HS 8 M3.2 Flashcards
The establishment of ethical guidelines in the helping professions began at the midpoint of the
20th century
when the ___________________published its first code of ethics in 1953
American Psychological Association (APA)
Protecting consumers and furthering the
professional standing of the organization
PURPOSE OF ETHICAL CODES
Guiding professionals toward behaviors and actions that reflect underlying professional values
PURPOSE OF ETHICAL CODES
Offering a framework for the sometimes-difficult ethical decision-making process
PURPOSE OF ETHICAL CODES
Serving as a measure of defense if the professional is sued for malpractice
PURPOSE OF ETHICAL CODES
Challenges in Developing and
Revising Ethical Codes
- Selecting Societal Values
2.Defining Universal Truths
Self Determination is not shared by all
individual in a society, expecially those who
strongly value the opinions of extended family or authority figures when making important decisions
Selecting Societal Values
Is not shared by all individual in a society, expecially those who strongly value the opinions of extended family or authority figures when making important decisions
Self Determination
the idea “thou shall not kill” seems to
be universal, yet many would hold that killing is ethical during war
Defining Universal Truths
An additional way of resolving ethical dilemmas
ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING MODELS
Three Ethical Decision-Making Model Approaches:
- Problem-Solving models
- Moral Models
3.Developemental Models
The counselor must decide whether to break confidentiality and report the abuse, even though the client wants to keep it private
Identify the Problem or Dilemma
The counselor wants to respect the client’s trust, but child abuse must be reported in most states.
Confidentiality vs. Duty to Report
Reporting might protect the client from further abuse, but it could also result in emotional distress or unwanted foster care
placement.
Potential Harm
Ethical codes from the American Counseling Association (ACA) and
National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) emphasize both
protecting client confidentiality and reporting abuse when necessary.
Review the Relevant Ethical Guidelines
Mandatory reporting laws require professionals to report suspected
child abuse.
Know the Applicable Laws and Regulations
The counselor checks state laws to confirm the reporting requirements for minors over 16
Know the Applicable Laws and Regulations
The counselor consults a supervisor or an ethics board for guidance.
Obtain Consultation
Ensures legal compliance and potential
safety for the client but risks breaking trust.
Reporting immediately
May empower the client but could delay
intervention.
Encouraging self-reporting
Might give time to prepare the client but could be legally and ethically risky.
Delaying reporting
The counselor reports the abuse while explaining the reasons to the
client to preserve as much trust as possible
Decide on the Best Course of Action
The counselor also provides emotional support and resources to help the client cope with the situation
Decide on the Best Course of Action
It has to do with protecting the independence, selfdetermination, and freedom of choice of clients
Autonomy
It is the concept of “do no harm” when working with clients;
Nonmaleficence
Relates to promoting the good of society, which can be at least partially accomplished by promoting the client’s well-being
Beneficence
Refers to providing equal and fair treatment to all clients
Justice
Related to maintaining trust (e.g., keeping
conversations confidential) and being committed to the client
Fidelity
It has to do with being truthful and genuine with the client, within the context of the counseling relationship.
Veracity
The client has the right to make their own decisions about their mental health treatment.
Autonomy
The counselor must avoid causing harm,
which means respecting the client’s wishes unless their safety is at risk.
Nonmaleficence
While involving the family might be beneficial, it should not be done at the expense of the client’s autonomy and
trust.
Beneficence
The counselor should treat the client fairly and ensure they receive the same standard of care as any other client.
Justice
The counselor must honor confidentiality unless there is a risk of harm to the client or others.
Fidelity
The counselor should be truthful and explain their ethical and legal obligations clearly.
Veracity
The therapist carefully considers the possible ethical concerns of treating a close friend.
Prudence
They remain honest with themselves and their friend about the potential conflict of interest.
Integrity
They acknowledge their friend’s need
for help but also recognize the importance of professional boundaries.
Respectfulness
They want to help but understand that
referring the friend to another therapist is in their best interest.
Benevolence
Attempt to understand how an adult’s ways of understanding the world might change
over time
Developmental models
Although not specifically created for ethical decision making, such models suggest that indi- viduals at “lower” levels of development would respond differently than those at “higher” levels in their decisionmaking process
Developmental models
Individuals believe there is one absolute right answer to ethical dilemmas
Lower Level Helper (Dualism – Blackand-White Thinking)
They rely on authority figures (e.g.,
supervisors, ethical codes) to dictate what is right or wrong.
Lower Level Helper (Dualism – Blackand-White Thinking)
They struggle with ambiguity and expect
clear-cut solutions.
Lower Level Helper (Dualism – Blackand-White Thinking)
“The law says I must report
any self-harm risk, so I will immediately tell the parents.” (Rigid, rule-based thinking)
Lower-Level Response
Would be more complex thinkers, open to
differing opinions, flexible, empathic,
sensitive to the context of the ethical
dilemma, and nondogmatic
Higher-Level Helper (Relativism –
commitment in relativism)
“I will assess the severity of
the self-harm, consult a supervisor, and discuss a safety plan with the client. I want to balance their trust and well-being while following legal guidelines.” (Flexible, context-sensitive thinking)
Higher-Level Response
However, because they reflect the values of
the professional associations that created
them, human service professionals are
expected to abide by them.
Ethical guidelines are not legal documents
Human service professionals hold a ________ to lifelong learning and continually advance their knowledge and skills to serve clients more effectively. (Appendix B, Statement 36)
commitment
Human service professionals promote the
___________________. They
encourage membership in professional
associations, support research endeavors, foster educational advancement, advocate for appropriate legislative actions, and participate in other related professional activities. (Appendix B, Statement 30)
continuing development of their profession
Actively ________such as program
accreditation, credentialing, and Skill Standards, because he or she understands that such standards ultimately facilitate providing the best possible services to clients.
supports standards
He or she knows what is considered appropriate_______ because he or she is familiar with the ethical guidelines.
ethical conduct
