Running Head: MOVIE REVIEW

Movie Review

Justin Vacula

Marywood University

Running Head: MOVIE REVIEW

Dr. Patel -- the mental health professional portrayed in the 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook -- violates numerous ethical principles within the ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association, 2005) -- diminishing the therapeutic relationship he has with his client. While Pat Jr. -- Dr. Patels client -- seems to benefit from therapy, Dr. Patel could be a more effective therapist steering clear of problematic behaviors. Early in the film, Dr. Patel knowingly plays music which triggers Pat Jr. upon Pat Jr.s entering a waiting area outside his office. Pat Jr. following shouting and feverishly searching the waiting area for a speaker by which to silence the music asks Dr. Patel about the source of the music. Dr. Patel admits to playing the music, noting that he wanted to see if it would still trigger Pat Jr. Rather than playing music without permission which knowingly triggers Pat Jr., Dr. Patel should avoid harm by first asking Pat Jr. whether playing the music would be permissible. Section A.4. of the ACA Code of Ethics stipulates counselors avoid harming clients. Section A.1. of the ACA Code of Ethics stipulates counselors respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients. Playing triggering music without a clients permission is contrary to the imperative to avoid harm and does not respect the dignity of a client. Dr. Patel may incorporate triggering music into therapy, but could have done so in a different manner perhaps gradually working to desensitize Pat Jr. working with Pat Jr. in a more ethical way to overcome fear and negative feelings/memories associated with the music. Dr. Patel should first explain the rationale for incorporating the music in a therapy session and

Running Head: MOVIE REVIEW discover if Pat Jr. were in favor of this; informed consent is required. Dr. Patel may also have eliminated the music from therapy altogether. During one therapy session, Pat Jr. asked Dr. Patel to deliver a letter to Nikki Pat Jr.s

wife who has a restraining order against Pat Jr. Dr. Patel correctly dissuaded Pat Jr. -- refusing to deliver the letter -- noting that delivering the letter [and contacting Nikki] would be illegal. Dr. Patel not only acted according to local, state, and national laws, but also protected both Pat Jr. and Nikki by refusing to deliver the letter. Regardless of legality, therapists should avoid delivering letters on behalf of their clients because this is something clients, exercising their autonomy [when it is legal to do so], should partake in. Pat Jr. -- later in the film -- encountered Dr. Patel outside of a football stadium and asked Dr. Patel if it was okay for Dr. Patel to be at the football game with him. Dr. Patel responded, telling Pat Jr. that he was his brother in green (referring to the colors of the Philadelphia Eagles National Football League team) and, for the day, not [his] therapist. Dr. Patel also informed Pat Jr. that it was wonderful to see him at the football game. ACA Code of Ethics section A.5.c. notes that counselors should avoid nonprofessional interactions with clients or clients family members except when the interactions would be potentially beneficial for clients and clients family members. Rather than saying it was wonderful to see Pat Jr. and claiming that, for a day, he was not his therapist, but rather a brother in green, Dr. Patel should have avoided Pat Jr. if possible and, if not possible, informed Pat Jr. that since he is his therapist, he could not spend time with him outside of therapy perhaps also explaining this rationale at the moment or in a future therapy session.

Running Head: MOVIE REVIEW Dr. Patel, rather than distancing himself from Pat Jr. outside of therapy sessions, stayed near to Pat Jr. and engaged in a melee alongside Pat Jr. Following the melee and police intervention, Dr. Patel visited Pat Jr.s home [for a lengthy period of time] and engaged in conversation with Pat Jr.s family members and friends concerning sports betting. Dr. Patel violated ethical principles by mingling with Pat Jr. at a football stadium and continued to violate ethical principles by engaging in a melee, visiting Pat Jr.s home, and entering into conversation with Pat Jr.s family members and friends. Dr. Patel sets a bad example for Pat Jr. (especially since Dr. Patel engaged in a fight before Pat Jr. did) and does not adequately represent himself as a professional. Following the melee at the football game [in which Dr. Patel should not have engaged], Dr. Patel should not have visited Pat Jr.s home because there was no professional reason to do so.

Dr. Patel, knowing of a special dancing event in which Pat Jr. was participating, attended the special dance event. This was another ethical breach a non-professional interaction Dr. Patel should have avoided. Viewers of the film, though, were not privy to a conversation Pat Jr. and Dr. Patel had concerning Dr. Patels appearance at the dancing event [if there were such a conversation]. If Pat Jr. asked Dr. Patel to attend the dancing event, the ethical quandary may be less clear; an argument could be made by which Dr. Patels attendance at the dancing event would be beneficial to Pat Jr. If Dr. Patel attended the event without consulting Pat Jr., the ethical violation would be clearer. If this were Dr. Patels idea to attend the dancing event, Dr. Patel should have first consulted with Pat Jr., obtaining informed consent, as section A.5.d. of the ACA Code

Running Head: MOVIE REVIEW of Ethics stipulates. To avoid potential harm and a blurring of the professional client/therapist relationship, Dr. Patel could have simply avoided attending the dancing event. While Pat Jr. seems to benefit from therapy, Dr. Patel -- when considering his problematic behavior contrary to the spirit and the letter of the ACA Code of Ethics -- could be a more effective therapist. Therapists should not knowingly play music which triggers clients [without clients informed consent]; engage in non-professional interactions which should be

avoided; engage in melees [in the presence and alongside their clients]; visit their clients homes for non-professional reasons; or knowingly engage in non-professional conversations with clients family members and friends.

Running Head: MOVIE REVIEW

References

American Counseling Association, (2005). ACA Code of Ethics.