Ethics in Social Work

Term Paper # 56940

Ethics
Sociology > Social Work

A look at some of the ethical dilemmas encountered in social work practice.

2,598 words () | 21 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how issues, such as self-determination, boundaries including personal and client-self-disclosure, potential psychopathology of the social worker and/or the patient, and cultural incompetence can blur the boundaries that create ethical dilemmas. It discusses ethical dilemmas that can and do occur in social work practice and offers an example flow-chart that social workers may adopt and adapt to best suit their individual clinical practice and settings.

Outline
Introduction
Self-Determination
Boundaries
Social Work Self-Disclosure
Cultural Factors
Develop A Plan

From the Paper:

"Establishing and maintaining boundaries is a complex process for all health care providers. One of the basic principles in social work practice is to establish and to maintain professional, helpful and therapeutic boundaries. Although, boundaries are complex and ever-changing, contingent upon such factors as age, cultural, psychopathology of the patient as well as with the social worker, clinical setting, and etcetera. Phillips (2003) discusses that the focus on psychopathology in the therapist and countertansferential that make them either abusive with their patients or vulnerable to boundary violations."