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Sunday, December 06, 2009

Tiger Woods and Couples Therapy: A Video Review for Ethics in Counseling

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Most of us know what has been recently reported about the world's leading athlete. In pursuit of understanding their situation, it is normal for press people to dig as deep as they can. This is sometimes thought of as "sensationalizing" the matter.

In the video that I just watched tonight (it's 8PM Philippine time Dec. 6, 2009), a couples therapist is shown talking about "couples therapy." As she talks on the topic, particularly on the issues and concerns involved in couples therapy sessions, pictures of Tiger Woods and his wife were posed throughout the said video, as if to hint that the couples therapist is expressly talking about the said couple. I rewinded the video and re-listened to the therapist, but NOWHERE in this segment of the video did the lady therapist particularly identify the currently-under-public-scrutiny-couple as her client.

In fact, upon looking at the title of the article-video "Therapist to Tiger: 'talk it through' with wife", I immediately thought "What? Isn't she supposed to keep things in confidence? Why talk about the said couple's purported therapy in public?" An ethical question, in short. Hence, by rewinding, rewatching and relistening to the video, I searched for any statement from the interviewed couples therapist Dr. Melinda Douglas where she would have explicitly mentioned that the said couple is her client for couples therapy. Thank God, she didn't do that, or else, people will have the right to ask now: "Can my therapist now talk publicly about my problems publicly (with the press at that)?" That would surely compromise the profession of therapy, or Counseling or Guidance and Counseling for that matter.

Hence, go ahead and watch this segment, and tell me if Dr. Douglas ever mentioned Tiger and his wife as her clients. Perhaps, this is a way the unidentified media person used to inform us about couples therapy. He has succeeded in that aspect.

But if you read the following words written under the video:

"Tigers Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren are reportedly undergoing marriage counseling at their home in Orlando. San Francisco-based couples therapist Melissa Douglas describes the difficulties…"

you may be easily led to think that indeed Dr. Douglas said so to Tiger. Linking Dr. Douglas with the couple may lack basis (because of the confidentiality concern). It is the title of the article which purports the relationship. But that is all it wants to: purport. But it failed miserably. It thus becomes a concern for the profession to consider seriously.

Scary, isn't it? All the more it is essential for Guidance Counselors, Counseling Psychologists and everyone entrusted with private matters in counseling sessions to keep in mind the confidentiality matter in our ethical practice. RA9258 Article IV Sec. 28 Right to Privileged Communication for Guidance Counselors specifies that "A Certified or Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselor...cannot without the consent of the client be examined as to any communication or information which has been acquired while attending such client." There you go! Learn to politely say "I'm not in the position to speak about this (privileged) communication" to anyone who would like to lure you (even by the courts, remember) into it.

To continue, the said section further says: "The protection accorded herein shall also extend to the records and secretary or clerk of an Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselor, who may not be examined concerning any fact, the knowledge of which has been acquired in such capacity." With this provision of our RA 9258, we have to ensure that our secretary is made aware of her obligations in the confidential nature of one's work as Guidance Counselor. Records of our clients have to be labeled CONFIDENTIAL to ensure the boundaries are kept.

Look at this: "Any evidence obtained in violation of this provision shall be inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding." That's the statement under Sec. 24 of the law's Article IV. So, you have the right as a Guidance Counselor to object to any purported evidence dug from your confidential files (usually by foul means or by any other means).

Thus far my thoughts on the confidentiality clause of our practice as Registered and Licensed (though lacking our Certificates as of this writing) Guidance Counselors. God bless and all the best in our practice. Take care always. Read your law and live it!

Tiger Woods and Couples Therapy: A Video Review

0 comments
We all know what has been reported about the world's leading athlete. In pursuit of understanding their situation, it is normal for press people to dig as deep as they can. This is sometimes thought of as "sensationalizing" the matter.

In the video that I just watched tonight (it's 8PM Philippine time Dec. 6, 2009), a couples therapist talks about "couples therapy." As she talks on the topic, particularly on the issues and concerns involved in couples therapy sessions, pictures of Tiger Woods and his wife were posed throughout the said video, as if to say that the couples therapist is expressly talking about the said couple. I rewinded and re-listened to the therapist, but NOWHERE in this segment of the video did the lady therapist particularly identify the currently-under-public-scrutiny-couple as her client.

In fact, upon looking at the title of the article-video "Therapist to Tiger: 'talk it through' with wife", I immediately thought "What? Isn't she supposed to keep things in confidence? Why talk about the said couple's purported therapy in public?" An ethical question, in short. Hence, by rewinding, rewatching and relistening to the video, I searched for any statement from the interviewed couples therapist Dr. Melinda Douglas where she explicitly mentions she's talking about her couples therapy session with the said couple. Thank God, she didn't do that, or else, people have the right to ask now: "Will my therapist now talk publicly about my problems with the press (at that)?" That would surely compromise the profession of therapy, or Counseling or Guidance and Counseling for that matter.

Hence, go ahead and watch this segment, and tell me if Dr. Douglas ever mentioned Tiger and his wife as her clients. Perhaps, this is a way the unidentified media person used to inform us about couples therapy. He has succeeded in that aspect.

But if you simply read the following words written under the video:

"Tigers Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren are reportedly undergoing marriage counseling at their home in Orlando. San Francisco-based couples therapist Melissa Douglass describes the difficulties…"

you may be easily brought to think that indeed Dr. Douglas said so. Linking Dr. Douglas with the couple may lack basis (because of the confidentiality concern). It is the title of the article which purports the relationship. But that is all it wants to: purport. But it failed.

