romantically involved with one of his team mates. He has been experiencing relationship issues because his partner is angry that he and some of the others have been sniffing glue on weekends to “get away from their problems”. The bell rings and Bing leaves abruptly as he has an important class test to attend, leaving Eleni in her office with a racing heart. Later that afternoon, Eleni receives an email from Bing’s teacher Mr. Lee, who asks for an update on how things went during the session, he is worried as Bing has been less attentive in class lately, and he saw Bing leaving the wellbeing office. The next morning, there is a message on the answering machine from Bing’s mother. Her son mentioned that he had seen Eleni the day before, and she would like to be updated on his therapy progress. Bing has been quite irritable at home over the last month and she is very worried that something is wrong. What would an ethical counsellor do in Eleni's situation? Case Vignette 2 - Ian Ian is a trained counsellor. After becoming estranged from his family following a financial dispute, Ian moves interstate and begins to work at a community agency providing family and couples therapy. He lives alone and has found it difficult to make friends outside of the workplace, as he did not know anybody in the area before he moved 6 months ago. Liana also works at the agency as a counsellor and she has become Ian's closest friend at work, often sharing lunch with him. Ian has mentioned that he is finding it rather difficult living alone in a different city away from his friends. Over the last month Liana has noticed more often than not, that Ian's breath smells of alcohol in the morning. Liana also sees some posts on Ian's Facebook profile which indicate he might be meeting with clients outside of sessions socially. Last night, Ian posted a seemingly intimate photo with a woman who is very familiar to Liana. The next morning, Liana realises the individual in the photo was one of Ian's clients at the agency, but when she looks up Ian's profile to double check, the photo is no longer there. What are the ethical issues Liana is facing? What would an ethical counsellor do in her situation?