Chapter 1 - Intro To Professional Ethics

Question 1

Common Themes in Codes of Ethics

Answer 1

1. Best Interests of Clients
2. Practicing w/in the scope of one’s competence
3. Avoiding harm and exploitation
4. Protecting client privacy and confidentiality
5. Acting ethically and responsibly
6. Avoiding discrimination
7. Striving for Aspirational Practice

Question 2

What are limitations of codes of ethics?

Answer 2

Ethics codes may conflict with/when/within:

1. Gray areas: Codes lack clarity and precision when dilemmas are present
2. various organizations’ codes.
3. Personal Values
4. institutional policies and practice
5. A cultural framework -ethical practice needs to be adapted to specific cultures
6. state laws and regulations

Question 3

Describe the spectrum of anxiety from low to high. Where is the balance? Which extreme may best practice arise in a dilemma?

Answer 3

Low anxiety: dismissive, poor performance when action is required.
High anxiety: overactive, over analyzing, impairs function

Balance: Self reflection: Know your weaknesses and blind spots. Knowing yourself is mandatory. Consult with colleagues.

High anxiety is easier to deactivate, it is better to err on the side of caution and be more rather than less anxious.

Question 4

What is the difference between laws and ethics?

Answer 4

Ethics codes are broad & sweeping guidelines that govern the conduct of professionals.

Laws are structured, hard rules that govern a community, state, or a country. Laws are supposed to be black and white.

Question 5

In what order are tactics and strategies for making decisions made? Hint, the four Ps…

Answer 5

Patient - Protect, what action is in their best interest? Do no harm!

Public - Protect and report in order to protect the client.

Profession - Aspire to exemplify ethical best-practices.

Professional - We advocate for others - any conflicts result in resolutions or action taken in the best interest of the client, we come last.

Question 6

Describe three objectives fulfilled by codes of ethics.

Answer 6

1. Educate professionals about sound ethical conduct.
2. Mechanism for professional accountability: ethics codes provide guidance and encourage ethical conduct. We monitor our own behavior and encourage ethical behavior in .colleagues
3. Catalysts for improving practice.

Question 7

Define: values and ethics

Answer 7

Values pertains to believes and attitudes that provide direction to every day living.

Ethics pertains to the beliefs we hold about what constitutes right conduct. Ethics are moral principles adopted by an individual or group to provide rules for right conduct

Question 8

Define morality

Answer 8

Morality is concerned with perspective of right and proper conduct and involves an evaluation of actions on the basis of some broader cultural context or religious standard

Question 9

Define reasonableness

Answer 9

Reasonableness is usually defined as the care that is ordinarily exercised by others practicing with in that specialty in the professional community.

Question 10

Define the professionalism

Answer 10

Professionalism is similar to ethical behavior. It is the expected behavior of a psychologist to be professional in doing what’s best for the client, acting appropriately, exhibiting proper mannerisms, ethical behavior, and good judgment.

Question 11

Compare mandatory ethics with aspirational Ethics

Answer 11

Mandatory ethics describes a level of ethical functioning where in counselors act in compliance with minimal standards.

Aspirational ethics describes the highest standards of thinking and conduct professional counselors seek. It requires counselors to do more than simply meet the letter of the ethics code; and it entails an understanding of the spirit behind the code and the principles on which the code rests.

Question 12

Describe and compare principal ethics and virtue ethics

Answer 12

Principal Ethics is a set of obligations and a method that focuses on moral issues with the goals of:
a. Solving a particular dilemma or a set of dilemmas; b. Establishing a framework to guide future ethical thinking and behavior.

Virtue ethics focuses on the character traits of the counselor and non-obligate Tori ideals to which professionals aspire rather than on solving specific ethical dilemmas. Virtue ethics asks “am I doing what is best for my client?”

Question 13

Name a gray area with the laws and ethics conflict.

Answer 13

We lean on laws, but patients come first. This is a gray area.

Know the laws, act ethically, consult with colleagues, do what’s in the best interest of the client, do no harm.

Question 14

What are the top three violations in counseling psychology that threatens loss of licensure?

Answer 14

1. Sexual intimacy,
2. DUI,
3. violation of confidentiality

Question 15

How do you deal with and cope with certain issues when there is concern?

Answer 15

Always consider:

1. self reflection,
2. seeking supervision or consultation,
3. awareness so that you can shed light on the problem.

Question 16

What are the six moral principles to ethical dilemmas?

Answer 16

1. Autonomy,
2. non-maleficence,
3. beneficence
4. justice,
5. Fidelity,
6. veracity

Question 17

What is autonomy?

Answer 17

Autonomy refers to:

• promotion of self-determination and freedom of clients to be self governing within their social and cultural framework
• Client and therapist are equal in order to empower the client, decrease clients dependency, and foster client empowerment

Question 18

What is non-maleficence?

Answer 18

Non-maleficence means avoiding doing harm, which includes refraining from actions that risk hurting clients.

Professionals have a responsibility to minimize risks for exploitation and practices that cause harm or have the potential to result in harm

Question 19

What is beneficence?

Answer 19

Beneficence is doing good for others and promoting the well-being of clients. It also includes doing good for society.

Question 20

What is justice in the context of professional therapists’ ethics?

Answer 20

Justice is to be fair and equitable with all clients and to treat others justly.

All clients are entitled to equal access to mental health services.

Justice seeks to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity.

Question 21

What does Fidelity mean?

Answer 21

Fidelity means that professionals make realistic commitments and keep their promises.

This entails fulfilling ones responsibilities of trust in a relationship.

Fidelity is to be true to, and dependable for your client.

Question 22

What does veracity mean ethically with a professional?

Answer 22

Veracity means truthfulness which involves the practitioners obligation to deal honestly with clients.

A therapist must be worthy of trust.

Question 23

What are the steps to follow when circumstances present an ethical dilemma?

Answer 23

1. Awareness
2. Identify The problem or dilemma
3. Identify the potential issues involved
4. Review the relevant ethics codes
5. No that applicable laws and regulations
6. Obtain consultation
7. Consider possible and probable courses of action
8. Enumerate the outcomes /consequences of various decisions
9. Choose what appears to be the best course of action
10. Formulated the questions that need to be answered, determine what other info do you need.
11. Document everything: Who, what, where, how, why

Question 24

How do I deal with and cope with challenging issues?

Answer 24

1. Self reflection
2. Awareness: do something to shed light on the problem
3. Sick supervision and / or consultation

Question 25

In California which organizations are responsible for regulating and protecting the public?

Answer 25

State board of behavioral sciences (BBS)

State board of psychology (BOP)

Question 26

What are the responsibilities of the BOP?

Answer 26

The California state board of psychology’s responsibilities are:

• supervision of placement in fieldwork,
• hours in grad school and
• state testing and certification

Question 27

What is the job of the California board of behavioral science?

Answer 27

The BBS is the governing body that regulates the ethics codes in practice of counseling.

They are the regulating board for MFT’s, and other licensed mental health counseling specialties.