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Ethical issues in clinical counseling
Ethical Implications of a Critical Legal Case for the Counseling Profession
Ethical issues in clinical counseling
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As our society shifts in technology, healthcare, and evolves around every day to the demands on life so does the world of counseling. The purpose of this paper will explore some challenges and ethical or legal issues in counseling. It will further analyze some of the implications for the practices of prevention, intervention, and consultation in the counseling profession today.
Key Ethical or Legal issues As professional counselors, the necessity for competency concerning legal and ethical issues is a requirement by the American counseling association. Conducting research and responsibility to the client, Roles and Relationships Between Counselor Educators, Students, and Case Consultations. As counselors continue to conduct research for new theories and evidence base practice through research, counselors are encouraged to contribute findings and promote a more precise understanding to the conditions that lead to a healthy and more just society. Conducting Research Per the American Counseling Association (ACA), when conducting research, counselors must adhere to pertinent ethical principles, federal and state laws, institutional regulations, and scientific standards governing research (ACA, 2014). Improper communication when explaining informed consent in research could become a legal issue if there
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The prohibition of such misconduct, would include physical, verbal, electronic communication such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram etc., and former clients could create symptoms contributing to iatrogenic harm. Appropriate interventions to minimize this misconduct would be evaluating the consultation process, planning post consultation concerns, and reducing involvement, and properly terminating the counseling relationship through referral (Dougherty, 2010), with established
Ethics and counseling. Counseling & Human Development, 13(1), 1-12. ASGW (2007) Best Practice Guidelines.
Lawrence, G., & Robinson Kurpius, S. (2000). Legal and ethical issues involved when counseling minors in nonschool settings. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78, 130-135.
After watching this movie, I believe I would have had the greatest empathic difficulty with the mother (Beth) if I were the counselor to this family. Beth presents as distant and withdrawn from her remaining family members as well as from her emotional self. Instead of acknowledging the death of her son, Beth appears to act as if the event never occurred. While I recognize and understand this is her way of coping, it is hard for me to connect empathically because of the emotional distance she has created. Additionally, Beth’s way of coping appears to be neglectful in that she seems to ignore the grieving needs of her living son and husband. To me, this action makes me believe Beth is selfish and does not care for the needs of others.
The topic of this paper focuses on the battles school counselors face as the law and ethical standards collide. School counselors face a number of legal and ethical issues and recognizing a clear decision isn’t always easy. School counselors have to work with a large number of students, parents, and administrators while conforming to ethical codes, state laws, and school board guidelines. This topic is of great relevance to me as I will be going into the school counseling profession. It is also a meaningful topic to me because life-changing decisions are made every day in reference to legal and ethical issues. Researching this topic has shed some light on the difficulty for school counselors to fulfill both legal and ethical requirements. The main reason for this is that laws and ethical codes may sometimes provide differing and contradictory messages regarding the same subject. This can lead to legal ramifications, even while following ethical norms as we will look at in the example case of Woodlock v. Orange Ulster B.O.C.E.S. (2006/2008).
Counselors are faced with many ethical dilemmas that require the counselor to make decisions that are in the best interest of the student. It is important for counselors to use an ethical decision-making model so that consistency is brought to the process of making ethical decisions (Remley & Herlihy, 2014).
A counselor should always keep their thoughts to themselves and remain open-minded about the situation. The only time a counselor should share their thoughts is if it helps the client with their situation that they are dealing with. “Counselors must practice only within the boundaries of their competence (Standard C.2.a.), and, if they “determine an inability to be of professional assistance to clients” (Standard A.11.b.), they should facilitate a referral to another provider. (Kocet, M. M., & Herlihy, B. J. (2014). Addressing Value-Based Conflicts Within the Counseling Relationship: A Decision-Making Model. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 92(2), 180-186 7p. doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6676.2014.00146.x).” Keeping your thoughts to yourself is
There are two problems being presented in the ethical dilemma of the professional counselor, Dan. First, Dan believes he does not need to keep records on his clients because they are “well-functioning” and his is a church-based practice. The problem of not maintaining client records is an ethical, clinical, and legal problem for Dan. Failure to maintain client records is related to self, and possibly agency or institution if there are no clear guidelines or policies related to client records. Second, Dan believes his clients aren’t truly “sick.” This is a statement related to self that may indicate a lack of professional judgement in which Dan is not truly vested in his clients’ needs and could have ethical and legal implications related to
...g with veracity include not only the basic expectation that we are honest in our professional interactions, but also in the area of informed consent. Counselors must be honest with clients concerning all areas of treatment, including the responsibilities for reporting certain information to parents or the authorities. The client must be made aware that counselors are accountable to the client, but legally as well.
In the case study of Gwen, there is one major problem presented. That problem is whether it is ethical for a supervisor to counsel his supervisee. I think that Gwen is going through the grieving process after learning about her mother’s condition and is in a vulnerable spot. She feels like she cannot continue her work with hospice patients because of personal feelings. Ken thinks that Gwen is a great therapist and does not want to see her give up. He also feels like he would be the most effective person to give Gwen counseling, because of their trusting relationship. I think that this would be a bad idea and could cross professional boundaries. The Ethical Guidelines for Counseling Supervisors strongly suggest against a supervisor entering in a psychotherapeutic relationship with supervisees. It is important to limit the possibilities of a dual relationship. Dual relationships can easily become unethical and present problems or possible harm to the client, which in this case is the supervisee. They can also create dependency or have unfavorable symbolic meanings. I also do not think it was a good idea that the counseling happened in the supervision sessions. This time should be spent on improving knowledge and helping clients. Spending most of the supervisor sessions working on personal problems could potentially harm the progress and well-being of the supervisee’s clients. My reaction to Ken blending the roles of supervisor and counselor is that it was not a good, professional, decision. He has entered a dual relationship with Gwen that could potentially cause harm to her or create a conflict of interest. Since Ken is Gwen’s supervisor, he has more power over the relationship than Gwen does. This power can easily be abused by Ken...
Part of the ethical code for a professional counselor involves education about current research developments and trends in the field of mental health (Linde, Erford, & Cheung, 2010). Psychopharmacology is an example of such advancement that would require attention. As noted by King and Anderson (2004) the failure to recommend an evaluation for medication as a viable option when appropriate can lead to liability issues. A lack of knowledge in this area would not absolve the counselor of this responsibility.
Ethics is the judgement and the moral actions used in interactions with cultures and society and its focus is on the client well-being. Ethics is defined by Remley and Herlihy (2010) in the counseling field as “professional behavioral and interactions” (p.4). Counselors do rely and are guide by Codes of Ethics. The role and relevance of the ethical principals, the ACA and AMHCA Code of Ethics are the base of the counseling profession. Without them this career would not have a guide on how the professionals should act and react professionally in all the different situations that are faced in this field.
My professional identity is fundamentally grounded on my commitment to social welfare through which I achieve my sense of purpose. Furthermore, I support the humanistic values that uphold the core philosophy of the counseling profession and uniquely distinguish counseling from other helping professions. Specifically, I endorse the wellness model wherein optimal health is achieved via holistic integration of mind, body and spirit (CITATION). Likewise, I believe that successful integration begins and ends with the counselor-client relationship; a secure, genuine and empathic relationship is at the heart of well-being and personal growth. Finally, my academic studies as well as the experiential learning process thus far have imparted a sincere sense of pride in the field of counseling; I value the dedication that is required to become a counselor and I am confident in our abilities and our mission as a profession. For that reason, I strive to exemplify those values which promote professional competence and enhance the collective identity of the counseling profession.
Workers in the helping professions endure a massive amount of ethical and professional issues. These issues affect the practice of counseling and the relationship with the client. The book Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions by Corey, Corey, and Hallanan gives many themes that one will encounter throughout their career. The book also gives possible solutions to problems and stimulates different ways to think about issues. The authors of this book provide good knowledge and information for anyone in the helping professions.
Ethical issues in a counseling practice lay the foundation of a therapist in practice. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions and operates in a successful manner for the clients who seek help in such a setting. In order for the counseling profession to be ethical and hold professional recognition, there are many facets that need to be examined and outlined to make sure all counselors and practitioners are functioning at the highest level and withholding their duties required by the counseling profession. The first introduction so to speak of the area of ethics also happens to be one of the first steps in counseling, which is the informed consent. The informed consent provides the basis of what happens or will be happening in a counseling setting and serves to inform the client to their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect. Most importantly, the informed consent is in place for the client’s benefit. It also is important to understand that culture and environment play a role in the treatment of a client and how theories can positively or negatively impact this treatment. Therapists need to understand how to work within the context of a theory while being able to understand the individual in their own environment. Although theories are put into place to serve as a framework, there are also alternative ways to approach counseling, one example being evidence-based practice. Such an approach is very specific, which presents a series of solutions for counseling as a whole, but also brings forth many problems. Every approach or theory introduces ethical concerns that need to be taken into consideration by the entire counseling community and how each can positively and negatively affect clients and the pr...
There are few circumstances counselors have to oblige when dealing issues from clients. Counselors have to be trustworthy; this is a fundamental to understanding and solving issues. Counselors have to keep information gathered confidential and restrict any disclosure of information to anybody. Clients voluntarily seek help to counselors for therapy or any kind of help they need. Hence as a counselor it is important to respect their clients’ self-government and ensure precision in information given. Commitment of a counselor plays a big role in a therapy. It is not ethical for a counselor to neglect a client such that the client’s well being is not taken care of. It is also important for counselors to have a fair treatment with all their clients. No matter how each client will be, there must not be any form of judgment, which will cause any form of unfair