Ethical Issues Associated Within The Clinical Counseling Profession Essay

Professional associations establish codes of ethics to ensure that clinicians uphold the standards of their association in order to protect the clients they serve and the profession they are affiliated with. This paper will compare the codes of ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

The ACA Code of Ethics states, “when counselors are faced with ethical dilemmas that are difficult to resolve, they are expected to engage in a carefully considered ethical decision-making process,” (ACA, 2014, p. 3). Throughout these three case studies, I will use the seven-step ethical decision-making model to address the important professional issues, relevant ethical codes, and legal standards (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). By applying the steps to each case I will share how I came to my resolutions.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) developed the code of ethics with six principles in mind that they thought were the foundation for ethical behavior and decision making: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity and veracity (American Counseling Association, 2014). This lead to the six different purposes for the code of ethics. First, it sets ethical obligations and ethical guidance for professional counselors (American Counseling Association, 2014). Second, it recognizes ethical dilemmas that are relevant (American Counseling Association, 2014). Third, it clarifies what is ethically expected and accepted of its members (American Counseling Association, 2014). Fourth, it is an ethical guide for members deciding the best course of action and expectations for conduct, when it comes to those using their counseling services (American Counseling Association, 2014). Fifth, it supports the mission of the American Counseling Association (American Counseling Association, 2014). Finally, it has standards that serve as a baseline for questions and complaints for ACA members (American Counseling Association, 2014). To fulfill the purposes of the code of ethics, the ACA categorizes the ethics into nine different areas (American Counseling Association, 2014).

Mental Health Clinicians are aware that judicial systems examine professional codes of ethics to assess the customary standard of care (Moline et al., 1998). The judicial system will also evaluate best practices of how the conventional clinicians may possibly respond under similar situations and conclude whether a legal obligation by a clinician has been breached (Moline et al., 1998). This standard of conduct is customarily

The ACA Code of Ethics advocates for trust in the counseling relationship. The client’s right to confidentiality and privileged communication is essential because the content shared is personal. The code of ethics protects confidentiality and privileged communication because it is fundamental the relationship is secure for exploration of the client’s life-changing experiences. Even the involvement of cases such as Tarasoff v. Board of Regents of the University of California, the ACA Code of Ethics, B.2.a. implies under legal and dangerous circumstances that therapist can release required information to protect the client and others from clear and imminent harm. The licensed therapist, DR, Moore, did report and warn the foreseeable harm, which the client, Poddar said he was going to do to another; the therapist followed the rule for mandate to report and warn campus police (Feldman, 2010). Reasonable cause to warn and report harm was the diagnosis of the client and thorough assessment given by a licensed therapist. Therapists should report abuse and/or harm when suspected,

There are various ethical issues that could be encountered in the counseling profession, therefore, it is imperative to be aware of laws. Furthermore, avoiding problems before they occur is of the essence, by following the ensuring wellness, continuing education, and supervision and peer consultation (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2014). As stated in the text, many states depend on court rulings rather than statutes to guide the actions of a counselor, this issue is not black and white (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2014). It is imperative to understand that the decisions a counselor makes not only affect the client but others members of society and their families.

The first ethical problem to appear in this case study is the psychologist’s actions in providing support to individuals whom she was not trained to work with. When dealing with patients, psychologists are required to work within the confines of their professional abilities (B.1.2.a, APS, 2007). This includes ensuring that one has a formal education or supervised training in treating specific types of clients (for example, children and teenagers).

For the purpose of this paper, I will analyze an ethics-based issue and make reference to ethical codes/standards and legislation. I will explain how I would respond to the ethical dilemma by using an ethical decision making model. Martin, Shepard and Lehr (2015) outline the Canadian Counseling and Psychological Association ethical decision-making process in their ethics-based issues and cases. I have chosen to address this scenario according to the six steps in the decision-making process.

