Ethics and Counselor

c. How might differences in personal values and gender/cultural issues create ethical dilemmas in this case? It’s an ongoing balance to decide how David going to view the cultural differences. There isn’t a simple answer. The principal rule supporting ethical obligations is that the counselor must act with full recognition of the importance of client’s rights, the ethics of the profession.(National Association of Social Workers 1999).

On the issue of abortion with the 19-year old rape victim, I feel that she has a right to choose whether or not to go through with the abortion. As her counselor I have to put my personal feelings aside and help her to make the best decision for herself. My client is firm in her plans to have the abortion and since she is an adult her parents have no legal right to make her change her mind. I am unable to convince the parents to change their minds as they are not my clients and I have no input in how they feel. According to the ACA (2005) I must be sensitive to the family’s cultural beliefs and in the

Professional counselors and their staff are exposed to sensitive client information and records. The helpful receptionist and whose privilege videos, show how to apply both the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (ACA Code of Ethics) and state board counseling laws to common ethical scenarios. The content explores aspects designed to call attention to favorable and unfavorable skills and techniques in handling such matters. These two videos demonstrate the limitations of confidentiality and privileged information. As a professional counselor one is expected to uphold the principles of confidentiality and privilege according to the ACA Code of Ethics and state laws. One may conclude that the helpful receptionist video shows clear violations of confidentiality. While the whose privilege video indicates the significance of insuring that counselors comprehend state laws and ethics codes pertaining to confidentiality and privilege. Furthermore, counseling professionals are held accountable for violating ethics codes and state laws as well as training staff on informed consent.

The first ethical issue that counselors have to worry about in counseling children is to be a competent counselor. It includes that the counselor must be familiar with child and adolescent development. Also, in order to be competent in counseling children, a counselor must frequently participate in trainings, specialized education, and supervised practice (Henderson & Thompson, 2011). Another ethical issue in counseling minors is privacy and confidentiality. According to the American Counseling Association (ACA) (2014) Code of Ethics, when counseling minors a counselors protect the confidentiality of information received (ACA, 2014, B.5.a). Counselors also have responsibilities with the child’s parents such as inform parents about the role of counselors and the confidential nature of the counseling relationship (ACA, 2014, B.5.b). When a counselors needs to release confidential information, he needs to seek permission from the child’s parents, legal guardians, or the appropriate third party in order to disclose the information (ACA, 2014, B.5.c). According to Henderson and Thompson (2011), children have to have their parents’ consent to see a

I intend to show an understanding of the ethical framework for good practice in counselling, relating it to practice and also my own beliefs and opinions, how this influences the counselling relationship, I will also show the need for protection of self and client.

* I believe it is unethical for the counselor to reveal anything said in individual counseling with the husband. She didn’t address a “no secrets” policy in the informed consent. Sharing this information with the wife without his permission is unethical. In marriage counseling the “no secrets” policy needs to be addressed and explained in the informed consent. Since she did not have a policy concerning this, she is bound by confidentiality which should have been in her informed consent.

You are a Licensed Professional School Counselor working in a middle school in North Carolina and one of my former students Tierra has graduated and has come by my office to share her plans after graduation. While talking with her, she has informed me that she had been romantically involved with her high school counselor, Zack for most of her senior year in high school but that they had recently decided to just be friends. Tierra also stated they had not been involved sexually, and had not gone any further than kissing.

If I were to consult with my close friend’s daughter, the friend would want me to talk to her about the information that was discussed in the sessions. Because of the confidentiality agreement, I would not be able to discuss these things with her. This may cause the close friend to have hard feelings towards me because I would not be able to relay the information. This would be because she would be viewing me as a friend and not as a professional doing my job. While these guidelines are simple and easy to grasp, it is impossible to completely avoid dual relationships on a daily basis (Gottlieb, 1993). Therefore, I would not take a chance on conducting business with my close friend. I would much rather prefer to refer her to someone else who is also very proficient in adolescent counseling.

