Ethical Dilemma

Answer

Ethical Dilemmas in Performance and Sport Psychology

            The purpose of this paper is to examine ethical dilemmas within the context of performance and sports psychology. High profile individuals continually face myriads of challenges in trying to balance the responsibilities of living a normal healthy life and that of a high-profile media personality. Not only do they have to wrestle with the constant demands of life, but they must also maintain excellence and performance in the field (McCalla & Fitzpatrick, 2016). Celebrities deal with constant invasions or attempted invasions into their privacy and personal life; however, it is not always their wish to have every detail of their life be public knowledge. In working in the equine industry, I have come into contact with some high-profile professionals including actors, singers, athletes, models, and business tycoons. I have come across some ethical issues and dilemmas that relate to ethical issues that arise in performance and sport psychology. In working with these individuals, it is not uncommon to have to sign some non-disclosure agreements to help them maintain some privacy that they can control in their life as well as a safety measure. One of the ethical dilemmas that I have been a part of involved the following ethical principles; confidentiality (in the form of non-disclosure agreements), competence, and multiple relationships due to a social media mishap.

A particular incident that I was involved in included a professional model (her spouse, therapist, and I). The model was seeing a therapist that she met outside of the state in which she resided, and they began corresponding over Skype, Facetime, and Facebook. The issue arose when she borrowed my personal cell phone and tagged her therapist in a picture of them together on my Instagram account, not remembering she had borrowed my phone she tagged the therapist on my personal account using her social media handles. This unavoidably connected me to her. Her husband was in charge of monitoring employees and contractors’ activity and to hold them to their non-disclosure agreements. At first glance, it all appeared as if I had a violated my non-disclosure agreement that I had signed when I began providing services for the couple that I could not disclose information that I was providing services for them or in any way be associated including but not limited to using their social media handles in any way as a privacy and security measure which among other things included any use of their social media handles. In addition to this, there was some information about their upcoming session left on my phone as well. I felt that there would be no issue in loaning my phone because my employer did not have a device with adequate battery power. This was not the case as it led to my temporary suspension until the matter was resolved. Unfortunately there were several parties involved in the matter who were jeopardized because of the lack of security measures taken to ensure client privacy. 

Given my current knowledge and much awareness, I could have been able to prevent the incident from occurring from the start. Besides, I could have been able to limit the extent of the harm by reporting the mishap as soon as I found it out. In that way, I would have resolved the ethical conflict in time and I would not have been temporarily suspended. Confidentiality of my client(s) was clearly jeopardized, which requires a consultant/therapist protect the details from third-party access while recognizing the extent to such limits. According to the American Psychologist Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct on privacy and confidentiality, I had a primary obligation to maintain confidentiality of my client by ensuring that she understood the risks associated with her choice to use my smartphone (APA, 2016). Similarly, Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Ethics Code revised in 2011 also stresses on maintenance of confidentiality, boundaries of competence, professional competence, and avoidance of harm. Besides, AASP’s ethical standard on integration of technology in professional and scientific work with exercise, sport, and health psychology should have been enough to be hesitant in allowing my client to use my smartphone to post her update in her social media account (AASP, 2011). It is a dilemma that has legal principles calling for strict adherence to maintain a favorable working relationship with the client and as such a difficult challenge to maneuver. Confidentiality is the necessary foundation upon which trust is built on while conducting consulting/therapy. Similar to other fields of professional psychology, performance and sport psychology consultants adhere to specific guidelines and ethical principles. It is the sole responsibility of the psychologists to protect the information acquired in any form from third-party access, taking notice of the limitations to the privileges (Malcolm, 2016). Similarly, APA (2016) calls for a psychologist to have discussed the limits of confidentiality with clients before serving them or working for them. In which case, I should have discussed the appropriateness of the decision by my client to use my smartphone before letting her to do so. As a performance and sports psychology consultant it is my work or responsibility to figure out the outcome my decisions or actions or that of my client before really implementing such decisions or carrying-out such actions. In which case, I could have at least avoided blame and discomfort that arose from the scenario. Additionally, the consultant should discuss with the client the extent of the protection highlighting instances that compel for the disclosure; this should be clear from the onset to avoid legal and logistical challenges that can arise. In the event, there are other parties involved, such as trainers and doctors, it is essential to discuss prior with the athlete the information to be shared and set out the boundaries. The consultant should not give information to their colleagues or any other interested party that will directly reveal the identity of the client.

Knowing that confidentiality is the key in building a lasting relationship with the client, I would not engage in any action or behavior that might jeopardize to the client’s right to privacy and confidentiality of my services. According to AASP (2011) Code of Ethics, a professional performance and sports psychology consultant must avoid harming other in anyway whatsoever including causing psychological distress by disclosing sensitive information to unauthorized persons or a third party. In addition, a consultant has an obligation to respect people’s rights and privacy, maintain confidentiality, and be able to resolve ethical conflicts (AASP, 2011). Besides, APA (2016) on matters relating to human relations emphasizes the need for informed consent and the obligation to avoid harm. As such, being more aware of the risks of sharing smartphones at the moment, I would have put my client into task first to sign an informed consent form before letting her to use my phone. The APA (2016) code of ethics gives provision for disclosing information with the consent of the player or to any legally allowed individual representing the player (Malcolm, 2016). Having failed to caution my client beforehand, I should have notified her of privacy and confidentiality breach as soon as I realized it. Besides, I should not have reported the matter to her husband since it would have amounted to disclosure of my client’s information to a third party. Working with athletes or celebrities while practicing as a consultant is demanding and it comes with myriads of challenges. Different from other professional psychologists, consultants often find themselves working in an unfavorable environment with strict regulations to be followed.

