PSYC 514 Ethics Flashcards
Ethics & Professional Issues in Counseling
SAD Persons
SAD PERSONS scale is a clinical tool used to assess suicide risk. The acronym represents risk factors for suicide: Sex (male), Age (especially teenagers or elderly), Depression, Previous suicide attempts, Ethanol abuse, Rational Thinking Loss, Social Support loss, Organized suicide plan, No significant other, and Sickness. Each factor is scored 0 or 1, with higher scores indicating greater risk. This scale is particularly useful in initial assessments within clinical settings as it helps counselors identify clients who may require immediate interventions or more intensive support.
For example, a clinician working with a 23 year old client notices several cocerning signsL depression, recent substance use, and a lack of social support after a significant breakup. The SAD PERSONS scale is administered, and the client scores a 4 out of 10, suggesting moderate risk. The clinician follows with more in-depth questions, helping the client create a safety plan and arrange additional sessions to address underlying issues. The SAD PERSONS scale thus provides a starting point for intervention, highlighting areas needing immediate focus to ensure client safety and appropriate care.
Assent vs Consent to Treatment
Assent and consent are essential in clinical practice for ethical client engagment. Consent is a legal agreement that a competent individual provides, acknowledging understanding of treatment details and risks before proceeding. Assent, however, is informal permission obtained from clients, like minors or individuals with limited decision-making abilities, who cannot legally consent. Both are critical in respecting client autonomy and ensuring ethical responsibility in clinical counseling, as they help therapists involve clients in their care within their capacity.
For example, a therapist working with a 15 year old in family counseling would obtain consent from the parents or legal guardians but would also seek the teen’s assent. The therapist explains counseling goals and confidentiality boundaries in a way the teen can understand, allowing them to feel comfortable and involved in the process, despite not being able to give legal consent.
Bartering of Clinical Services
Bartering, or trading services instead of using monetary exchange, rasies ethical questions around boundaries and exploitation in counseling. Although allowed by ethical standards under specific circumstances, it requires careful consideration. Clinicians must assess whether bartering could alter therapeutic dynamics, exploit the client, or impair their objectivity, Clear, written agreements should define terms to protect both parties and maintain professional integrity.
For example, a counselor in a rural area, where cash-based transactions are uncommon, agrees to accept local produce in exchange for therapy services. To safeguard the therapeutic relationship, the counselor documents the arrangement, ensuring the trade’s value and boundaires are explicitly agreed upon, perserving both ethical standards and client welfare.
Basic Purpose of Ethical Practice
The primary purpose of ethical practice is to protect clients and ensure professional accountability. Ethical guidelines provide a framework for counselors to navigate complex situations with integrity, upholding the well-being, dignity, and autonomy of clients. It helps mitigate conflicts of interest, ensure informed consent, and establish trsut, which is foundational to effective therapy.
For example, in a situation where a counselor encounters dual relationships with aclient, ethical guidelines help navigate boundaries by prompting the counselor to avoid potential harm or exploitation, ensuring a committment to the client’s welfare above any other relationship dynamic.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a foundational ethical principle in clinical counseling, essential to establishing trust between counselor and client. It ensures that private information disclosed by clients remains protected, fostering an environment where clients feel safe sharing sensitive personal issues. Confidentiality is mandated by ethical guidelines (ACA Code of Ethics) and is reinforced by legal statutes, which underline its significance in mental health practice. The counselor’s role includes clarifying the scope and limits of confidentiality to clients at the beginning of therapy. Limitations exist in cases where there is an imminent threat of harm to the client or others, suspicion of abuse or neglect of vulnerable individuals (like children or the elderly) or a court order demanding disclosure. This balance helps maintain trust while addressing situations where disclosure is ethically or legally required.
For instance, if a client reveals intentions of harming another individual, the counselor may be legally obligated to break confidentiality to warn or protect the third party (duty to warn). In such cases, the counselor would inform the client about this necessary action and involve authorities if warranted. This example highlights the complexty of managing confidentiality, balancing the client’s right to privacy with the counselor’s duty to protect and ensure safety.
Competency to Stand Trial vs. Insanity Defense
Competency to strand trial assesses a defendant’s mental state at the time of the legal proceedings, determining if they understanding the nature of the trial and can participate in their defense. By contrast, insanity defense evaluates the mental state at the time of the offernse, determining if the individual could distinguish right from wrong due to a severe mental disorder. Both are essential in forensic psychology to protect legal rights and ensure fair trials. Competency supports due process by confirming if a defendant is fit to engage in the judicial process, while insanity defense addresses criminal responsibility.
For example, a defendant charged with theft may display symptoms of schizophrenia. A forensic evaluator assesses their ability to comprehend trial proceedings (competency). If found competent, they stand trial. If the defense argues they could not understand the wrongfulness of their actions at the crime’s time, an insanity defense could be raised. Both evaluations safeguard justice by aligning legal outcomes with psychological realities.
Confidentiality in Group or Marital Counseling
Confidentiality in group and marital counseling ensures that clients feel safe sharing sensitive information. In these settings, confidentiality is complex because multiple clients are involved, and breaches could harm relationships within the group. Clinicians emphasize that each member must respect others’ privacy, but confidentiality cannot be guaranteed due to the shared nature of therapy. Counselors must claify this and outline exceptions ( such as threats to safety).
For example, in a marity therapy session, one partner discloses a past infidelity and expresses fear of harm if it’s revealed. The therapist reiterates that while confidentiality is generally upheld exceptions (such as threats) may require disclosure. This clarification allows both parties to make informed choices about sharing sensitive information.
Counselor Competency
Counselor competency is the ability to effectively provide services based on adequate training, knowledge, and experience in specific areas of counseling. Competent counselors continuously update skills, engage in supervision, and seek specialized knowledge to ethically serve clients. Competency safeguards clients’ well-being, prevents, harm, and enhances therapeutic outcomes, upholding ethical standards in clinical conseling.
For example, a counselor working primarily with children recognizes that a new client has post-traumatic stress from adult domestic violence experiences. To maintain competency, the counselor seeks supervision and specialized training or refers the client to a trauma specialist, ensuring the client receives expert support.
Direct Liability
Direct liability holds a counselor accountable for their own actions, including negligence or malpractice that directly harms the client. This concept is central to ethics and law in counseling, as it enforces responsibility and accountability in professional conduct. Direct liability encourages adherance to best practices, ethical standards, and continued training to minimize risk and ensure safe, effective care.
For example, a counselor fails to document significant risk factors for a client with severe depression, omitting necessary safety planning. If harm befalls the client, the counselor may face direct liability due to inadequate documentation, underscoring the importance of thorough record-keeping for client safety.
Dual/Multiple Relationships
Dual or multiple relationships occur when a counselor has more than one role with a client, such as being a therapist and a friend. Such relationships risk conflicts of interest, boundary violations, and potential harm to the client’s welfare, making it a critical ethical issue. While some dual roles (such as in small communities) are unavoidable, counselors must assess potential impacts and establish clear boundaries to prioritize client welfare.
For example, a counselor in a small town may also coach a local sports team, where a client is a player. Recognizing potential issues, the counselor openly discusses boundaires with the client and decides to refer them to another counselor to prevent conflicts.
Duty to Warn/Protect
The duty to warn/protect is an ethical and legal obligation for counselors to breach confidentiality when a client poses a serious threat to themselves or others. Originating from the Tarasoff case, this duty mandates that counselors notify potential victims or authorities when harm is imminent. Balancing client confidentiality and safety, this duty upholds ethical standards by prioritizing lives.
For example, a client discloses intent to harm an ex partner. The counselor assesses the immediacy of the threat and based on their duty to protect, notifies the police and warns the ex-partner to prevent harm while discussing safety planning with the client.
Ethics vs. Morals vs. Values
Ethics in counseling are professional guidelines that dictate conduct and responsibilities to ensure client wellbeing, while morals are personal beliefs about right and wrong, shaped by cultural or individual values. Values, the broader set of beliefs a person holds, influence both ethics and morals but are personal, varying across individuals. In counseling, ethics ensure consistent, fair treatment of clients, regardless of the counselor’s personal morals or values.
For example, a counselor with strong religious morals about marriage provides unbiased support to a client considering divorce. The counselor’s adherance to ethical standards over personal morals demonstrates respect for client autonomy.
Ethical Boundaries in Clinical Practice
Ethical boundaries protect the therapeutic relationship by defining appropriate intersections between counselor and client. Boundaries prevent issues like dependency or manipulation, allowing a safe, productive counseling environment. Ethical boundaries involve clear limits on self-disclosure, dual relationships, and emotional physical intimacy, ensuring professional integrity and client well-being.
For example, a client experiencing loneliness starts to develop feelings for their counselor. The counselor acknowledges these feelings without reciprocation, discussing the professional nature of the relationship to reinforce boundaries and maintian an effective therapeutic alliance.
HIPAA Compliance
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance in counseling ensures the confidentiality and security of clients’ health information. HIPAA mandates that counselors implement safeguards to protect client data, such as secure storage and communication systems. Compliance with HIPAA builds client trust, as it assures clients that their sensitive information is legally protected and handled with care.
For example, a counselor uses encrypted email to communicate with clients about scheduling to comply with HIPAA. During intake, they explain HIPAA rights, clarifying how personal health information will be securely handled, which helps reassure clients about their privacy.
Legal Aspects of informed Consent
Informed consent is the legal and ethical requirement that counselors fully inform clients about therapy, including risks, benefits, confidentiality limits, and procedures, before beginning treatment. It respects client autonomy by allowing them to make an informed decision about participation. Consent must be documented and can be revisited if a treatment changes. Mode of treatment and fees.
For example, a counselor meets with a client for intial intake, explaining confidentiality limits, potential therapy risks, and goals. The client signs a consent form, ensuring they understand the therapeutic process and their rightsm making the client an informed participant in their care.
