Questions and Answers on Ethics in Action

As a counselor, I need to accept my client without being judgmental during a therapy session. I understand we have different values and we might not agree with each other and I should not make my client feel uncomfortable. I will not use my own personal values towards my clients. I will make sure to incorporate empathy because the client needs to feel that they are being understood and trust. Empathy helps build a strong relationship and helps clients feel comfortable and trust the counselor; I will make sure that I treat my clients with dignity and respect. Professional Identity can also be incorporated in my counseling relationship because I will make sure I used the code of ethics with my clients and stay professional at all times. I will make sure I provide a good supported treatment for my client. I will use my best practice to help my client achieve their

It goes without saying that at some point in a counselor career, he or she can expect to be faced with an ethical dilemma. Ethical decisions are rarely easy to arrive at, as the dilemmas a counselor is faced with can be very complex

Counsellor can noncoercively invite client to talk by using door opener like " You don't seem to look very happy. you seem to be burdened by something. Care to talk about it?" For clients who plunge straight to their issues, this will not be necessary. But sometimes, client might be in the midst of conversations, and might show signs that he is unsure of continuing, door opener like " I'm interested in hearing more about it." may help facilitate the conversation.

Counselors need to be guided by the ethical standards set forth by the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. These standards define ethical conduct in the counseling profession, and provide guidance for maintaining professionalism in any situation. I have become familiar with many of the sections included in the ACA Code of Ethics from the research and assignments completed in this class. Garnering an awareness of the ACA Code of Ethics as it pertains to informed consent, confidentiality, professional responsibility, and resolving ethical issues, has given me confidence to discuss and evaluate the legal issues and ethical obligations associated with this profession. The section regarding professional responsibility of this document resonated with me the most, and elicited a feeling of confidence about counseling ethics and law, that was not present before this class. Professional responsibility sets the tone for everything else we do. As counselors, we must be guided by professionalism and high standards. Standard C.1 of the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) states that counselors have a responsibility to read, understand, and follow the ACA Code of Ethics, and abide by all applicable laws and regulations. While there are a plethora of legal and ethical issues that may arise for professional counselors throughout their careers, I feel that this class has given me a broad overview of how to be proactive and use appropriate decision-making tools to work

Client has no present situation with her occupation. She seem to be doing great at work but her stress level is currently high. Client feels satisfied with her job/career. Client has no learning disabilities or limitations to her capabilities. Kris is extremely intelligent with handling finances and investments. Client has a healthy relationship with her peers and employees. They are all supportive and respectful of each other's work and differences.

What exactly does the term “ethics” mean? When asking this question among several different groups of people, I’m sure all of their answers would be different in many ways, but would all draw the general theme that ethics is somewhat of a study of what is right and what is wrong. This is a mostly correct conclusion, except for the fact that it encompasses not only determining what is right and wrong, but attempting to systemize and defend those ethical positions which one holds. Almost all of the controversial headlines you see in the media today involve some sort of question of ethics. Abortion. Healthcare. (“Should we take money from the rich and give to the poor to pay for medical expenses?”) Gun laws. Euthanasia, etc. The topic I want

course of action or prevents a counsellor from recognising a clients feeling as these are very close

Ethics and making ethical decisions is a vital piece in a counselor’s career. Whether it is individual therapy or group therapy, a counselor must always present themselves as knowledgeable, professional and in control. When a counselor is making an ethical decision, they should as much as possible

When a counselor has a validation issue they should seek there supervisor advice. When intimate questions are discussed with inexperience persons it drives your interest. When a man give a woman compliment at each gathering she feels special and want to hear more and do more. So as a counselor to client getting involve with intimate sexual conversation must be a limit to discussing. The discussion should be in a written form when the counselor feels their hormone is becoming elevated. The client may feel the same; the counselor is in control of the session leave the room as they write. Once the counselor return to the session and regrouped, redirect the client with healthy talk not sexual talk. The counselor once boundaries and limits are set encourages the client to write a personal dairy of their personal intimacy thoughts to share with their love one in the future.

A potential harm when boundaries are crossed is damaging the therapeutic relationship. A client may feel embarrassed or awkward, leaving them in a vulnerable position when encountering a counselor outside of the counseling setting (Remley & Herlihy, 2014). This may cause the client to feel indifferent about counseling and they may choose not to return. I know from personal experience, coming from a military family, counseling is not a subject to be openly discussed. Encountering a client outside of the counseling setting may worsen their anxiety and discontinue sessions. Although there are potential dangers when crossing boundaries, there are specific ways to handle each situation in a professional

Counselors within their specialty are part of interdisciplinary teams’ work. The ACA code of ethics provide several standards that tackle responsibilities to acquire and strengthen relationship with colleague to best serve clients (D.1.b); to focus on the wellbeing of client (D.1.c); and to clarify professional role, parameters of confidentiality, and ethical responsibilities of the team and its members (D.1.d, D.1.e).

If you are unable to build this rapport, you will go nowhere with a client that is either too embarrassed or not confident enough in your ability to help them.

The client (Mary Raymond) was referred to me on a volunteer basis after that she entered the Resource Center looking to speak with me. I had previously met Mary at last week’s SOGBLTQ event during which I was panelist talking about my experiences as a Pansexual individual and had invited her to come and visit my office if she ever wanted to talk about anything. I agreed to speak to Mary and brought her into my office to talk. After showing her my Case

Licensed professional counselors have a unique occupation in that not only do they interact with their clients on a highly personal level, but they also momentarily share their client’s burdens, worries, and concerns. This vicarious aspect of counseling creates the possibility for a counselor to continue sharing the client’s troubles long after the session has ended. According to Norcross and Guy (2007), “The person of the psychotherapist is inextricably intertwined with treatment success” (p. 2) meaning that if we desire more positive outcomes than negative ones we must figuratively become one with our clients. Due to this fact, “self-care is not simply a personal matter but also an ethical necessity, a moral imperative” (p. 6). If we fail to leave work at work at the day’s end, then other facets of our lives are in jeopardy of becoming tainted.

As everybody is different and comes from different backgrounds, therefore give us all different values and beliefs, it is important to have an effective client-counsellor relationship based on four main areas of duty of care 1. Helper competence, 2. Client autonomy, 3. Confidentiality, 4. Client protection (Nelson-Jones, 2008). There will be times throughout the sessions with clients that your own values and belief creep in, and you do make judgement, therefore you as a counsellor have to know and acknowledge this happen and understand why it is happening.