This book provides readers within the mental health professions with a comprehensive look on both the theoretical as well as practical aspects of providing sound, ethical care to individuals which seek their help. Becoming an ethical helping professional challenge and encourage students and professionals when making ethical choices as a helping professional to consider both the process and the content of the decision. The book is comprised of thirteen chapters which are subdivided into three sections. Section one looks at the foundation where chapter contents include; counseling ethics and the big picture and philosophical and culture: roots and prism. Section two focuses on the day to day challenges common to all and includes confidentiality, trust and boundaries, roles and limits. Section three on the other hand, entails specific specialties and professional identities where chapter titles include counseling in schools, teaching mentoring and supervision. Each chapter is supplemented with a pause for reflection section and concludes with a wrap up section. The book ends with an epilogue, references, and appendix, author and subject index sections respectively.
Author’s Background and Credentials: Rita Sommers-Flanagan is a certified school counselor who currently works as a full time faculty
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It was very useful in enhancing my understanding of the procedures involved in becoming an ethical helping professional. The pause for reflection sections incorporated in the differing chapters has allowed me the opportunity to engage in more critical ethical thinking. Additionally, the book stresses the importance of competence and how vital it is to engage in self-reflection as an effective tool in evaluating my progress within the field. I also felt like the authors explored and validated quite a few of my past and current ethical experiences I have encountered within the field thus
Huey, W. C. (1986). Ethical Concerns in School Counseling. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 64(5), 321.
In the mental health profession of counseling, therapy, psychology, psychiatric and social services ethical dilemmas are faced primarily on a daily basis. Being that mental health professionals are working with clients who are often fragile and vulnerable, they must develop an intense awareness of ethical issues. On the other hand, mental health professionals would never intentionally harm their clients, students or colleagues and others whom they work with. Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough to ensure that wrong doings will not occur and mental health professionals have no choice but to make ethically determined decisions. Depending upon the experience and expertise of the professional determines the outcome of the ethical circumstance. For example, if you were practicing mental health professional and had a friend who’s a licensed psychologist, who is invited to attend the wedding of a patient that she has been seeing in court-ordered therapy for a year; what advice would you give your friend?
Mandatory ethics is the level of functioning where the counselor is abiding by the basic “do’s and don’ts” of professional counseling. These are definitive codes that will protect a counselor from legal action and professional censure. All mental health professionals will be held accountable by the minimum standards set by state licensure boards and courts of law. Issues addressed by the Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (APA) include, but are not limited to, competence, human relations, confidentiality and fees. (American Psychological Association, 2002)
One ethical issue related to Human Service practice is upholding the clients self-determination when they are suffering from a mental illness (client self-determination vs. mental health). Ethics are a branch of moral philosophy that deals with right (ethical) and wrong (unethical)(Dolgoff and Loewenberg, 1992). However they can also provide dilemmas such as the one being discussed in this essay. Ethical dilemmas are situations whereby there is a choice between equally undesirable alternatives that in turn involve moral values that appear to have equal validity (Banks, 2006). When dealing with such dilemmas it is important to refer to one of the ethical decision-making framework. These frameworks provide step-by-step guidance to help assist practitioners through complex decisions. There are four key models to refer to; The feminist and reflective model, The inclusive model, The ethical principles screen and the E.T.H.I.C model. However the one most suited for the current ethical dilemma is the Feminist model.
Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2011). Issues and ethics in the helping professions. (8th
Since 1976, The American Mental Health Counselors Association has been committed to establishing and promoting vigorous standards for education and training, professional practice, and professional ethics for Clinical Mental Health Counselors. So far, this association have 7,000 clinical mental health counselors but its organization is continuously growing (AMHCA).” “The American Mental Health Counselors Association have licensures laws in all 50 states, and the association seeks to enhance the practice of clinical mental health counseling and to promote standards for clinical education and clinical practice that anticipate the future roles of Clinical Mental Health Counselors within the broader health care system. This association was ultimately put together to define and promote professional identity of mental health counselors (AMHCA).”
