Ethical Issues

[TJuniper]

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This article made me wonder: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/30/AR2009083002473.html

Arison explains that she has finally dropped the fear that has held her back from doing more about what she has perceived. Armed with the insight gained through work with Florida-based psychiatrist Brian Weiss, a proponent of regression therapy and the exploration of (take your pick) deep memories or past lives, she says she is ready to go public with her visions and bring together her spiritual and business goals.
"Dr. Weiss told me during these meetings that one day I will have a significant role in world peace, but at that time I did not know what he was talking about and I could not cope with the idea," Arison writes in "Birth: When the Material and Spiritual Come Together," published in Hebrew as a hybrid memoir, corporate vision statement and collection of speeches. A possible English edition is in negotiation, according to an Arison representative.

Sounds like nonsense to me. Is this Brian Weiss reputable?

Are you allowed to convince a powerful client that she is destined to bring peace to the world? What if you know she has the ability to do great things?

 

[Ollie123]

A quick search on psycinfo/medline shows that he hasn't published anything peer-reviewed in several decades - not a good sign. I hate to judge anyone off mainstream media since the media seems to go out of its way to be inaccurate these days. However, all signs seem to point towards quackery.

Generally speaking, I think its unethical to "convince" a client of anything, let alone something that might be delusional. The goal is to help the client convince themselves. If a client has great potential, there's nothing wrong with helping them see that (in fact, its going to be a major part of pretty much every therapy). However, there is a big difference between asking a client "I know you said you're bad at everything, but are you REALLY bad at everything? Your grades seem to say otherwise." and telling them "I think you might be the second coming of Jesus".

 

[erg923]

My mother is really into stuff like that. Past lives, unique therapies,etc. I think she has one of his books actually. What worries me is 3 things.

1. Setting a client up for expectations they might not be able to meet, thereby creating all kinds of more problems.

2. implanting or exaerbatting (grandisose) delusional belief systems.

3. Transposing your beliefs and expectations into the therapy instead of listening to what your client wants from his/her life. I never tell my clients how to live their lives.

 

[strad48]

Just did a google search. He's written several books, with titles such as Same Soul, Many Bodies and Many Lives, Many Masters. You can read excerpts on Amazon. Best regarded as recycled New Age fiction.