Ethical Consideration of Guidance and Counseling
Ethical Consideration of Guidance and Counseling
Ethical Consideration of Guidance and Counseling
Learning Element
In
Ethical Consideration of Guidance and Counseling
1. Objectives:
1.1 Ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationships;
1.2 Enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application; and
1.3 Fostering a sense of self that is meaningful to the person/s concerned.
2. Documentation:
2.1 http://ethics.iit.edu/ecodes/node/5132
2.2 https://counseling.education.wm.edu/blog/ethics-in-counseling#:~:text=Beneficence%3A
%20Mental%20health%20and%20well,professional%20commitments%2C%20promises
%20and%20responsibilities
2.3 https://www.aipc.net.au/articles/ethical-decision-making-process/
3. Content Outline:
3.1 Ethical Consideration of Guidance and Counseling
3.1.1 Ethical Principles
3.1.1.1 The Counseling Relationship
3.1.1.2.Confidentiality and Privacy
3.1.1.3 Professional Responsibility
3.1.1.4 Relationships With Other Professionals
3.1.1.5 Evaluation, Assessment and Interpretation
3.1.1.6 Supervision, Training and Teaching
3.1.1.7 Research and Publication
3.1.1.8 Distance Counseling, Technology and Social Media
3.1.1.9 Resolving Ethical Issues
3.1.2 Ethical Dilemma
3.1.2.1 Autonomy
3.1.2.2 Non-maleficence
3.1.2.3 Beneficence
3.1.2.4 Justice
3.1.2.5 Fidelity
3.1.3 The Ethical Decision-Making Model
3.1.3.1. Identify the problem.
3.1.3.2. Apply the ACA Code of Ethics.
3.1.3.3. Determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma.
3.1.3.4. Generate potential courses of action.
3.1.3.5. Consider the potential consequences of all options and determine
a course of action.
3.1.3.6. Evaluate the selected course of action.
3.1.3.7. Implement the course of action.
4. Report Proper:
a. Introduction:
The Code of Ethics outlines various ethical scenarios for counselors and offers
guidelines for navigating ethical dilemmas in counseling. The following
guidelines can help you assess how to appropriately and effectively serve your
clients and your profession.
When challenges arise, the way forward may not immediately be clear. Start by
separating facts from assumptions, bias, hypotheses or suspicions. Determine if
the problem is an ethical, professional, clinical or legal problem (or a
combination). Consult with other professional counselors to get input on resolving
the situation.
Remember, your action or inaction in any situation involving ethics will impact all
parties involved, so let the foundational principles of counseling guide your
decisions:
Non-maleficence
This term means to do no harm. It is a concept derived from the medical
profession. Autonomy relates to the individual client, non-maleficence
refers to the abilities of the counsellor. Counsellors have a responsibility to
avoid utilising interventions that could or have the potential to harm clients
(Welfel, 1998; Corey et al., 2007).
Beneficence
Considered the responsibility to do good and to contribute to the welfare of
the client (Forester-Miller and Davis 1996). The counsellor is expected to
do the best for the client and if unable to assist, to offer alternatives as
appropriate.
Welfel (1998, p36) also asserts that beneficence ‘requires that counselors
engage in professional activities that provide general benefit to the public.’
Justice
Justice means to act in a fair or just manner. It is expected that
counsellors will act in a non-discriminatory manner to individuals or
groups. Forester-Miller and Davis (1996) suggest that although justice
instructs counsellors to act fairly it does not mean treating all individuals
the same rather it relates to equity. It is the counsellor’s ability to
acknowledge inequity and apply intervention to suit.
A client needs to be able to trust that the words and actions of the
counsellor are truthful and reliable. The counsellor however, does not
need to share every fleeting thought or reaction.
Ethical Decision-Making Model
Other questions that may be useful to ask yourself are: Is the issue
related to me and what I am or am not doing? Is it related to a client
and/or the client’s significant others and what they are or are not
doing? Is it related to technology in the provision of services or of
storing records? Is it related to the institution or agency and their
policies and procedures? If the problem can be resolved by
implementing a policy of an institution or agency, you can look to the
agency’s guidelines. It is important to remember that the dilemmas
counselors face are often complex; therefore, a useful guideline is to
examine the problem from several perspectives and avoid searching
for an overly simplistic solution.
After having clarified the problem, refer to the ACA Code of Ethics
(ACA, 2014) to see if the issue is addressed. Also consider any other
state or professional codes that may apply to you (Bradley &
Hendricks, 2008; Brennan, 2013). When reviewing the ethical codes,
be sure to consider any multicultural perspectives of the particular case
(Frame & Williams, 2005). Remember to examine all the nuisances
that exist when technology is involved. If there is an applicable
standard or several standards and they are specific and clear,
following the course of action indicated should lead to a resolution of
the problem. To be able to apply the ethical standards, it is essential
that you have read them carefully and that you understand their
implications.
If the problem is not resolved by reviewing the ACA Code of Ethics,
then you have a complex ethical dilemma and need to proceed with
further steps in the ethical decision-making process (Bradley &
Hendricks, 2008; Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). Levitt, Farry, and
Mazzarella (2015) indicated that decision-making models can be time
consuming. If it is a complex ethical dilemma, then you should take
time to thoroughly analyze and assess all aspects of the situation and
its potential solutions
There are a few steps to follow to ensure that you have examined the
problem in all of its various dimensions:
• Examine the dilemma’s implications for each of the foundational
principles: autonomy, justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and
fidelity. Decide which of the principles apply to the specific situation,
and determine which principle takes priority for you in this case. In
theory, each principle is of equal value, which means that you will
need to use your professional judgment to determine the priorities
when two or more of them are in conflict.
• Review the relevant professional literature to ensure that you are
using the most current professional thinking and are aware of the
diversity issues involved in the particular situation.
• Consult with experienced professional counselors and/or
supervisors who also abide by the ACA Code of Ethics. As they
review with you the information you have gathered, they may help
you to see other issues that are relevant or provide a perspective
you have not considered. They may also be able to identify aspects
of the dilemma that you are not viewing objectively.
• Consult your state or national professional associations to see if
they can provide help with the dilemma.
c. Conclusion:
d. Schematic Diagram:
Supervision,
Distance Counseling, Trainingand
Technology and Teaching
Relationships With Other Professionals
Social Media
Evaluation, Assessment and Interpretation
Professional Responsibility
Ethical Consideration
of Guidance and
The Ethical Decision-
Ethical Dilemma
Making Model