AASP (2011) competence ethical principle requires that AASP members ought to be practice within the scope and limitations of their training, education, and/or experience. It includes exercising careful judgment and taking appropriate safety measures or precautions to protect the welfare of their clients or the party whom they work for (AASP, 2011). As a consultant, in my future practice I have to be keen and thoughtful in helping my clients make cautious and appropriate decisions as well as adopt appropriate behaviors to ensure that their privacy, confidentiality, and welfare is protected and maintained. Making correct decisions and subsequently taking appropriate actions can help increase an individual’s physical, psychological, and mental wellbeing (Liu et al., 2018). On the other hand, the AASP (2011) professional and scientific responsibility ethical principle holds performance and sports psychologists responsible for safeguarding and ridding the society of AASP members who are deficient in ethical conduct. A professional ought to uphold professional standards of conduct as well as accept to adopt responsible behaviors (AASP, 2011). In this case, I should have reported the therapist to relevant authorities and professional licensing and regulatory bodies since he had evidently contravened professional conduct and behavior by getting into a dual relationship with the client. However, the AASP (2011) ethical principle on respect for people’s rights and dignity may have hindered me from reporting the therapist. My action could have been based on good intentions but the case could have captured media attention and involved other stakeholders that could have in turn jeopardized or breached my client’s right to confidentiality, privacy, autonomy, and self-determination. My client has right to associate in any way with the therapist as long as such interactions does not negatively affect the professional relationship (AASP, 2011). In accordance with AASP (2011) ethical principle for the concern of others’ welfare my decision not to report but instead to caution my client about the risk of involving herself in dual or multiple relationships with her therapist would have helped to minimize harm. Conflicts should be resolved in a way that it helps to avoid or minimize harm (AASP, 2011). 

            The biggest challenge that I can face as I will be working with athletes/performers as a performance and sports psychology consultant will be to be gagged by non-disclosure agreements even on matters that seem to conflict with my ethical and moral values. I may be subjected to a great pressure aimed at maintaining my client’s privacy, and confidentiality. On the other hand, I have to resist being dragged or involved in dual or multiple relationships with my clients and/or their associates even if pressured to do so. It is difficult to keep it confidential of whom one works with or for in this error of advanced communication and information technology. Digitization of the information regarding an individual’s private life and daily use of technological tools or devices increasing the risk of accidental exposure to a third party (Cleyn, Meysman, & Braet, 2015). I see that is more difficult to keep friends, own children, family, loved ones, and the neighborhood in dark from knowing one’s workplace given the fact that performance and sports psychologists consultants need social support in to achieve high level of work engagement and avoid work burnouts (McCormack et al., 2015). Thus, in one way or another, the organization, individuals, agencies, or groups that one works for may come to light. This is a great challenge especially in cases in which non-disclosure agreements bans one from revealing their employer or services that they are rendering to their clients.

As demonstrated in this case, professional encounter between my employer and her therapist resulted into a dual relationship. It is considered as a professional misconduct since the AASP (2011) ethical principle on concern for other’s welfare cautions AASP members against the urge to mislead or exploit other people during or after the termination of a professional relationship. In that case, I should not be tempted to engage in sexual or any other relationship with my clients since it will negatively impact on my professional conduct and responsibility. It is important to uphold on the professional and scientific relationships with clients in accordance with the AASP (2011) general ethical standards in which the scope of practice may include provision of therapeutic, diagnostic, research, supervisory, teaching, and other consultative services only within the context of defined scientific or professional relationship. By adhering to this ethical standard, I could avoid the potential risk of engaging in dual or multiple relationships with my clients and the repercussions that can stem from it such as legal implications, damaged public image, and breaching of my professional responsibilities and obligations.

On a different perspective, non-disclosure agreements may work against me. In that case, I have to be aware and cautious enough not to fall victim to hushing contracts. Hush contracts may subject one to harassment of any form, discrimination, sexual abuse, and/or other harm such as psychosocial torture but again hindered from reporting the same to a third party or authority by the signed non-disclosure agreements (Hoffman & Lampmann, 2019). Non-disclosure agreements should not act as an impediment to my rights and freedoms. The employer may use non-disclosure agreements to use an employee in unfair and unlawful ways (Hashim, 2019). In such cases, one should be bold enough to conceal the social harm and potentially metastasizing practices.

            In conclusion, sports psychologists may encounter ethical challenges that need to be addressed as they work with sports persons and/or performers. Some of the key challenges include maintenance of privacy, confidentiality, and professionalism, which include maintenance of professional competence and boundaries. However, ethical conflicts may arise that needs to be resolved as soon as possible to limit damage and/harm. Currently, athletes experience a myriad of challenges including safe use of communication and information technology and ensuring that service providers or other associates are compliant to non-disclosure agreements. Performance and sports psychologist consultants should avoid engaging in dual or multiple relationships with their clients. In addition, they should be keen and cautious to ensure that non-disclosure agreements are not used to limit their rights and/or freedoms.