An Ethical Dilemma Exists When An Individual Is Deciding

Cultural competence and ethical responsibility of counselors is an issue that holds increasing importance. To be both multicultural and ethical is increasingly challenging. The population of the United States is changing quickly from a predominately white Caucasian society to an ethnically diverse society`. The Hispanic population, which represented only 9% of the population in 1990, is projected to increase to about 25% of the population by 2050. The number of African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Eskimos/Aleuts will continue to increase as well (Aponte & Wohl, 2000). It has been predicted that Whites, who made up three fourths of the U.S. population in 1990, will no longer be in the majority by the

When encountering an ethical dilemma, it is important for the counselor to be aware of ethical considerations. Making good ethical decisions is dependent on being familiar with models of ethnical decision-making, knowledge of ethical situations, and one’s own code of ethics. If a counselor is not knowledgeable of his or her ethical standards, they are more likely to break a code without even knowing it. According to Neukrug and Milliken (2011) say that few professionals are actually accused of unethical conduct during their careers, but those who can be traumatized as well as their clients from the repercussion’s of the counselors mistake (p. 206). Thankfully, there are many organizations that have established a code of ethics for their employees to abide by while in that organization.

The similarities between the ACA and the AMHCA code of ethics, they both providing training, guidance, and direction in making ethic decisions for their members (ACA, 2005) (AMHCA, 2010). The ACA and AMHCA codes of ethics cover a wide range of ethical and professional situations common to the practicing professional. An example of not having the correct training in multicultural counseling is in the case study of “Allison: The Case of the Well-Meaning Feminist”. Allison, a 28 year old student was counseling Carmen, 19- years old Latina, did not understand the Latina cultural. If Allison would of have training on the Latina cultural, she would have understood the importance that

The 2014 ACA Code of Ethics provides structure that protects clients. Responsibilities that counselors to be aware of is avoid imposing their own values, attitudes and beliefs on clients (Ethics, 2014). Developing a relationship with clients requires providing counseling in a culturally sensitive manner (Ethics, 2014). Counselors respect the diversity of clients take measures to ensure that they are not of risk of imposing their values onto clients (Ethics, 2014).

“Standard 2.01(a) requires psychologists to “provide services, teach, and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience” (Shiles, 2009). Counselors should remain inside their span of training, be mindful of the restrictions of his/her licensed expertise, be present at essential education programs and maintain their learning, use his/her own common sense, and be able to identify when referrals should be made. It should be the disposition of counselors to always value the mixture of their clientele, novices, and study partakers. The ACA Code of Ethics (2005) section A.4.b. Personal Values states, “Counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals” (Kaplan, 2014).

Great post! I like how you applied participants from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In section A of the ACA code of ethics (2014), it focuses on the counseling relationship, that they encourage to actively attempt to understand the diverse culture backgrounds of the clients they serve.

As a counselor, being aware of the theoretical approaches and which ones best suit your perspective on human nature, complications, and change for an individual is vital. Not only is understanding the approaches important, but the counselor’s own values and personal philosophy are equally fundamental for the counselor to do their job efficiently.

Our counseling history and Ethical Code we practice by demand that counselors take personal responsibility to ensure equality for all. Sweeney (2001) calls for counselors to model concern and

The purpose of this paper is to formulate the margins of responsibility for a counselor in the area of identity and ethics. So the counselor is able to provide the proper care within the realm of the

Make arrangements to send patients who need more complex care to the nearest available medical centers or hospitals.

It is ethical for counselors to address these influences they may face to better serve their clients and can face their own preconceptions that may surface from these forms of oppression. When learning about multiculturalism and social justice in counselor education, whiteness is taking off because in order to be able to address classism and who suffers from it, we must also take into account who benefits from it, and it usually is at the cost of people of

Pedersen, P. B. (1997). The cultural context of the American counseling association code of ethics. Journal of Counseling & Development, 76, 23-28.

The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (2014) requires counselors to respect and promote client autonomy, and withhold imposing their personal values onto client. This is particularly difficult when counselors hold deep beliefs that are fundamentally opposed to client’s goals. The ACA code of ethics (2014) states that the primary goal of counseling is “…to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients” (1.A.1). Self-awareness and evaluation is critical to best care practice, as counselors may not be consciously aware of the values they hold or place upon their clients (American Counseling Association, 2014). This is also helpful for counselors in training who are Christians, and it was

Counselors, just like all people, have their own beliefs and values. It is impossible for counselors to completely ignore the opinions and ideas that make them who they are. However in order to provide the best service to a client, counselors need to keep their values to themselves.

Every individual may have different perspectives on whether or not a decision is right or wrong. When it comes to ethical dilemma, there really are no correct answers but there are proper steps to take to reduce unethical behaviors. The ethical dilemmas that are presented in this case are: Hiding or Divulging Information, Balancing Ethical Dilemmas, Unfair Advantage, Violating Rules, Perpetrating Interpersonal Abuse, Condoning Unethical Actions.