The Clergyperson as Counselor: An Inherent Conflict of Interest

Counseling is a function performed by many clergypersons as part of their overall role of minister in a congregational setting. There is an inherent conflict of interest when a clergyperson seeks to be an objective and therapeutic counselor to members of the very group on which he or she depends for both material benefits and volunteer help. The authors provide illustrations of this conflict of interest and then examine it in the light of codes of ethics of several professional counseling organizations. Clergy who do counseling are urged to adopt a professional code of ethics and abide by it, even if this involves cessation of the counseling function.     

High-risk students in junior college: a special program

The college student who is considered a “high academic risk” offers to teachers, counselors, and curricula a great challenge. Most “bright” students have to exert little effort to achieve academic successs; however, there are other students for whom learning comes only with great personal effort, as well as great patience and concern on the part of their instructors, who can also benefit from higher education. The results of Project speed , representing one attempt to do something with high-risk students, strongly suggest that developmental programs can have a measurably positive influence upon their participants.     

Elderly Persons as Intergenerational Child Care Providers

Programs involving elderly adults in the provision of child care services have evolved as a possible solution to problems identified by working parents and the elderly.