Case Vignette:

Your client is a 10-year-old adoptee who identifies as Chinese and male. His American mother referred the client following his disruptive behavior at school and at home. The father also supports the mother’s decision to initiate therapy. You are able to establish a good rapport with the boy and work through some of his issues.

Use your course resources and ethical decision-making model to write your responses to the following questions:

1. The mother informs you that a family physician who recently diagnosed her son with a sleeping disorder would like to know more about the boy’s therapeutic work and his success in therapy. The mother informs you that the physician will contact you shortly.  In 2 days, you receive an email from the physician requesting information on the client. Describe how you will manage the mother’s request to establish communication with the physician in light of therapeutic mandates for privacy and confidentiality. Then, describe how you would manage the physician’s email and electronic communication.
2. In session with the parents, the mother reveals that she does not allow her son to speak his native language at home and that she is uncomfortable with him identifying with his culture because she feels it disconnects her from him. She begins to talk about racially biased behaviors from herself and her family with whom the son is in contact regularly. Describe how you would negotiate this with the parents and manage this issue clinically regarding cultural sensitivity and the AAMFT Code of Ethics.
3. One day, your client comes to the session and tells you that if he refuses to go to bed at a certain time, his father closes him in a bathroom for the rest of the night and does not give him anything to eat the next morning. Please describe your actions in light of your obligations as a mandated reporter.
4. One day you conducted a family session: the boy, the mother, and the father are all present. After the session, you realize that the boy’s father was your parent’s lawyer. Please discuss your possible actions, keeping in mind Standard 1.3 from the AAMFT Code of Ethics.
5. Ten sessions into the therapy, your client’s mother informs you that their insurance panel did not approve further treatment. Discuss your actions, keeping in mind Principle 1.11 from the AAMFT Code of Ethics.
6. A few months after termination of therapy, the father sends you a friend invite on social media with a message that he would like for the family to update you on their progress. Explain how you would manage this situation using your course resources to support your decision.
7. One year after the termination of the therapy, you receive a subpoena from the mother’s lawyer asking you to be part of the court proceeding following the divorce of your client’s parents. The mother is asking the court to end joint custody in favor of sole custody. The subpoena asks you to provide information concerning the divorce and child custody as addressed in the previous therapy and that you will be called to testify. Please describe your actions.

https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx