1. Ethical practice in career counselling

2. Ethics What are ethics and ethical dilemmas ?
Why are ethics important for career counsellors
What ethical frameworks can we use ?
Your own ethical dilemmas

3. What are Ethics ?
A moral philosophy of what is right and wrong and which bring the greatest benefit for most people

4. What is an ethical dilemma ?
An ethical dilemma exists when there are good but contradictory ethical reasons to take conflicting & incompatible courses of action
Shilito-Clark

5. Why do we need to consider Ethical Issues
One person’s vulnerability creates a corresponding obligation on the other in the exercise of power and professional expertise.
Bond 2000

6. What Ethical Frameworks can we use
Self Care
Autonomy
Ethical Framework
Fidelity
Beneficence
Justice
Non Maleficence

7. 1. Autonomy
The capacity to think, decide & act on the basis of such thought. Such decisions are made freely and independently. Gillon 1985
Works from the premise of client Self-reliance
Avoids the “coach knows best” and advice giving
Is related to issues of power
Relates to both process and outcomes
'The practitioner will always seek to promote clients’ control over their lives & their ability to make appropriate decisions. Being mindful throughout of the power dynamics of the professional - client relationship” BPS 1995

8. 2. Beneficence Doing the best for your client
Is the emotion a client feels about a problem so debilitating it must be looked at first ?
Does your client have sufficient attention to deal with career choices now ?
Is the career issue the least of your client’s worries ?
Is your client expecting too much from career coaching?

9. 3. Non Maleficence “Above all do no harm” Supervision Self monitoring
No financial, sexual or emotional exploitation
Competence
Know why you are saying or doing what you are doing
Ensure you do or say what you intend
Know what effect your intervention is likely to have
Adjust your interventions according to your client’s response
Compare your skills to those of other Career Coaches
More generic counselling skills
Personal/Career counselling to address your own issues

10. 4. Fidelity Trust Confidentiality n.b. limits
Use information as your client intended it given
Data Protection and Notes
Confidentiality and the Law
Client consent
Public knowledge
Public interest (e.g. safety)
Statutory obligation - terrorism drugs

11. 5. Self Care Care for self Indemnity insurance -legal advice
Personal safety
Fitness to practice
Gaps between clients
Not too many clients
Time off
Talk to colleagues
Opt-out clause
Avoid the trap of providing solutions

12. Your ethical dilemmas

13. References
Bond. T Standards & Ethics for Counselling in Action. Sage London
BPS 1995 Guidelines for the professional practice of Counselling Psychology
Gillon R Autonomy and Consent in Lockwood M. ed. Moral dilemmas in Modern Medicine OUP Oxford
Nathan R. Hill. L Career Counselling London Sage
Palmer Barnes. F Complaints and Grievances in Psychotherapy. A handbook of Ethical Practice. Routledge London
Schmidt L.D. and Meara 1984 Ethical Professional and Legal Issues in Counselling Psychology. Chapter 2 in Brown S.D. and Lent R.W. Handbook of Counselling Psychology Wiley.
Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy BACP
– Professional code covering Career Professionals for cipd members (withdrawn 2006)