Overview of ethical considerations Case example: Korean female

international students Contributing factors including cultural

context How we handled Future Directions (e.g., prevention) Discussion

Confidentiality Selection/De-selection Multicultural populations

• Limits in groups (Yalom, 2005; Appelbaum & Greer, 1993)

• Fears about the lack of confidentiality Gossip Technological barriers Casual encounters Misunderstanding what is confidential

information Misunderstanding when information is

confidential (within group boundaries)

Good group therapy begins with good client selections (Yalom, 2005, p. 231)

› “The great majority of clinicians do not select for group therapy. Instead, they deselect” (p. 231).

› This process tends to be based on clinical wisdom rather than empirically derived (Kincade, 2004)

Severe psychopathology Having a personality disorder Being actively suicidal Lack of fit with other members (Kincade, 2004)

Can be the ideal place to explore concerns process experiences of oppression and exclusion (Johnson, 2009; Lee, 1997)

May be asked to be the “spokesperson” for their group (Johnson, 2009)

When the community is small, the group members may see each other often (Lee, 1997)

Similar to a small college or small town, when you see another student frequently on campus, it is difficult to reveal personal information in the group (Kincade, 2004)

LGBT community International students from the same

countries Graduate students from the same

programs Individuals from the same residence

hall or hometown

Six South Korean women studying at U. of Minn.; seeking services at UCCS

Two open process groups; one Assertiveness Workshop› Potential members brought their concerns

about joining during screening› Initial group meeting, appeared familiar

with each other› Potentially transfer to alternate group;

Korean co-facilitator

Screened for WIG, wanted Grad WomenScreened for Grad Women– InMentioned B

Screened for Grad Women, wanted Grad Women or AssertMentioned AScreened for Assertiveness Workshop – In

A

B

E

C

D

F

Screened for WIG – In Was an older undergraduateOn first day of WIG, knew D. Decided to drop out. Considered USO group.

Discussed Conundrum in Group Sup

Screened for WIG – InDiscussed: will be other Korean in group during screening. Ok by DOn first day of WIG, knew C. Decided to stay in WIG

Screened for Assertiveness – InDespite the fact that 2 Korean women in Assertiveness Workshop, the issue never came up. It seemed to be a safe enough environment.

Screened for Grad WomenAsked if other Korean women in the group.Said she was not willing to join such a group, decided to do individual work

A B C D E F

Intern’s contribution to increasing awareness of UCCS services within Korean community

Cohesion of Korean community Few Korean colleges; graduate students

likely already knew each other from their undergraduate institutions in Korea

Small general population in Korea; events reported back become well-known in community

Multiple sub-groups within Korean community:› Graduate / Undergraduate› Asian-American / Korean International› Independently financed / Scholarship

recipients› Male / Female

No secret Gossip Saving face -> reputation as a

professional Double standard in dating -> reputation

as a potential marriage partner

› Expression of interest in two groups› Preference for Grad Women’s group› Self-chosen de-selection› Preference for individual counseling

Importance of supervision and peer consultation

Use of Korean intern as our “bridge-person”

Confront assumptions about specific communities

Lack of conversation about group therapy modality in multicultural training

Raised ethical considerations otherwise not discussed (i.e., confidentiality)

Address the issue within group screening Questions of confidentiality/priming

Outreach to Korean communities on campus

Provide space at UCCS for social gatherings/support

International Student & Scholar Services—collaborate to decrease stigma

Reactions to case; critique of resolution Concerns with other populations Similar experiences at other

campuses? Other service limitations Confidentiality issues