Reflect:

As I learn more about implicit bias, one ethical issue that comes up for me is the possibility of unintentionally misunderstanding, minimising, or interpreting a client’s experience through my own worldview. Even when the intention is to be respectful, implicit bias may affect what I notice, what I ask, what I assume, and how I understand the client’s story. This could create ethical dilemmas around respect, autonomy, justice, non-maleficence, and culturally responsive practice. For example, a counsellor might assume that a client’s family involvement is unhealthy or controlling, when within the client’s culture it may be an important source of identity, belonging, and support.

I think I would feel cautious about bringing attention to a cultural issue with a client, because I would not want to make assumptions or place the burden on the client to educate me. However, I also think avoiding cultural issues can be ethically problematic, because silence may communicate discomfort or may leave important parts of the client’s experience unexplored. I would want to bring cultural issues into the room gently and respectfully, using curiosity rather than certainty.

For example, I might say, “I am wondering whether culture, family, community, or identity are important parts of how you are experiencing this?” This gives the client choice and does not assume that culture is relevant, but it also makes space for the client to speak about it if they want to.

The ethical issue with avoiding the topic is that the counsellor may miss something important or unintentionally centre their own worldview. The ethical issue with bringing it up too directly is that the counsellor may stereotype the client or make culture the focus when the client does not experience it that way. For me, the most ethical approach would be to stay reflective, seek supervision, notice my own assumptions, and invite the client’s meaning rather than impose my own.