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Ethical issues in clinical counseling
Ethical issues in clinical counseling
Ethical issues in clinical counseling
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Introduction The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of emotions, both positive and negative, on counselor’s ability to make ethical decisions. Ethical issues are common in the field of mental health. Mental Health Counselors (MHC) rely heavily on ethics as a guide to navigate tough decisions between the client’s wellbeing, law, and the counselor’s own liability. Using ethical decision making models, counselors can make better decisions, however there are situations where other factors outside of the counselor’s control that can influence these decisions. These factors can include the education and experience of the counselor as well as their current emotions. MHCs work with variety clients of including adults, children, …show more content…
decision-making in the field of counseling begins with the counselor recognizing that they are faced with an ethical issue. Ethical decision making is needed with there is conflict or uncertainty regarding values which consider autonomy, beneficence, justice, and nonmalfeficence. Counselors are required to be aware of these ethics and consider how each one relates to an ethical dilemma that requires a decision on behalf of the client. Ametrano (2014) suggests that counselors, especially counselors in training need to pay special attention to their own biases as their cultural identity can influence how they perceive a situation as an ethical dilemma. It is the counselor’s responsibility to act ethically and follow the ethical guidelines to protect the client and the counselor especially when an ethical dilemma …show more content…
According to Healthcare Provider Service Organization (2014), counselors involved in inappropriate sexual and romantic relationships with clients or their partners or family members are the most frequent professional liability allegations, accounting for 39.7% of the claims. The second most frequent involve child custody and breach of confidentiality and scope of practice issues. Nationwide in 2014, counselors paid a total of $8,077,841 (HPSO, 2014). Counselors who worked in marriage and family issues settle 27% of all claims and have an average indemnity payment of $139,181. Mental health counselors have an average paid indemnity of $121,360 with 17.5% of claims closed. Substance abuse counselors have 11.1% of claims settles and pay an average of $195,089
Wendel, Peter Counselors in Recovery find answers to ethical dilemmas. Counseling Today. May 1997: 28 pars Online: Available http://www.conseling.org/ctonline/archives/recovery.htm
In 2005, the American Counseling Association (ACA) published a document titled the ACA Code of Ethics which was designed to aid counselors in the ethical decision making process and, in response, “expand the capacity of people to grow and develop” (p. 3). The ACA Code of Ethics provides regulatory guidelines for all counselors to follow in ethical decision-making and practice. Of a more specific nature, the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) has also published a document stating the ethical practices and procedures for the Christian counseling field. The two documents contain many similarities, but, due to differing goals and principals, also containing may differences. This paper compares these two documents and more specifically focuses on the similarities and differences in the areas of confidentiality, fees, and records.
In the mental health profession of counseling, therapy, psychology, psychiatric and social services ethical dilemmas are faced primarily on a daily basis. Being that mental health professionals are working with clients who are often fragile and vulnerable, they must develop an intense awareness of ethical issues. On the other hand, mental health professionals would never intentionally harm their clients, students or colleagues and others whom they work with. Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough to ensure that wrong doings will not occur and mental health professionals have no choice but to make ethically determined decisions. Depending upon the experience and expertise of the professional determines the outcome of the ethical circumstance. For example, if you were practicing mental health professional and had a friend who’s a licensed psychologist, who is invited to attend the wedding of a patient that she has been seeing in court-ordered therapy for a year; what advice would you give your friend?
So your opinions on the topic may or may not help out the situation and also in some unfortunate cases can send the client into a ‘downward spiral’. By expressing your ethical issues on the topic to your client you may trigger unwanted emotions. These unwanted emotions can drive the client to hurt themselves or even make the client take legal actions towards the counselor. Ways to prevent this from happening is learning your own self-control and what your limits are when its comes to dealing the client. “You want to consider the best action that will protect your client’s needs, but you also want to ask yourself: What is the best action to protect the profession and myself? (Berton, J. D. (2014). Make the Rule to Break the Rule: Setting Your Ethical Standards. Counselor: The Magazine For Addiction Professionals, 15(5), 10-12
It is a privilege to interview veteran therapists who are exiting the counseling arena after a long career in the profession. I was honored to shadow Lea Keylon, a seasoned counselor, who on the eve of retirement set aside time for a student interview. The enlightening interview opened my understanding to the importance of proper diagnostic coding for insurance reimbursements, the financial struggles of private practice, and the poignant effect of forensic counseling on therapist (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010). Lea was eager to share her counseling accounts; however, the excitement of retirement planning could be seen in her demeanor. Private practice requires self-discipline, constant research for legislative changes, peer support and consultation, time management, tenacity, and patience. The encounter with Lea impressed the importance to surround myself with colleagues that are enthusiastic about learning and continuing education opportunities, to hire assistance for time-consuming administrative task, and adequately assess a proper caseload that will sustain my counseling practice and without avoid counselor burn out (L. Keylon, personal communication, March 26, 2010).
