You are in independent practice. A young male client attends for behavioural modification. He tells you he has met a nice girl and wants to settle down. He has recently resigned from a 'bikie' gang....

Ethical Dilemma
    Ethical Dilemma    2018
Introduction
An inevitable aspect of psychological practice is ethical dilemma. Ethical dilemma is a decision making issue that arises from moral imperatives, neither of which is unanimously acceptable. This is a complex process as often the scenario is extensively emotional. Moreover, the trusting relation between psychologist or therapist and the client adds more complexity to the ethical dilemma. Thus the inherent power inequalities between client and therapist make the process psychological therapy more complicated (Shaw, Bancroft and Metzer 2013). Psychologists in their professional lives face many instances of ethical dilemma that involve ambiguity and uncertainty that makes the whole process more complex. In the complicated situation where calm thinking is essential, therapists or psychologists need to plan and follow the co
ect course of action. At this juncture where therapists are operating in an increasingly litigious society, the need for codes of ethics have become highly beneficial in easing the complexities.
The case of the young male client is noteworthy in this context. Coming for behavioural modification, the client has approached the practitioner with certain faith and trust. Thus, when he discloses his adventurers as member of ‘bikie’ gang, he shared his confidential information with the practitioner. The client also disclosed the various anti-social acts he had been part of during his tenure in ‘bikie’ gang. But his acts of vicious bashing that was extensively reported by media acted as ethical dilemma for the independent practitioner or therapist. The reward for naming the perpetrators for the crime adds more to the ethical dilemma. Thus, at this juncture the APS code of ethics or Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics is helpful in guiding the independent practitioner.
Recognizing the dilemma:
As an independent practitioner, registered with the national regulatory body called the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), APS code of ethics is a uniform guide to good practice that includes appropriate conduct in various general situations. The Practitioner faces in disclosing the identity and crime details of the client to the police including the prize money and the right of the client to live a dignified life leaving aside criminal life major ethical dilemmas. The client had done major crime as a member of ‘bikie’gang. The offence was so much severe that even reward was also announced to catch the perpetrators. But as love came in the client’s life, he has turned into a new leaf. He has moved away from the anti-social activities. As a practitioner, beneficence and nonmalificience are the essential principles of ethical psychology. So, the practitioner has to think about the well-being of the client initially who is...