How to Give Public Advice Without Jeopardising Client Ethics: Navigating the Organisational Therapist Paradox

The Organisational Therapist Paradox is a common dilemma that faces the organisational therapist. It is the challenge of blending giving advice publicly, on platforms like blogs, articles, books, etc. with avoiding giving advice to clients directly. The paradox is rooted in the ethical principle of not giving advice that may compromise the client’s exploration of their issues. However, it’s essential to find a separation between the two to provide value to the public while maintaining ethical standards and the therapeutic alliance with clients.

One means of achieving this separation is seeing advice-giving as presenting aspects of what a healthy state of mind looks like and feels like. Instead of providing direct advice, a therapist can share insights on how to cultivate healthy behaviours, habits and thought patterns. For example, they can provide insight into how to achieve a more productive mindset, how to build healthy communication skills, or how to create and maintain boundaries.

One way to avoid giving direct advice to clients is to use the Socratic method of questioning. This technique involves asking open-ended questions that help clients think through their problems and come up with solutions on their own. It’s a powerful tool that not only helps clients come up with solutions but also helps them develop self-awareness and critical coping skills.

In conclusion, the Organisational Therapist Paradox is a challenge facing the organisational therapist. The key to overcoming it is to find a separation between providing value to the public and maintaining ethical standards when working with clients. Ultimately, navigating the Organisational Therapist Paradox requires a delicate balance of providing public value, building pre-sales relationships and upholding ethical standards.