The Outline Of The Ethical Meaning Of Counseling In Counselling

Introduction

Ethical guidelines

Many shared that rapport building between counselor and client is one of the significant steps in ensuring the success of the counselling process (Achmon, 2004; Davis & Ritchie, 2003; Glosoff, Herlihy & Spence, 2000). When rapport is established, clients felt more motivated to share their issues explicitly and this facilitates a successful intervention. Along with confidentiality, it further provides a safe environment for them.

Before the signing of Confidentiality form, clients are usually briefed on the confidentiality clause in accordance to the Ethical guidelines. For example, when there are clear indications of imminent danger situations towards the clients or others, confidentiality will be breached. Although we utilize the ethical guidelines to operationalize our practice as counsellors (Hendricks, 2008), there are situations where confidentiality becomes indistinct and we have to grapple with our emotions to exercise conscientious, reflective decision-making (Lazovsky, 2008).

School counselors are often faced with dilemmas when comes to confidentiality. This is partly because they are trying to have collaborative relationship with parents and at the same time honour student confidentiality (Lazovsky, 2008). For instance, when students are caught stealing in school, parents would be notified and school counselors have to decide if they should follow the ethical and legal guidelines (e.g. lodge police report as it is criminal behaviour) or exercise professional judgment (e.g. giving them warning) (Glosoff & Pate, 2003; Mitchell, Disque, & Robertson. 2002; Stone, 2005).

In my own view, trust and confidentiality can be a double edged sword. Trust can be misplaced and affected the professional b...

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...ues which enable us to reveal the underlying issues that the clients have; which is the root of the problem.

Conclusion

All in all, this journal has provided a platform to reflect on how my own values and beliefs can influence clinical judgments. Although reflection is a good practice for counsellors, it also required efforts to do so. Nonetheless, this process can be effective when there is constant practice with the clients (Hanna, Giordano, & Bemak, 1996).

Even though ethical framework does provide us with guideline to our job, it is not impeccable. There are times where we need to make professional judgement in our decision making. Moreover, our jobs as counsellors often have to cope with emotional problem and transferences issue may be present. Thus, self-care is imperative for counsellors to avoid burnout rate, which indirectly impacted on quality of work.