Chp 1 Flashcards
Code of Ethics
Thus, codes of ethics define prescribed (required) activities such as explaining the benefits and risks of services to clients, as well as prohibited activities such as having a sexual relationship with a current client or student.
Code of Ethics (part 2)
Codes also define the conditions under which certain other behaviors are permissible. For example, the ACA and APA Codes both elaborate on the circumstances under which a professional can accept barter rather than money for services
No code of ethics provides a blueprint for resolving all ethical issues, nor does the avoidance of violations always equate with ideal ethical practice, but codes represent the best judgment of one’s peers about common problems and shared professional values.
Variability means that a code must be written broadly, and its application to any one setting is limited. Second, because the profession changes rapidly, with new forms of practice and new populations emerging constantly, parts of the codes may be outdated as soon as they are published, despite the best efforts of their writers.
Codes do not uniformly address cutting-edge issues
such as professionals’ use of social networking sites or their responsibilities when clients operate motor vehicles while impaired
Ladd (1991) makes another important point about the limitations of a code of ethics—it can focus so much attention on the minor issues of the profession (such as the permissibility of barter) that it distracts professionals from the major questions (such as the ethical responsibility to promote social justice).
Most important, though, codes of ethics are not cookbooks for responsible behavior
To take the cookbook analogy further, codes fail to provide recipes for healthy ethical decision making, although they do offer two essential components of cookbooks—goals for good ethical nutrition and, as Handelsman has noted, lists of ethical poisons
In short, ethics codes do not provide easy answers to complex questions. They serve instead as the critical starting point for developing independent judgment based on the shared wisdom of the profession
Consideration of ethical theories is needed when the ethical principles do not resolve the problem. As noted above, the next chapter elaborates on both ethical principles and ethical theories in the context of professional practice.
The five virtues most commonly referred to in this literature are integrity, the capacity to act consistently upon deeply held personal values; prudence, the ability to act with discernment; trustworthiness, the capacity to follow through on promises and commitments; compassion, deep concern for another’s welfare and sympathy with his or her pain; and respectfulness, an attitude that recognizes others’ concerns and respects their dignity.
Ethical Standards
Rules that apply to the counseling practice
Ethical dilemma
A situation that confuses the counselors due to one of the following:
- competing or conflicting ethical standards that apply
- conflict between what is ethical and what is moral
- situation is one that makes application of ethical codes unclear
- some other circumstance prevents a clear application of ethical code (s)
Mandatory ethics (should be always engaged in)
level of ethical functioning counselors engage in to meet minimum standards
Aspirational ethics
highest standards of conduct for a professional counselor to seek
Principle ethics
morality based (automony, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity
Virtue ethics
- discernment (think before you act)
- respectfulness (respect client how they define this term)
- integrity (comportment of the counselor)
- self-awareness (counselor know thyself)
- acknowledge emotion (emotion can inform reason)
- community considered (know the norms and values of the community)
Dimensions of ethical behavior:
- having sufficient knowledge, skills, and judgement-education
- respecting human dignity and freedom of clients (they can make their own choices in most cases)
- using the power inherent to the professionals role responsibility (how might we use power)
- acting in a way that promotes confidence in the public about the profession
- commitment to place the client welfare as the highest priority (it is not about me)
Professional ethics
- a counselor is acting according to standards of practice as defined as acceptable by the profession
- “both the highest and lowest standards of practice expected for practitioners”
- there are several ethical codes that we must follow: ACA, ASCA, NBCC, state licensing boards
- advantages and limitations
Ethical complaints
- most severe claims related to failure to prevent client suicide
- counselors report the most frequent ethical violation they observe in colleagues is breaching confidentiality
- most clients report violations of boundaries
Unethical behaviors
- Intentional disregard= clinicians who are intentionally opportunistic, abusive, explosive, and self-serving with their interactions with clients (telling clients they need to continue when they don’t need to)
- Careless disregard = clinicians who operate along a continuum ranging from innocently unaware and careless (ignorance doesn’t get you off the hook)
- Wrong place and wrong time = clinicians who are aware of and understand the ethical codes and was related to their profession and are actively committed to abiding by the laws and principles , but make an exception to their professional ethical principles
Form of ethical reasoning
Intuitive: what feels right in the moment
Critical evaluation: using resources such as ethical codes, problem solving models, and consultation/can be justified and grounded in reasoning outside of what felt right
Neuroscience of decision making
moral functioning may be affected by changes in the brain caused by early experience, and it supports the deep connection between emotions and moral judgements
- amygdala and prefrontal cortex thinking
Why have a model?
- useful when ethical questions arise
- used as a road map
- has substantial value in identifying the boarder ethical issues
- can identify likely issues to emerge in a setting before they happen
- step by step loci to reduce emotional impact on our ability to think rationally
- more support in situations when you have to testify
- ACA codes of ethics reinforce the need for all counselors to use a formal ethical decision making model in their practice
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 1
- be sensitive to the moral dimensions of counseling (do not let these get in the way of ethical codes)
- develop professional ethic identity
- have insight into your own personal principles and values
- don’t think you are immune
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 2
- define dilemmas and options by;
1) what is the situation
2) who is your client
3) who are the stakeholders
4) what are the cultural considerations
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 3
- define the central issues in the dilemma
- determine main issues
- brainstorm potential responsible course of action
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 4
- refer to professional ethical standards and relevant laws and regulations:
- Refer to code of ethics to see how it applies; ASCA, ACA, NBCC
- refer to applicable state and federal laws and regulations
- remember law trumps ethical codes
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 5
- search out relevant ethics literature
- what does the literature provide regarding how other counselors have dealt with this type of issue
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 6 (know these terms for exam)
- apply ethical standards to the situation
- respect for autonomy (right to choose)
- nonmalficence (do no harm)
- beneficence (doing what is right/good for the client)
- justice (honor client and do what is right)
- fidelity (loyalty)
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 7
- consult with supervisors and colleagues
- an option at any point
- ensure consultation does not violate confidentiality
Ask:
- what have I not considered
- what do you think my blind spots are
- is my interpretation of the ethical codes and laws accurate/what am i missing
- what are other resources should i look at
- have i adequately considered the ethical principles
- have i considered all responsible options
- how would i resolve the dilemma/why
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 8
- deliberate independently and decide
- data and information gathering is completed
consider your options - identify competing values
- determine the best course of action
- engaged in ethical courage
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 9
- inform supervisor and document everything that has happened up to this point
Welfel Model of ethical decision making: Step 10
- reflect on our experience
- experience without reflection is wasted
- did i act timely
- was i educated enough about the ethical codes
- what ethical resources should i have available to me
- did i utilize consultation effectively
- did i adequately identify my competing values
- would i have done anything differently
- what did i do that i liked
- how can in pay it forward
Not all issues require all 10 steps. Some are resolved with reference to codes and guidelines. Prior experience with an issue can quicken the analysis
ACA Model
- 7 steps to ethical decision making
- identify the problem
- apply the ACA ethical codes of ethics
- determine the nature and dimensions of the dilemma
- generate potential courses of action
- consider the potential courses of action
- consider the potential consequences of all the options and determine course of action
- evaluate the selected course of actions and implement the course of action
