514 Ethics And Professional Issues In Counseling

Question 1

Confidentiality

Answer 1

The most important part of the therapeutic alliance. This is the obligation to protect the privacy of the client - both their medical info and the content they share in therapy. This obligation refers to the protection both in verbally refering to the client and the client’s stored information. Limits to confidentiality must be shared with the client (both verbally and written) and include harm to self or others (suicide, homicide, or abuse of minors, elders, and mentally disabled), court order, or the request of records by the client or their guardians.

Question 2

Confidentiality in Group or Marital Counseling

Answer 2

Establishing parameters with all participants is key because the only individual bound by confidentiality is the therapist. This means that the therapist may not share information outside of session but others involved may. Secrets should not be held by the therapist in order to limit favoritism.

Question 3

HIPPA Compliance

Answer 3

The process by which clients’ personal and medical information is protected. Professionals are obligated to ensure this protection both in verballyvrefering to the client and how the client’s information is stored.

Question 4

Ethics

Answer 4

Standards that govern the conduct of professional members that rely on the concepts of freedom, autonomy, beneficence, and non-malficence. These standards are guided by the Code of Ethics which generally has a higher standard than what is required by law. Conflicts may arise where codes conflict with morals, values, and the law

Question 5

Basic Purpose of Ethical Practice

Answer 5

To safeguard the welfare and safety of the client, minimize risk to the therapist, and function in a way that utilizes the concepts of freedom, autonomy, beneficence, and non-malficence to provide best care, professional accountability, and improved practice.

Question 6

Ethical Boundaries in Clinical Practice

Answer 6

This refers to the limits to the therapeutic alliance in order to protect the relationship and the client’s well-being. Crossing these boundaries can be helpful or harmful and a therapist must rely on ethics codes and clinical intuition/judgement when presented with a potential boundary crossing.