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Counseling boundaries ethics
Counseling boundaries ethics
Counseling boundaries ethics
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The American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics (2014) states that counselors must respect a client’s confidentiality and can only disclose information about a client if there is a signed consent, legal requirement, or ethical requirement. A counselor must explain confidentiality to the client in a manner that the client will understand. The counselor must also explain the limits to confidentiality such as “serious and foreseeable harm and legal requirements” (ACA, 2014, p. 7). If a client identifies the desire to hurt themselves or someone else during a counseling session, then the counselor can break confidentiality to report to authorities. The ACA Code of Ethics (2014) suggests that a counselor consult with other professionals
when in doubt about breaking confidentiality. The Ethical Standards for School Counselor (2010) states “Keep information confidential unless legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed or a breach is required to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student” (p. 2). A school counselor must explain confidentiality to the student in a developmentally appropriate manner in order for the student to fully understand what confidentiality is. The school counselor must also explain the limit of confidentiality in a developmentally appropriate manner as well (American School Counseling Association, 2010). According to both the ACA code of ethics and the ASC A code of ethics confidentiality can be broken to prevent serious and foreseeable harm. However not all states require by law for a counselor to break confidentiality.
It is important as a professional health care provider to have guidelines, regulations, and ethical standards to obey when providing care to the public. The ACA is to improve the quality of professional counselors in the community with education, knowledge, and guidelines by providing an ACA Code of Ethics standard when delivering treatment toward a clientele (American Counseling Association, 2015). One particular part of the ACA mission that is essential, is the ACA Code of Ethics. The purpose of the ACA Code of Ethics is a guide to ensure counselors in training and professional counselors understand the ethical obligations toward clients, possible grievances for conduct unbecoming, and professional responsibilities, which supports the ACA
A promise of confidentiality assures clients that information revealed during counseling will not be shared with others without permission. An individual has the right to choose the time, circumstances, and extent, to which he or she wishes to share or withhold information. Marriage and family therapist have different confidentiality aspects from other counseling areas. Marriage and family therapist mostly have more than one client in a therapeutic relationship, there are different limitations for each individual client. AAMFT Standard II (2015 2.2) states When providing couple, family or group treatment, the therapist does not disclose information outside the treatment context without a written authorization from each individual competent to execute a waiver. Conclusively, counselors may be counseling a couple, group, or family for treatment, each client has their own rights to privacy protection and confidentiality. All counselors must follow specific guidelines when in regards to disclosing information that has potential harm to the client or identified others. If court ordered or third party payers have requested information it is the counselors job to obtain written consent from the client to release information about that
...constitute unethical behavior, it is unclear to what extent counselors know and agree that such behavior is unethical. This behavior could lead to ACA (1995) and AMHCA (2000) ethical reprimands and to loss of license via actions of state licensing boards. Counselors may need more explicit standards to direct their behavior regarding this issue (Braun, Cox, 2006).
Chapter 135-7-03 of the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia (2014) stipulates that confidentiality especially of client information must be observed at all times. The counselor should safeguard the client’s information to the extent stipulated by the law. The American Counseling Association (2005) incorporates confidentiality as part of their Code of Ethics. It requires counselors to keep the counselor-client relationship and information shared confidential. In the case of group counseling it stipulates that provisions must be stated that protect confidentiality. The counselor must clearly record and keep the client information confidential at all costs. According to the Texas certification Board of Addiction Professionals, the chemical dependency specialist has a duty to protect the privacy of clients and must not disclose information obtained fro...
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
The ACA code of ethics “reflects the counseling profession’s understanding of changes in the role of the professional or changes in the society counselors serve” (Ponton & Duba, 2009, p. 119). The ACA code of ethics discusses many things counselors need to keep in mind when counseling an individual or a group. Some topics addressed are informed consent, confidentiality, and group work (ACA code of ethics, 2006, pp. 236-238). All three of these topics are all issues counselors will encounter in counseling a group or an individual.
In today’s psychology profession, a therapist and even the client can cross many boundaries if immediate boundaries are not put into place during the initial visit. Some boundaries that are crossed are not a problem at first and then the problem progresses. Leonard L. Glass called these, “the gray areas of boundary crossing and violation” (429). However, there is further description, “Boundary issues mostly refer to the therapist's self-disclosure, touch, an exchange of gifts, bartering and fees, length and location of sessions and contact outside the office” (Guthiel & Gabbard). This statement by Thomas G. Gutheil, M.D. & Glen O. Gabbard, M.D explains the meaning of boundary issues that most will face in treating patients in the mental health profession. The ethical boundaries can be harmful to the client and the therapist, if clear boundaries are not established early in treatment. “Therapy can be confusing: two people converse in a private room, one in distress, the other described as a helpful expert: At least one of the two is likely to express thoughts and feelings usually kept secret” (10). This statement by Madill et al. is important because in a therapy setting, you have two people and human emotions can easily become a part of the dilemma in treatment. Misuse of ethical boundaries is prevalent in today’s practice of clinical psychology. In order to address and minimalize the damage to the client and psychologist, ethical rules are applied.
...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...
Significance of the Study People in the society have the right to be safeguarded from personal and psychological harm, loss of property and misuse of power. The general safeguards of society are best optimized through successful corrections community and organizational management, rehabilitation and training programs, in conformity with legal and ethical permissions, offender and staff accountability, and fulfilling the basic requirements of the offenders. Counselors have a special task to shield from harm those who are reluctantly under its care and control; therefore, modern standards for health care, offender classification, due process, fire and building safety, nutrition, personal welfare, and clothing and shelter must be identified. Offenders also must be shielded from harming each other. Prevention of escape, assault, and property loss is a vital objective of counselors who require unique and expert skills in their fields.
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.
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...
Values are used every day in our lives. Values are important and needed to help us make right decisions for our lives. Should values be left outside the professional doors of our lives? If they were what would the world look like? Is it ethical to impose your belief system on someone else? Should you refer a client because of a value conflict? Is it possible to be beneficence when your core beliefs are in conflict with the client problem? We are here to help the client; and because we’re here to help sometimes it is best to refer the client. Is it ethical or unethical to counsel the client when you know you are not the best one to help them?
A counselor should give their client a copy of an informed consent document. Rights that are listed on the informed consent document is not absolute, and there may be exceptions based on certain situations. One of the codes that I will be discussing in this paper is, “a client has the right to have access to one’s records” (American Counseling Association, 2014, p.8). I will also be discussing billing issues in the counseling profession. Some counselors have misrepresented information to health insurance companies to get a client reimbursed for services render. Nevertheless, it is unethical for a counselor to engage in fraudulent situations. It is critical for a counselor to follow the rules and regulations according to their state where he or she practice
Ethical along with confidentiality issues are always a concern when you are dealing with clients in a counseling center. It could be a couple therapists engaging in seemingly harmless chit chat at the water cooler, sensitive topics brought up in a group which brings about personal discussions within a group or mishandling of client records. Although all the staff at the agencies know or should know about good ethical practices and confidentiality the subject of confidentiality should also be brought up with the clients within the group reminding them of the importance of each other’s confidentiality once outside of the group setting. When agencies have staff meetings the importance of ethics and confidentiality should be brought up so it is