Strengths of the Ethical Decisions Making Model are Kitchener 's Critical Evaluation Model (1984), which involves understanding how ethical decision-making approaches play an important role in the ethical landscape of counseling. It involved the notions of loyalty, faithfulness, and honoring commitments (Kitchener, 1984). It’s best to form trust within the client/counselor relationship and implement faith in the growth of their therapeutic relationship. Kitchener (1984) proposes four goals to strength the model of increasing ethical sensitivity, improving ethical reasoning, developing ethical responsibility and tolerating ambiguity (Kitchener,
This concern for the welfare of others comes from my religious and personal experiences as a child and young adult. Furthermore, legal responsibility is willing to accept fault, knowing when to ask questions of a supervisor to more clearly meet the needs of the client. Kaslow, Grus, Campbell, & Fouad, et al., 2009). Moreover, this insightful implementation has the ability to evaluate and implement the soundest therapy for the client. My career identity has not been perfected in a skilled setting, which would be a practicum or internship.
Ethical issues in a counseling practice lay the foundation of a therapist in practice. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions and operates in a successful manner for the clients who seek help in such a setting. In order for the counseling profession to be ethical and hold professional recognition, there are many facets that need to be examined and outlined to make sure all counselors and practitioners are functioning at the highest level and withholding their duties required by the counseling profession. The first introduction so to speak of the area of ethics also happens to be one of the first steps in counseling, which is the informed consent. The informed consent provides the basis of what happens or will be happening in a counseling setting and serves to inform the client to their rights, responsibilities, and what to expect. Most importantly, the informed consent is in place for the client’s benefit. It also is important to understand that culture and environment play a role in the treatment of a client and how theories can positively or negatively impact this treatment. Therapists need to understand how to work within the context of a theory while being able to understand the individual in their own environment. Although theories are put into place to serve as a framework, there are also alternative ways to approach counseling, one example being evidence-based practice. Such an approach is very specific, which presents a series of solutions for counseling as a whole, but also brings forth many problems. Every approach or theory introduces ethical concerns that need to be taken into consideration by the entire counseling community and how each can positively and negatively affect clients and the pr...
Corey, G., Corey, M.S., & Callanan, P. (2007). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole
These ethical concerns must be addressed with every client. This is where closed ended questions may be considered, the best approach is to intertwine these questions into the normal flow of conversation so that the client does not feel like they are being judged. One of the ethical concerns the clinician needs to address is suicide, since those dealing with the crisis have no ability to cope and are vulnerable and overwhelmed, suicide may feel like their only option to end the crisis (Kanel, 2007). The clinician needs this information to keep the client safe. Another ethical concern the clinician must address is the possibility of abuse towards a child or the elderly or any harm to others. It is always a counselor or mental health workers ' duty to report any suspicion of this kind of activity to the proper authorities (Kanel, 2007). Organic or medical concerns are one of the other ethical considerations which must be addressed in the second stage. This includes making evaluations about any mental health or behavioral disorders as well as making any necessary referrals (Kanel, 2007). Substance abuse is another ethical concern that must be addressed by the clinician. Since substance abuse is commonly used to treat stress for those in crisis the clinician must be assertive in gathering information about drug use (Kanel, 2007). This information will direct the clinician in the
Ethics in the counselling and psychotherapy protects the client and the therapist involved in the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process as a whole; with the concepts that act as a guide for the therapists in provision of good practice and care for the client. The framework is built on values of counselling and psychotherapy; principles of trustworthiness, autonomy, fidelity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and self-respect, and provides standards of good practice and care for the practitioner (BACP, 2010). Ethical framework contributes to the development of the therapeutic relationship and process by assisting therapist’s decisions, and guides their behaviour and proceedings within their legal rights and duties. The ethical frame is structured on the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship and the therapists should be aware of their categories and be responsible for their forms. Monitoring and being aware of what goes on in and out of the room physically, emotionally and psychologically is primarily the duty of the therapist.
Koocher, G.P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Throughout this course, I have learned essential ways to behave as a social worker. Prior to having this class, I was caught in an ethical dilemma at my former job. Without prior knowledge of ethical decision making models, I was able
The following essay will look at what it takes to be an effective and professional counsellor through discussing what counselling is, its processes, the setting in which it is undertaken, the characteristics, necessary skills needed and the ethics involved in counselling.