Midterm Flashcards
Ethics
a set of principals that guide our actions
7 Criteria For Defining Ethics
- ethics requires other people
- intent makes a difference
- ethics aims to solve dilemmas
- thinking is necessary for ethics and morality
- ethics asks you to be impartial
- ethics requires us to care about the suffering of others
- ethics judge human behavior
10 Ethical Principals
- client welfare
- cultural diversity
- counseling relationship
- proper use of written clinical material
- proper use of spoken clinical material
- responsibility
- competency
- workplace standards
- professional rapport
- societal obligations
Client Welfare (ethical principal)
DEFINITION: mandates that you must protect the integrity and welfare of the client “put the client first”
VIOLATION EX: who is defining the clients best interest? who is defining the client welfare? the client? agency? clinician? how do you know?
Beneficence-trying to find the most beneficial course of action for the client
Autonomy-safety is not always easy to define
Nonmelificence-can make case for both sides (harm reduction)
Justice-hard to provide for everyone
Cultural Diversity (ethical principal)
DEFINITION: the existence of a variety of cultures or ethnic groups within a society (when we do not except our clients, we are in danger of discriminating against)
VIOLATION EX: error of omission (not asking right questions or assuming) or error of commission (include prejudice and discrimination)
(race, ethnicity, spirituality/religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, economic condition, drug/alc, diagnosis, )
-lifelong process
-“Tabula Rosa”=”Blank Slate” (John Locke)
-never assume always ask
Counseling Relationship (ethical principal)
DEFINITION: the quality f this alliance is a better predictor of treatment success then is the type of treatment intervention (presence of empathy is noted as a vital component)
(tasks, goals, bond)
VIOLATION EX: crossing boundaries or dual relationships (the 4 pitfalls)
Proper Use of Written Clinical Material (ethical principle)
DEFINITION: immense amount of paper work at every level of the 12 core functions that inform our practice, and clinicians often complain of the amount and redundancy of the paperwork commands (required info for written info-veracity (factual), accuracy(exactly what took place), validity/appropriateness(app for audience and purpose), timeliness(update within the timeline), clarity(clearly written), appropriately signed(signed by correct person), credited(credit all those who helped), consented(must inform client of all risks), and confidential(must have consent))
VIOLATION EX: not following the tiers
Proper Use of Spoken Clinical Material (ethical principal)
DEFINITION: any clinical material you broadcast must be ethically protected
VIOLATION EX: lying, saying you are an expert if you are not, not being mindful of what you say
counseling-be mindful of what you say
teaching/training-follow same guidlines
communication-
consent-
4 Pillars
Autonomy
Non Maleficence
Beneficence
Justice
Beneficence (pillar)
DEFINITION: the concept of goodness is based on the clinicians concern for the well-being of the clients-fostering respect and sensitivity and will base treatment interventions on those that are the most beneficial and that increase the clients positive life experience
Autonomy (pillar)
DEFINITION: Clinician is tasked with promoting freedom and independence in his or her clients, by avoiding goal setting that is not shared by the client and encouraging clients in self care.
Non Maleficence (pillar)
DEFINITION: preventing harm for the client
Justice (pillar)
DEFINITION: clients rights to fair treatment , including access to programs on the one hand and equal rules and regulations of practice on the other hand-every client should receive the same treatment.
4 Pitfalls
confused roles
conflicted agendas
cutting corners
clinician burnout
Confused Roles (pitfall)
DEFINITION: this can happen when there become more than one set of rights to protect-can confuse when we should guide, gush, or cheerlead.
-expertise vs opinion
-providing vs pressuring
-stretching vs supporting
Conflicted Agendas (pitfall)
DEFINITION: ability to navigate between your personal and professional self-have to be flexible.
Cutting Corners (pitfall)
DEFINITION: when you deliberately ignore the best ethical choice-or fail to respect the ethical tiers
Clinician Burnout (pitfall)
DEFINITION: not taking care of yourself -leads to bad treatment of clients
5 Ethical Tiers
federal
state
licensure/credentials
agency
self
Federal (tier)
(CONFIDENTIALITY)
EX: 42 CFR-law that protects individuals from the release of information that identifies them a drug or alc user
PAPERWOARK=HIPPA
State (tier)
(MANDATORY REPORTING)
EX: all 50 states have mandatory reporting but laws when it comes to child abuse are different in each state
PAPERWORK=INSURANCE
Licensure/Credentials (tier)
(SCOPE OF PRACTICE)
EX: rules against duel relationships or who can perform certain treatment
PAPERWORK=ethical claims
Agency (tier)
(EMPLOYEE RECOVERY POLICY)
EX: receiving gifts from clients-you can usually take a gift with little or no value-agencys have different procedures to follow
PAPERWORK=rules, progress notes, treatment plans, discharge, etc
Self (tier)
(BELIEF ABOUT SELF-DISCLOSURE)
EX: important to understand what you bring to the ethical table-sometimes have to use your gut
PAPERWORK=supervision, programs, proposals
Scenerios Where You Can Break Confidentiality
-harm to themselves or others
-court ordered
-abuse to children and elderly
-client consent in writing
-medical emergency
-audit (credation review)
Informed Consent
-can only disclose info that your client allows (if client was under influence you may need to go over again)-1:1
Loyalty
-clinicians must define for the client and the clients family, other agencies/professionals involved in a case. also the nature of the relationships f individuals involved in the treatment, the financial arrangment, and the rules of confidentiality.
-loyalties must be in writing at beginning of treatment
Exploitation of a Client
-people putting their personal agenda before their professional
Boundaries With Clients and When to Inform Them
(start, middle, end)
-when it tarts becoming a duel relationship, personal gain, transference, and termination
HIPPA
Mandatory Reporting
-trumps any loyalty we have
-if client posses a threat to arm themselves or others
-severely disabled and can not care for themselves or others
-elder or child abuse
-states vary on what you report-but should always report to supervisor
Purpose of Knowing Strengths and Limitations as a Counselor
-because it is the key to adhering to the code of ethics
-the better you know yourself the less likely you are to have personal agendas conflict with your practice
-strengths and limitations require self awareness
-personal issues of the clinician can lead to exploitation of client, and if ignored they can become ethical pitfalls
Recovery Status-to Disclose or Not to Disclose?
-counselors in recovery should keep their recovery separate from their clients recovery or should t least make an effort too
-depends on the situation
-some clients appreciate knowing and the honesty
-disclosure should only be used for a therapeutic reason
-make sure it s a decision that will benefit client and not yourself
