What might you do in these situations? What are the pros and cons to
the various options, and what do you see as being the best approach to take? Are there any negative
consequences to your chosen actions? What might you do to minimize and/or
counteract those? Is there any way you could
have prevented these situations from arising in the first place?
1. You are a white female clinician at CMU's training clinic,
just beginning your first year of practicum. Your first client has
been seen at the clinic for many years, being transferred to new clinicians
every year or so. When you begin your first session with this client,
a middle-aged black man with schizotypal personality features and multiple
life stressors, he informs you that he hates white people, women, and CMU
students.
1a. Same scenario as above but the client is in treatment for
impulse control and rage problems.
2. You are active in feminist, pro-choice causes in your community, which includes activities such as escorting patients outside a local Planned Parenthood clinic and tabling at block parties and festivals. Your new client has just informed you she is a born-again Christian, and that her faith is the most important thing in her life.
2a. In addition to the above, she mentions that her church will be setting up a table at this weekend's town festival, which you are also scheduled to be at.
2b. You are the same clinician as above. Your new client walks into her first session, and you recognize her from Planned Parenthood, where she is one of the regular protesters on the line through which you escort patients.
2c. Same setup as 2b, except that you the clinician are the born-again
Christian who protests at Planned Parenthood, and your new client is the
woman you recognize as a regular patient escort.
3. You are a gay clinician. Although generally open about your sexuality in your personal life, you tend not to discuss any personal issues with your clients. Your new client begins discussing his reason for coming to therapy: his teenage child has just come out to him, and he is very upset about this, as he feels his child will have a more difficult life.
3a. Same as above, but the reason he is upset is that he feels homosexuality is wrong and immoral.
3b and 3c. Same situations as above, but the man's child is an adult, not a teenager.
3d and 3e. Same situations as above, but the man says he came
to see you because he heard from a friend that you were gay, and he thought
you would be able to help him understand his child better.
4. You grew up in Puerto Rico, and retain your accent. You are now a clinician in Mt. Pleasant. Upon meeting you, your new client's first question is, "So, where are you from?"
4a. Same as above, but the question is, "I've never spoken with
anyone Spanish before. Do you speak English fluently, or should I
find an American therapist?"