Scary, isn't it? All the more it is essential for Guidance Counselors, Counseling Psychologists and everyone entrusted with private matters to keep in mind the confidentiality matter in our ethical practice. RA9258 Article IV Sec. 28 Right to Privileged Communication for Guidance Counselors specifies that "A Certified or Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselor...cannot without the consent of the client be examined as to any communication or information which has been acquired while attending such client." There you go! Learn to politely say "I'm not in the position to speak about this privileged communication" to anyone who would like to lure you (even by the courts, remember) into it.

To continue, the said section further says: "The protection accorded herein shall also extend to the records and secretary or clerk of an Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselor, who may not be examined concerning any fact, the knowledge of which has been acquired in such capacity." With this provision of our RA 9258, we have to ensure that our secretary is made aware of her obligations in the confidential nature of one's work as Guidance Counselor. Records of our clients have to be labeled CONFIDENTIAL to ensure the boundaries are kept.

Look at this: "Any evidence obtained in violation of this provision shall be inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding." That's the statement under Sec. 24 of the law's Article IV. So, you have the right as a Guidance Counselor to object to any purported evidence dug from your confidential files (by foul means of course).

Thus far my thoughts on the confidentiality clause of our practice as Registered and Licensed (though lacking our Certificates as of this writing) Guidance Counselors. God bless and all the best in our practice. Take care always. Read your law and live it!

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Reommendation for Cancer Patients

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I got this email today, one that provides hope for cancer patients. Hence for those among us who have cancer patients (Attention Counselors working in the hospital setting!), please read this email below and check for yourselves the youtube documentary of Karen Davila. It's kind of hopeful to realize there is a place that provides an alternative in treating cancer. All the best and God bless

Here's the email which a friend forwarded me:

Hi All,

Some of you may know that I spent a week in Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou , China last August. I stayed at the hospital to be with my cousin, Dayday Joseph-David. She has stage 4 breast cancer which had metastasized to her lungs, brain and hip bone.

Her battle with this disease started six years ago. Traditional chemotherapy and a mastectomy wiped out the tumors and we hoped she had won. She even was blessed with 2 sons. Last year a growth was found in her lungs which was identified as breast cancer cells. Again she went through chemotherapy (with all the nasty side effects). The tumor disappeared, but early this year more tumors appeared in her lungs, brain and hip bone.

After much consideration and investigation, Dayday decided to go for treatment in Fuda Hospital . There she received cryosurgery, direct-to-tumor chemotherapy (my name for it, it might really be called something else) with fewer side effects, tiny radioactive seeds, and immunotherapy. Aside from these most modern of treatments, she also was given traditional Chinese teas and daily acupressure, to help her fight the disease and the side effects of the treatments.

Last month she returned to China for a check up and for immunotherapy and most of the tumors had disappeared. The ones that had not disappeared had shrunk or were like scars (again my non-medical description) .

I am telling you all about this because I was doubtful about a hospital in China . The success of Dayday's treatment helped changed my mind, but my staying there for a week has made me disciple of Fuda. Considering I was in a hospital with only cancer patients, I was filled with hope and trust. The place was very very clean. Many of the doctors were trained abroad, so spoke good English, but there were always translators with the patient during examination or treatment. Everyone, from the girls who cleaned the room, to the nurses, residents, doctors and administration, were so very nice and kind. (Okay, I did get into a disagreement with the take out restaurant across the street about a missing Black Chicken order, but even then the manager of the restaurant came to apologize).

The treatments, the room and the tests were much less expensive than they would be here in Manila . Although many of their treatments are simply not available in Manila .

I am telling you all this because if you know anyone who has cancer. They must consider Fuda Hospital . Even if they decide to go with treatment here and doctors and hospitals here, they have to know that there may be choices that the doctors here are not offering them, cannot offer them.

On Saturday, 5 December 2009, there will be a FREE seminar about Fuda Hospital at the Manila Peninsula from 9 am to 12 nn. Doctors from Fuda Hospital will be there to discuss their Novel Concepts and Treatments for cancer. consultation s will be held after the seminar and the following day Dec. 6. (registration required)

Please contact for reservations (seats are limited)

Office: 809-4453
email: hope.cancer@ gmail.com
sms: +63917.523.5217
http://hopeforthose withcancer. blogspot. com/

Several Filipino patients who had been treated in Fuda will be there to tell their stories, including my cousin, Dayday. (She reserved me a seat but Aldo has a jiu jitsu competition that day. So I can't be there.)

Karen Davila featured this hospital in last week's anniversary presentation of "The Correspondents." Here is a bit of it: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=YwKBZJTpeRQ featuring Nestor Bonifacio. Nestor is the best person to talk about Fuda. Anyone interested should communicate with him. He loves to tell his story and help people find their way to Fuda.

Nestor B.Bonifacio. P.E.
Tel: 510-710-5921
Fax: 925-244-1204
Email: NBonifacio@pacbell. net

I am not getting any money for sharing this all with you. I am compelled to share because I know we all know someone who is suffering with cancer and suffering from the treatments for cancer. If this message helps just one person have a better quality of life as they live with cancer, then I'd have done a very very good deed.

One last line I remember from the Fuda webpage: Treat the patient, not the disease.

Please forward this to anyone with a family member with cancer.

Tricia
patricia.vergeldedi os@gmail. com