During this week, there were two events that took place that awaken my awareness of how dangerous the counseling profession is if one doesn’t pay close attention to clients/patients and follow all rules and regulations (state, federal, ethical). There was a patient admitted to the floor that was extremely agitated in the ED. He was found “dangling” off a local bridge and brought in TDO by the police. The patient slept for the first few hours after being admitted to the floor from the ED. When he woke up, he was agitated and began to pace the floor. There was another patient, a 4 foot 9 female, that had been verbally aggressive towards other patients and staff. While the male patient was pacing the floor, the female patient was verbally aggressive towards another patient and the male patient assumed she was talking to him. He immediately became physically aggressive towards the patient by lifting her and slightly throwing her against the wall. At that moment, the staff called the appropriate code for security to arrive. Once security arrived, he became even more

Many ethical dilemmas arise in this situation. Confidentiality, client consent, client welfare, and extending counseling boundaries are the main ethical codes that surface in this specific situation.

One of the most important aspects of working as a counselor is to adhere to the application of ACA Code of Ethics at the time of making decisions in regards to professional work. The ACA Code of Ethics serves as guidance for counselors when it is necessary to resolve conflicts with clients in a responsible way. However, sometimes counselors can be unaware of its importance or careless when dealing with difficult situations. Thus, in this paper I discuss an ethical dilemma that took place after a series of sessions with a soon to be divorced couple and their son. Additionally, I apply the seven steps in the Ethical Decision Making Model to examine and resolve the problem while protecting the clients.

In the presentation “Whose Notes?” the client stated she did not think the counselor was very helpful to her and requested to receive counseling services from a different professional counselor. She also, requested all records, the clinical case notes written by the counselor during her counseling sessions, and the clinical case notes her current counselor received from her previous counselors. The counselor breached code B.6.e ACA Code of Ethics because she refused to give the client a copy of the clinical case notes recorded during her therapy sessions. The counselor stated, “The notes I’ve written will not be very helpful to you”. This code informs us the professional counselor must provide reasonable access to records and copies of records when requested by competent clients. Counselors limit the access of clients to their records, or portions of their records, only when there is compelling evidence that such access would cause harm to the client. Counselors document the request of clients and the rationale for withholding some of all of the records in the files of the clients. In situations involving multiple clients, counselors provide individual clients with only those parts of records that relate directly to them and do not include confidential information related to any other client (ACA, 2014). According to, T. Remley and B. Herliky clients have a legal right to review the clinical case notes recorded during their therapy sessions, obtain copies of them and demand

Ethical dilemmas are prevalent in all areas of life. In each helping profession, ethical guidelines and codes require that professionals act morally and in the best interest of the client. As a prospective counseling psychologist, I would need keen judgment to recognize and professional skills to handle an ethical dilemma. This paper details my personal experience of an ethical dilemma while working as a case manger. My objective is to identify the setting of the ethical dilemma, the ethical principles that apply to the dilemma, and how the dilemma was and should have been handled.

Not a single counselor or therapist can honestly say that he or she has gone unscathed when it comes to being faced with an ethical dilemma. At some point in the counselor’s career, he or she will be faced with a dilemma. So, the question is not if, but when the counselor is faced with an ethical dilemma, how will he or she address it? It is very important that resources such as colleagues, codes of ethics, rules and regulations and state laws are readily available to the counselor to be used when faced with an ethical dilemma. Most, if not all helping profession professional organizations encourage the use of some form of decision making model. The rationale for this paper is to apply the Forester Miller-Davis Ethical Decision Making Model to the Ethical Case Study: Caught in the Middle. This model requires a seven step process, in which each step has to be implemented and not deviated from. The Forester Davis-Miller ethical decision making model allows the counselor or therapist to be comprehensive in his or her approach when addressing an ethical dilemma. In reviewing this ethical case study, the counselor is placed in a position of whether he or she will have to make a sound ethical decision by using an evidence-based model. Will the client’s confidentiality be maintained or will a breach in confidentiality be necessary to protect the client? The client is the ultimate beneficiary of the counselor’s knowledge and ability

In some cases the counsellor is to advise the client but not to act for them (with the exception of threats of harm to self or others). As an individual, Ray is facing many dilemmas and obstacles in the context of his actions as he himself states, “I knew from a textbook standpoint it was wrong… it’s different when you’re in it…” However, given the nature of this case and the information that Ray shared during our sessions the dilemma is mine. I must adhere to ethical, professional, moral and legal issues as Ray works in an advocacy role with young people.