CASE STUDY
1. In this case study the counsellor is working with Gary the perpetrator, as a counsellor it is important to recognise your own values and biases. What strategies would you use to ensure your personal values do not affect the outcome for Gary? List a minimum of four strategies
2. Describe four legal and ethical considerations that need to be considered in this case study
3. Why would the counsellor not stop Gary leaving the room? Provide three reasons.
Domestic Value
The client, Gary, called to make his first appointment and said he was persuaded by āa mateā to attend counselling to control his anger. In short Gary was a perpetrator of physical abuse against his intimate female partner, Julie, who is 22 years of age. The couple have no children but his partner has recently expressed a desire to have a child with him.
Background:
The client is 28 years old and a labourer by occupation. He has only had casual/ contractual employment and has been subject to periods of unemployment, the longest being three months. At the time of beginning counselling Gary was unemployed and renting with his partner in a shared house with another couple.
The introductory session revealed that Gary had also been under pressure from his partnerās family to attend counselling or face retaliation. There was also a serious warning from his partner that she would leave him if he did not seek help to change his behaviour and stop his displays of physical abuse in the home.
It was obvious that Gary felt intimidated and irate by the āthreatsā yet he did admit to behaving with āmild physical and verbal abuseā towards his intimate partner. Incidents of this abuse include slapping and pushing her, shouting insults to her face, and delivering embarrassing comments about her in public.
Garyās history revealed that he had previous relationships, without children, that ended as a result of his violent and abusive behaviour. According to Gary no serious harm has been dealt to his current partner; he has not been officially charged by police for assault. He claims that his abusive behaviour is restricted to behind closed doors or only in the home.