Counselors and psychotherapists, on the whole, are accepting, empathic folks. It’s why we are drawn to the work. That said, we are also human, and bring to the counseling session our own experiences, values, beliefs, limitations. Ethically, we are required to respect client diversity and be aware of our personal beliefs and biases…specifically to help us avoid imposing our values/biases on our clients or interfering with client goals (ACA, 2014).
In April of 2016, Governor Haslam signed into Tennessee Law a bill that granted licensed professional counselors in TN the right to deny service to any client based on their strongly held personal beliefs. Although some TN counselors felt they needed the protection of this law, the TN law is in direct conflict with our national ethical code. Personally and professionally, I respect diversity and take an affirmative approach to dealing with people who are culturally different from myself.
I counsel clients of various religions, ethnicities and cultures. I counsel teens and seniors. I counsel heterosexual couples and LGBTQ couples. I counsel liberals & conservatives; the creative & the analytical. Our cultural identities are comprised of so many layers, making us complex and unique. I delight in getting to know and understand you from your unique perspective!
I am open. I am willing to listen, learn and observe. I welcome you to call me (615)415-8884 or email me Christy@CGBcounseling.com if you have questions. I am happy to help.