Abstract:This article discusses an approach to relational ethics in contemporary systemic practice. It explores the possibilities offered by traditions of moral philosophy in attending to problems from a relational ethics perspective. This includes a focus on relationships as a crucial element in the development and maintenance of a moral self and how couples and families construct an ethical platform together, both consciously and unconsciously; and also how relational ethics may inform ideas about the values‐driven p… Show more
“…Themes surrounding relational ethics include community, context, care, relational responsibility to self and others, collaboration, consensus, values, and narrative. Although an agreed‐upon definition is difficult to come by, Shaw () offers one possible definition of relational ethics:Relational ethics encompasses the territory in which people come to reflect on, think about, and decide on their obligations and responsibilities to self and other. The reflections take into account personal and community values, morals, and preferences.…”
Ethical dilemmas in the field of family therapy continue to evolve; this article addresses ethical issues family therapists are currently confronting or may confront in the future. We begin by examining a movement in the field towards relational ethics, which is inclusive of context, values, and power that permeate all relationships. Using this framework in relation to both our clients and our practice, we discuss defensive and risk‐aversive practice of family therapy within our current socio‐political context, family therapists working with child alienation in cases of non‐normative divorce, the impact of digital technology on families and family therapy, and the polarisation of sexual value issues.
“…Themes surrounding relational ethics include community, context, care, relational responsibility to self and others, collaboration, consensus, values, and narrative. Although an agreed‐upon definition is difficult to come by, Shaw () offers one possible definition of relational ethics:Relational ethics encompasses the territory in which people come to reflect on, think about, and decide on their obligations and responsibilities to self and other. The reflections take into account personal and community values, morals, and preferences.…”
Ethical dilemmas in the field of family therapy continue to evolve; this article addresses ethical issues family therapists are currently confronting or may confront in the future. We begin by examining a movement in the field towards relational ethics, which is inclusive of context, values, and power that permeate all relationships. Using this framework in relation to both our clients and our practice, we discuss defensive and risk‐aversive practice of family therapy within our current socio‐political context, family therapists working with child alienation in cases of non‐normative divorce, the impact of digital technology on families and family therapy, and the polarisation of sexual value issues.
“…She suggests that relational ethics involves doing what is necessary to be true to and responsible for one's actions, that values mutual respect, dignity and connectedness and requires action from hearts and minds according to the changing demands of the research conversation. Relational ethics is, therefore, a dynamic process ethics, which encompasses obligations to the self and the other in an improvisational, polyvocal and dialogical context of relationships (Gergen, ; Shaw, ). This research‐focused description closely fits with our aim as clinicians and therapists.…”
Section: A Dynamic Relational Ethics Of Care As the Highest Context Mmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The performance of ethical practice can mean so much more than stolid adherence to a set of rules and instructions. It can serve as a basis for the conduct of creative and imaginative relational activity involving thoughts and feelings about the way we live our lives, both personally and professionally, to support human flourishing (Shaw, ).…”
Practice-based research is increasingly utilized as a postmodern, qualitative research method. It can help systemic practitioners understand, develop and communicate about their everyday practice to others. In this article I review some of the literature on practitioner research and focus on the challenges of researching one's own practice. Using illustrative examples from transcripts and field notes gathered during my research on how I begin conversations with families who seek a diagnostic assessment for an autism spectrum condition for their child, I explore the ethics involved in the twofold task of providing a clinical service and conducting systematic research. I argue that a dynamic relational ethics of care can be employed to navigate the challenges of adopting a dual research and clinical focus
“…Similarly Harlene Anderson () grounded a postmodern family therapy based on language and conversation in an ethical ‘not knowing,’ where the focus is, ‘what I do with what I know or think I know’ (p. 247, italics mine). Also Shaw () identified a relational ethics in contemporary family therapy in terms of fostering a moral responsiveness and awareness that enriches systemic therapeutic practice. Interestingly in Attachment Based Family Therapy (Diamond, Siqueland, & Diamond, ), a central motif is how therapists can foster a more ethical kind of relating between young persons and parents based on empathy and forgiveness for relational ruptures.…”
Section: Family Therapy As Ethical Relationmentioning
Derrida tells us languages are bearers of culture that are never neutral but always political; they impose a kind of cultural violence on the persons who speak them. If to speak a language is to participate in a form of political violence, then one challenge for family therapy becomes ethical: how to avoid forms of linguistic oppression that impose a language on others. Such ethics take precedence over questions of epistemology or approach: theory, knowledge, and language are in the service of others. As narrative, systemic, or dialogical family therapists, we speak the language of therapy so others can speak their own discourse and form their own language community. However, to be called a ‘therapist’ there is also a responsibility to help others in the best way possible, which may require speaking non‐relational, evidence‐informed professional discourses. The paper discusses an ethical family therapy as one that engages a range of therapeutic discourses while speaking the language of the client. This is illustrated by a practice example of integrative family therapy with a depressed, self‐harming, and suicidal teenager.
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