According to the ACA code of ethics (A.4.b.) counselors need to be aware of their values and avoid imposing them onto their client (American Counseling Association, 2014). Counselors may find this difficult when their religious or own personal values do not match those of their client. For example, the counselor who was seeing a family where the father was abusing his wife. The counselor after a session was beginning to let her own personal values take over and wanted to refer the family to a different counselor. However, after discussing with a colleague she began to see the father's side of things and realized the transition from a Middle Eastern Country to the United States would be difficult due to the two cultures

Dual relationships and the ethical behavior that revolves around boundaries with clients present a multitude of very complicated situations to counselors where a clearly defined course of action is not always evident. Aside from no accord amongst mental health professionals and boundary issues being unavoidable at times, recognition and prediction of potential benefits or pitfalls correlated with dual relationships can prove to be troublesome as well (Remley & Herlihy, 2010). For most cases, it is best if an outline is used to discern when it is appropriate for a counselor to breach the client-counselor boundary.

Information is needed regarding Jane’s psychological and physical health. Psychologically Jane is most vulnerable to mental illness, the traumatic abuse from an early age by her father, any other events that have had negative impacts on Jane’s emotional state that haven’t yet been discussed, the side effects from heroine both using and during withdrawal, in addition the experience of being incarcerated and depersonalisation within a prison setting often causes feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, depression and anxieties, which all contribute to Jane’s mental state, although Jane was convicted from nonviolent crimes how Jane expresses herself when dealing with stressful emotions, i.e. aggression or self-harming would need to be explored. in addition Jane may have had pre-existing mental health issues, after long term heroin use these issues can become more severe mental health issues can develop into more serious psychoactive disorders like bipolar and schizophrenia, damage to the brain causing possible dementia type illness. It’s important to determine whether the symptoms of mental health issues are drug induced or a result of past traumas as symptoms of drug induced mental health issues can lesson within a few weeks or even days after drug is stopped whereas advancement of pre-existing mental illness is much longer if not permanent.

The trust between Heather and me as a Counsellor is a vital part of our therapeutic relationship. I am aware that my client must feel that whatever she discloses in therapy will be treated confidentially. As a counsellor I am not to disclose information unless required by law or authorized by my client. The informed consent document Heather has signed prior to our first session does not state particularly that the Counsellor has to break confidentiality in instances of child abuse.

Especially, in certain circumstances under which they will not be able to keep that promise such as if a adolescents is being abused, physically and/or sexually, if they are going to hurt themselves or someone else, when they are under 16 years old and having relations with someone 21 years or older, and when they are under 14 years old and having relations with someone 14 years or older. I do agree, that adolescents should be entitled to have the right to decide if they want to disclose any information regarding their sexuality and drug use to parents. Concerns about confidentiality can be barrier to open communication between the patient physician, and accessing health services to adolescents. When they are aware of that confidentiality will be respected, they are most likely to seek health care, return to health care, and disclose sensitive information about risky behaviors. I believe that majority of adolescents would prefer to obtain health care for some or all of their health concerns without parental

REPORTER: The reporter/ Counselor (Rosa) called with concerns for the victim, Jasmine. According to Rosa, Jasmine spoke with another counselor (Megan) on last week (didn’t specify) and said “she might be pregnant”. Last week (didn’t specify), the reporter spoke with the victim and she said “she hasn’t taken a pregnancy test” but she told her parents. The victim said “her father was very upset”, “more than he has ever been”. The reporter said Jasmine stated that her feelings were hurt. On today (8/27/2015), there were two students (unknown) who came to Rosa and said Jasmine was on drugs (Klonipin). “One of the student said the victim was giving them to him”, so that’s how he knows. It is unknown where she’s getting the drugs from. The principal

I would work with Ray to motivate him that the information needs to be disclosed as he is working and socialising with minors in his workplace and further afield. Keeping in mind the BACP (2015 section 8: 33c) I would ensure that reasonable care is taken to separate the distinction between my personal and professional presence. Ray is entering freely into a counselling relationship and should be aware of the contract law including confidentiality and its limitations. Entwistle et al (2010) comment that the respect for autonomy is usually associated with enabling patients