1. Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions, 9th Edition
by Gerald Corey, Marianne Schneider Corey, Cindy Corey, and Patrick Callanan
with Michelle Muratori, Johns Hopkins University
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2. Introduction to Professional Ethics
Chapter 1
Introduction to Professional Ethics
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3. Law and Ethics Law Ethics
Defines the minimum standards society will tolerate and is enforced by government
Ethics
Represents the ideal standards set and is enforced by professional associations
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4. Law and Ethics Regulation
Regulation of practice occurs in all 50 states.
State licensing laws establish the scope of practice of professionals and how these laws will be enforced.
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5. Professional Monitoring of Practice
Major duties of regulating boards are to:
Determine standards for admission into profession
Screen applicants applying for certification or licensure
Regulate the practice of psychotherapy for the public good
Conduct disciplinary proceedings involving violations of standards of professional conduct as defined by law
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6. Ethical Decision Making: Key Terms
Values
Beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living
Ethics
Moral principles adopted by an individual or group to provide rules for right conduct
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7. Ethical Decision Making: Key Terms
Morality
Our perspectives of right and proper conduct
Actions are evaluated on the basis of some broader cultural context or religious standard
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8. Ethical Decision Making: Key Terms
Community standards (or mores)
Define what is considered reasonable behavior when a case involving malpractice is litigated
They vary on interdisciplinary, theoretical, and geographical bases
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9. Ethical Decision Making: Key Terms
Reasonableness
The care that is ordinarily exercised by others practicing within that specialty in the professional community
Professionalism
Has some relationship to ethical behavior, yet it is possible to act unprofessionally and still not act unethically
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10. Levels of Ethical Practice
Mandatory ethics
Counselors comply with minimal standards, acknowledging the basic “musts” and “must nots”
Providing informed consent to clients
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11. Levels of Ethical Practice
Aspirational ethics
The highest professional standards of conduct to which counselors can aspire
Related to positive ethics
Providing services pro bono for those in need
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12. Principle Ethics and Virtue Ethics
Focuses on moral issues with goal of solving a particular dilemma and establishing a framework to guide future ethical thinking and behavior
Asks “Is this situation unethical?”
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13. Principle Ethics and Virtue Ethics
Focuses on character traits of the counselor and non-obligatory ideals
Asks “Am I doing what is best for my client?”
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14. Basic Moral Principles to Guide Decision Making
Autonomy:
To promote self-determination
Beneficence:
To do good for others and promote the well-being of clients
Nonmaleficence:
To avoid doing harm
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15. Basic Moral Principles to Guide Decision Making
Justice:
To be fair by giving equally to others and to treat others justly
Fidelity:
To make realistic commitments and keep these promises
Veracity:
To be truthful and deal honestly with clients
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16. Selected Models of Ethical Decision Making
The feminist model
Calls for maximum involvement of the client at every stage of the process
Based on feminist principle that power should be equalized in the therapeutic relationship
The transcultural integrative model
Addresses need for including cultural factors in the process of resolving ethical dilemmas
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17. Selected Models of Ethical Decision Making
The social constructionist model
Focuses primarily on the social aspects of decision making in counseling
Redefines the ethical decision-making process as an interactive rather than an individual or intrapsychic process and places the decision in the social context itself
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18. Steps in Making Ethical Decisions
The authors’ approach to thinking through ethical dilemmas:
Identify the problem or dilemma
Identify the potential issues involved
Review the relevant ethics codes
Know the applicable laws and regulations
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19. Steps in Making Ethical Decisions
The authors’ approach to thinking through ethical dilemmas:
Obtain consultation
Consider possible and probable courses of action
Enumerate the consequences of various decisions
Choose what appears to be the best course of action
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20. Professional Organizations and Codes of Ethics
American Counseling Association (ACA): Code of Ethics, ©2014
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Code of Ethics, ©2005
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC): Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, ©2010
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21. Professional Organizations and Codes of Ethics
Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC): Code of Ethics, ©2008
Canadian Counselling Association (CCA): Code of Ethics, ©2007
American School Counselor Association (ASCA): Ethical Standards for School Counselors, ©2010
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22. Professional Organizations and Codes of Ethics
American Psychological Association (APA): Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, ©2010
American Psychiatric Association: The Principles of Medical Ethics With Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry, ©2013
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23. Professional Organizations and Codes of Ethics
American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA): Ethical Guidelines for Group Therapists, ©2002
American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA): Code of Ethics, ©2010
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): Code of Ethics, ©2012
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24. Professional Organizations and Codes of Ethics
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC): Ethical Code, ©2005
Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW): Best Practice Guidelines, ©2008
National Association of Social Workers (NASW): Code of Ethics, ©2008
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25. Professional Organizations and Codes of Ethics
National Organization for Human Services: Ethical Standards of Human Service Professionals, ©2000
American Music Therapy Association (AMTA): Code of Ethics, ©2008
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, ©2013
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