Mandatory ethics is the level of functioning where the counselor is abiding by the basic “do’s and don’ts” of professional counseling. These are definitive codes that will protect a counselor from legal action and professional censure. All mental health professionals will be held accountable by the minimum standards set by state licensure boards and courts of law. Issues addressed by the Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (APA) include, but are not limited to, competence, human relations, confidentiality and fees. (American Psychological Association, 2002)
G.P. Koocher & P. Kieth-Spiegel (1998) pointed out many conflict of dual and multiple role including personal, client/therapist, therapist/supervisor and therapist/colleague, and how they can improve and complicate the counselling process. Boundaries and competence runs along side one another, which made come to conclusion that if the therapist is considering breaking them s/he should know what they breaking and how to break them ethically. Sometimes the outcome of ethical dilemma can only be “determined by the client and counsellor at that time” which could enable the therapist to change the priorities of Ethical principles and modify his/her actions according to the client’s circumstances (T. Bond, 2000:62).
Since 1976, The American Mental Health Counselors Association has been committed to establishing and promoting vigorous standards for education and training, professional practice, and professional ethics for Clinical Mental Health Counselors. So far, this association have 7,000 clinical mental health counselors but its organization is continuously growing (AMHCA).” “The American Mental Health Counselors Association have licensures laws in all 50 states, and the association seeks to enhance the practice of clinical mental health counseling and to promote standards for clinical education and clinical practice that anticipate the future roles of Clinical Mental Health Counselors within the broader health care system. This association was ultimately put together to define and promote professional identity of mental health counselors (AMHCA).”
HS 43 Term Paper 4 Core functions of a Substance Abuse Counselor By Roslyn Smith Introduction This paper will discuss the following 4 Core Functions of a Counselor: Case Management, Client Education, Crisis Intervention, Referral and their primary purposes. Discussion Case Management According to IC & RC, Case Management is defined as, “activities intended to bring services, agencies, resources, or people together within a planned framework of action toward the achievement of established goals.
Each situation discussed in this paper provides opportunities for a counselor to explore how a dual relationship would impact the therapeutic relationship with clients and the overall well being of clients. Each ethical dilemma should be handled individually and with the support of a counselor’s supervisor while also taking into account laws or guidelines set forth by employers as decisions are made. As a new counselor I look forward to this decision making process and the personal growth I will experience and the clients I will benefit as a result of my ethical actions.
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...
Vision • The vision of The Counseling Center is to create a behavioral healthcare system that is capable of upholding, supporting, and maintaining recovery of our clients. Furthermore, this vision includes providing culturally competent, holistic, and wellness focused services that promotes social-emotional development, prevent development of mental health challenges, and address social-emotional problems that currently exist. The Counseling Center achieves these tasks by using evidence-based strategies in our services; by supporting staff training and well-being; by implementing effective mental health consultation to children, families, and staff; by continuing to strive for excellence in supporting mental health for all clients and staff.
As the multiplicity of cultures and diversity continues to increase in higher education in the United States, counselors utilize relevant strategies to practice ethically and culturally sensitive. One strategy counselors can use to enhance their cultural sensitivity (Brown, 2011) is to explore their own development as well as how their own culture has impacted their personal values, beliefs and attitudes. This way, counselors can have a better understanding of how those factors are projected onto the students. In addition, college counselors can suspend judgment, understand and appreciate differences, establish clear boundaries and
At times the counselor may have to choose between actions that are legal, but not ethical, as in the case of a client that has expressed suicidal ideations. Ethical codes provide limited guidance to counselors for resolving ethical dilemmas. Counselors need to have critical analytical decision making skills to resolve them. Nevertheless, the six ethical principles will help rehabilitation profes... ...
Kottler (2017) states, that “a therapist may lie most often to protect others from getting hurt, but also to protect ourselves with inaccurate or skewed case notes, carefully edited case presentations, covering up our mistakes, and exaggerating our outcomes” (Kottler, 2017). You state in your post, being truthful can be hurtful in some cases but acting ethically should be a clinician model. I am glad you spoke of ethics. In view, according to the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) (2017), (exploitive relationships) regarding ethics, “mental health counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors, as well as how these apply in a society with clients from diverse ethnic, social, cultural, religious,