1. Ethics: Guides for Professional Engagement

2. Ethical Decision Making
Professional Codes of Ethics
Educate counseling practitioners about responsibilities of profession
Provide a basis for accountability
Protect clients
Mandatory Ethics
Ethical functioning following minimal standards
Aspirational Ethics
Striving for optimum standards of conduct

3. Ethical Decision Making: Process and Procedure
Identify problem or dilemma
Identify potential issues (rights, responsibilities and welfare)
Examine codes of ethics
Consider applicable laws and regulations
Seek consultation
Brainstorm possible actions
Consider and evaluate consequences
Choose best possible course of action

4. Foundational Elements of Ethical Practice
Counselor Competence
Informed Consent
Confidentiality & Privileged Communication
Boundaries
Dual Relationships

5. Counselor Competence & Counseling Relationship
Primary responsibility of counselor
Respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients
Put the needs of the client before the personal needs of the counselor
Do not practice outside of the boundaries of your competence
When training for a new specialty, arrange for supervision and consultation

6. Legal Issues: Competence & Relationship
Due Care
Counselor’s highest priority must be the care of the client.
Trust and mutual caring are key
Must inform within reason.

7. Informed Consent Intent is to empower clients and build trust
Promotes active cooperation of clients
ACA Code:
Must inform in writing and verbally review the rights and responsibilities of both the counselor and the client

8. Legal Issues: Informed Consent
Duty to Warn
Tarasoff v. Regents Of Univ. of CA (1976).
Must breach confidentiality if there is a threat to self or others.

9. Dimensions of Confidentiality & Privileged Communication
Counselor’s responsibility to define the degree of confidentiality
Generally, confidentiality must be broken when client might seriously harm themselves or others.
Familiarity with local and state laws imperative
Sometimes there are conflicting ways to interpret a law.

10. Boundaries
Best addressed within the context of counselor competence and/or dual relationships!
Counselors are responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries

11. Dual Relationships
Occur when counselors assume two or more roles simultaneously or seqentially
Overlap may cause harm to clients
ACA Code of Ethics
Addresses dual relationships in general form
Stop here and let the groups peruse the article and then discuss what they think is the best approach to dealing with dual relationships.

12. Dual Relationships, cont.
Sometimes are inevitable
Must weigh potential benefits vs. potential harm
Minimize potential risk to client
Counselors must use their best judgment!

13. Ethical Issues in the Assessment Process
Purpose of assessment
To provide measurements that are valid and reliable
Counselors must not misuse assessment results and interpretations
Do not utilize assessment procedures in which you have not been properly trained!
Never practice outside of the boundaries of your competence!

14. Ethical Issues in a Multicultural Perspective
Individuals are best understood by considering important cultural and environmental variables.
Therapeutic strategies need to be congruent with a client’s values and behaviors.
Therapists must listen to clients.
Theory should serve as a guide.

15. Ethical Complaints… Failure to maintain professional conduct
Confidentiality violations
Dual relationships
Sexual intimacies
Meeting personal needs at client’s expense

16. Ethical Decision-making
Review your actions and the process you used to make those decisions
Review the ethical guidelines that support your thinking
Discuss the situation with colleagues
Consult with professional organizations

17. Legal considerations
In addition to ethical considerations, you must be aware of the legal aspects of counseling (both nationally and locally).

18. Bottom line for ethical and legal issues
Abide by the ethical standards of the profession
Become familiar with the legal statutes not only for your state, but from a national perspective
Acquire knowledge about your agency’s or institutions policies and procedures.

19. Limitations of Ethical Codes
Are general and idealistic
Seldom answer specific questions
Do not address all foreseeable professional dilemmas
Enforcement is often difficult
May be conflicts between legal and ethical codes

20. Ethical Codes NBCC Code of Ethics: http://www.nbcc.org/code_of_ethics/
ACA Code of Ethics:
ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors: