In identifying a case where I encountered a value conflict of interest was when I was discussing different parenting styles with a client. These parenting styles differentiate between authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting. When describing these different parenting styles, the client described their parenting style as authoritarian and believed that corporal punishment is needed in order to have their children follow rules and give off respect. The value conflict in which I am describing is a different moral character the client may have then myself. I did not have to report these findings to supervision or administer a safety risk for others because this is why the client was referred to services.
Although my own values as a parent and perspectives conflict with the clients values It is my responsibility to work with the client to incorporate and learn about other strategies that can be set in place that won’t have negative influences on their children or risk harm. I informed the client that some of the negative approaches might create some outstanding characteristics in children such as they may develop aggressive, rebellious, highly sensitive, or inattentive behaviors. The NASW Code of Ethics that represents this value conflict between the client and I is 1.02 Self Determination and 1.05 Cultural Competence. In not agreeing with the clients values I must still follow the ethical guideline of respecting and letting clients make their own decisions. “Self-determination, then refers to the right of clients not to have the professional make decisions for them. But the worker has the right and the obligation to place the client’s decision-making process in a moral context” (Glasser, 1984,pg.5). Following the ethical guideline of cultural competence is also important in this case because as a helping professional I need to be non-judgement to continue to assist the client further.
In getting to know the client further through our sessions the client admitted that their own upbringing was similar and this is what they believed was morally the correct way of raising children. In reflecting, the client was able to pinpoint how they did not like their upbringing and become more receptive to change in incorporating other forms of discipline when it comes to their children’s behaviors. “When a moral reason conflicts with a personal reason, the moral reason is not always overriding” (Beauchamp, 2019,pg.12). I definitely misjudged this client even from knowing their background referral information that informed me about their past neglect and corporal punishment with their children. Discussing further more positive discipline strategies with the client and the clients changed perspective our values did not conflict any more. I realized in this scenario I was using my own values over knowledge. I understand why the client is enrolled in parenting services and should acknowledge that I will come across more clients with similar problems but because I do not raise my own children with negative discipline tactics the client believed was appropriate made me judge the client which is not professional.(cindy)