School Counseling: A Case Study in Ethical Decision Making

2456 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethical framework within counselling

Whilst working in a remote area I observed a year nine indigenous student (Lorena Bannard) and a teacher (Bill James), alone together after school hours. I considered this could be an unprofessional situation. I spoke to Bill later regarding the situation and he replied, “I’m helping her with some family problems, and I’m concerned about the effect it’s having on her school work”. I suggested he refer Lorena to the Guidance Officer.

During the initial interview with Lorena, I explained what was talked about in the interview was confidential, unless an unlawful act or event occurred, or if someone could be harmed. (Geldard & Geldard, 2005). I explained to her that as a counsellor I had a duty of care to her, which is part of the Child Protection act. This acts protects children from others and sometimes themselves.

In the first interview, Lorena seemed suspicious and guarded, and I had to be cautious building a relationship with her. It was important to be congruent and show genuine interest by listening to her. Geldard & Geldard (2002) stated “children are very good at recognizing people who are not congruent”, (p, 38).

Lorena is the eldest of four children; her mother is a single parent, unemployed, and Lorena reports that her mother is a drug and alcoholic addict. The father left the family and community ten years previously, and has not contacted them since.

Over several interviews Lorena, disclosed a dysfunctional family environment where she and her siblings were at risk of neglect. Her mother left Lorena to prepare her siblings for school, prepare meals, and look after the housework; thus effecting her physiological growth and schooling.

In the final interview, Lorena disclosed that Bill went to her h...

... middle of paper ...

...development. Summer 2000. Vol.78 pp. 279.

Van Hoose, W.H. (1980). Ethics and counseling. Counseling & Human Development, 13(1), p 1-12.

Van Hoose, W.H. & Paradise, L.V. (1979). Ethics in counseling and psychotherapy: Perspectives in issues and decision-making. Cranston, RI: Carroll Press.

Watson, Z. E. P., Herlihy, B. R., Pierce, L. A. (2006). Forging the link between multicultural competence and ethical counseling practice: A historical perspective. In Counseling and Values, 50, 99-107.

Welfel, E.R. (1998) Ethics in counselling ands psychotherapy: Standards, research and emerging issues. Pacific Grove, CA. Brooks/Cole. . In Journal of counselling & development. Summer 2000. Vol.78 pp 279.

Welfel, E. R., & Lipsitz, N. E. (1984). The ethical behavior of professional psychologists: A critical analysis of the research. In The Counseling Psychologist, 12, 31-42

Show More
Related

  • What Role Does Social Care Play In The Alameda Case

    277 Words  | 1 Pages

    Alameda has had a hard life as a young girl growing up, both of her parents were alcoholics. Alameda was a 16 year old minor who had a baby and dropped out of school, and then was unable to care for the infant. A case manager by the name of Barbara LaRosa was assigned to Alameda case. Barbara took on Alameda as her client and made a visit to her parents’ home, while making the visit she found Alameda dad incompetent, and could not get any information from him to help with his daughter well-being.

    Read More

  • The Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues of a Patient Being Hoisted in Chronic Pain

    1837 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sim, J (1997). Ethical Decision Making in Therapy Practice. Oxford: Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd. p.16.

    Read More

  • Lying on the Couch By Irvin Yalom

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    American Counseling Association (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/ethics#sthash.13ImD8Lb.dpuf

    Read More

  • Dual Relationships and Self-Disclosure

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Cultural Influences In Counseling Multicultural Clients

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    Counselors today face the task of how to appropriately counsel multicultural clients. Being sensitive to cultural variables can be conceptualized as holding a cultural lens to human behavior and making allowances for the possibility of cultural influence. However, to avoid stereotyping, it is important that the clinician recognize the existence of within-group differences as well as the influence of the client’s own personal culture and values (Furman, Negi, Iwamoto, Shukraft, & Gragg, 2009). One’s background is not always black or white and a counselor needs to be able to discern and adjust one’s treatment plan according to their client.

    Read More

  • Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling

    1387 Words  | 3 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • Research: Preventin Depression in Poorer African American Females

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    American Psychological Association. (2014). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx?item=3

    Read More

  • Precious Lee Daniels

    1807 Words  | 4 Pages

    The family lives in a public housing subsidy tenement and received public assistance from the State. Her first child, who she called "Mongo", because she was born with a disease called Down syndrome lived with her grandmother, but on days the social worker would visit the grandmother would bring the child by to visit. Though the grandmother was very much aware of the abuse that was taking place in the home, she turned a blind eye. I personally think she was one of the contributor to the dysfunction, though it never show her hurt or abusing precious the fact that she pretend like everything was okay and would help the mother lie to the social worker, so she could continue to receive benefits from the state for her daughter and granddaughter show how e...

    Read More

  • Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    Aspirational ethics reach toward higher standards than those of mandatory ethics, requiring the counselor to possess a stronger sense of duty. These principles guide counselors to do more than simply meet the “letter of the law” of the ethics code. The welfare of the client becomes the main focus of the counselor, who takes into consideration not only the interventions, but also the effects on the client. (Kottler & Shepard, 2011) Aspirational ethics include, but are not limited to the following principles.

    Read More

  • Ethical Dilemmas Of A School Counselor

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Oxford dictionary defines an ethical dilemma as “a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle.” It is not uncommon to face such predicaments in the workplace but few occupations present more ethical dilemmas than that of a school counselor. Although jobs in counseling and social work often present ethical dilemmas, having to maintain confidentiality, share information with parents and bypass consent all while maintaining an honest relationship with the student seems almost impossible to accomplish. Deciding whether or not to breach confidentiality in order to help a minor student can seem like an unnerving task. Essentially, the final decision

    Read More

  • Boundaries and Ethics in a Counseling Relationship

    2216 Words  | 5 Pages

    Ethics in the counselling and psychotherapy protects the client and the therapist involved in the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process as a whole; with the concepts that act as a guide for the therapists in provision of good practice and care for the client. The framework is built on values of counselling and psychotherapy; principles of trustworthiness, autonomy, fidelity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and self-respect, and provides standards of good practice and care for the practitioner (BACP, 2010). Ethical framework contributes to the development of the therapeutic relationship and process by assisting therapist’s decisions, and guides their behaviour and proceedings within their legal rights and duties. The ethical frame is structured on the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship and the therapists should be aware of their categories and be responsible for their forms. Monitoring and being aware of what goes on in and out of the room physically, emotionally and psychologically is primarily the duty of the therapist.

    Read More

  • Mental Health Counseling

    472 Words  | 1 Pages

    Licensed mental health counselors have many ethical and legal issues dealing with interacting with clients in a way that leaves them in a better place. It is crucial that counselors act within the b...

    Read More

  • Issues and Ethics in The "Helping" Professions

    2181 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Counseling: Ethical Issues

    1774 Words  | 4 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • A Case Study of Ethics in Psychology

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    Koocher, G.P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

More about School Counseling: A Case Study in Ethical Decision Making

Open Document