COUNSELING (PRELIM)

Guidance, Counseling Ethics, The Work of a Counselor, Multicultural Counseling

What is counseling

A professional helping relationship where a trained counselor provides a safe private and confidential space for clients to talk about personal problems emotional concerns and life experiences

Why must counseling be voluntary

Counseling is effective only when clients willingly participate; forced counseling breaks trust and openness

What values form the counseling relationship

Trust respect confidentiality empathy and ethical practice

What is the main purpose of counseling

To help clients understand themselves reduce emotional distress improve coping skills support growth and empower informed decision making

How does counseling help with future challenges

By increasing self awareness and coping skills that prepare clients for future difficulties

What does counseling as a helping relationship mean

A supportive partnership where counselors listen empathetically and clients actively share

What does client centered mean

The client’s feelings experiences and perspectives guide the process

Why is non judgment important

It allows clients to speak freely without fear strengthening trust

What is confidentiality

Information shared in counseling remains private except in ethical or legal exceptions

Why is self understanding emphasized over advice

Awareness helps clients choose meaningful and lasting change

What are the roles of the client

Seek counseling voluntarily share honestly make decisions and take responsibility for growth

What are the roles of the counselor

Listen empathically maintain ethics protect confidentiality and guide self exploration without imposing solutions

What are talking therapies

Mental health supports that rely on conversation rather than medication

What topics are discussed in talking therapies

Thoughts feelings behaviors and life experiences

How does counseling differ from psychotherapy

Counseling focuses on present concerns and coping skills; psychotherapy often explores deeper or long term psychological issues

What do counselors do

Help explore feelings do not diagnose or prescribe medication and support client choice

What do psychologists do

Study behavior scientifically provide therapy and use assessments

What do psychiatrists do

Diagnose mental disorders and prescribe medication as medical doctors

What is the client centered approach

A non directive approach emphasizing autonomy empathy acceptance and respect

Who influenced this approach

Carl Rogers

Where did counseling originate

Social welfare work religious guidance and early psychology

Why did counseling grow as a profession

Social change urbanization weakened traditional support systems and increased stress

What defines counseling today

Formal training ethical standards and professional organizations promoting mental health and well being

What are ethics in counseling

Rules guiding responsible respectful and professional counselor behavior

Why are ethics essential

Counseling involves vulnerability trust and sensitive information

What is a code of ethics

A set of professional rules ensuring acceptable standards of conduct

Why are codes of ethics important

They protect clients counselors and resolve ethical conflicts

What are common ethical complaints

Dual relationships incompetence lack of license sexual misconduct and confidentiality breaches

What is autonomy

Respecting the client’s right to make their own decisions

What is beneficence

acting to benefit others, promoting their well-being through kindness, charity, and active support.

What is nonmaleficence

Avoiding harm through negligence or incompetence

What is justice

Fair and equal treatment of all clients

What is fidelity

Keeping promises and maintaining trust

When can confidentiality be broken

Abuse danger to self/others court order or client consent

What is privacy

Client’s control over personal information sharing

What is privileged communication

Legal protection preventing disclosure in court without client permission

What is informed consent

Giving clients enough information to decide about counseling

What are the three elements of informed consent

Capacity comprehension voluntariness

What is malpractice

Failure to provide reasonable care causing client harm

How can malpractice be avoided

Clear boundaries confidentiality accurate records referrals and ethical practice

A client demands advice about a life decision

Help the client explore thoughts and feelings not give direct advice respecting autonomy

A counselor discusses a client’s problem with friends

Breach of confidentiality

A counselor starts a romantic relationship with a former client

No. Sexual relationships with clients are unethical

A client threatens to harm themselves

Yes to protect the client’s safety

A counselor continues working despite personal burnout

Nonmaleficence and competence

Why is counseling considered a helping relationship rather than treatment

It focuses on growth self understanding and empowerment not illness

How do ethics protect counselors

By providing standards that reduce legal and professional risk

Why is informed consent ongoing

Clients must understand changes throughout counseling

Why is justice important in counseling

To ensure fairness and non discrimination

How do ethics support client trust

Through confidentiality fidelity and respect

What should happen at the start of counseling

The counselor should explain their training conditions of service and the rules of working together

Why is the initial interaction ethically important

It sets transparency trust and informed participation

Why is ethics crucial in counseling

Counseling involves intimate human interactions where harm can occur without ethical guidance

Why can counseling be complicated and confusing

Because psychotherapy involves close human interactions and emotional intimacy

What are gray areas in counseling

Situations where boundaries are unclear or ethical decisions are difficult

Why do emotions complicate ethical decision making

Strong emotions can cloud judgment and create unclear situations

Why are ethical guidelines necessary

To guide action when boundaries are crossed or clients feel harmed

What is the purpose of ethical codes

To define acceptable behavior and protect both clients and counselors from abuse

What does a code of ethics govern

The behavior of an organization and its members

What organization governs counselors in the Philippines

Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association

What organization governs psychologists in the Philippines

Psychological Association of the Philippines

What limits autonomy

A person’s rights end where another’s rights begin

What guiding question reflects beneficence

Is this action likely to benefit the client

What is the counselor’s primary responsibility

Respecting client dignity and welfare at all times

Who owns privileged communication

The client not the counselor

What must informed consent cover

Goals services qualifications risks/benefits behavior expectations fees duration and confidentiality limits

What are the four conditions of malpractice

Duty breach harm and causal connection

What define ethical counselor competence

Accurate credentials continuing education practicing within qualifications and self care

A therapist uses a client recording in an online course without consent

it violates informed consent and confidentiality

A counselor shares session details during a lecture without permission

Confidentiality and client welfare are violated

A counselor ends therapy suddenly without referral

Fidelity and loyalty are violated

Why are dual relationships risky

They blur boundaries and increase exploitation risk

Why does counseling require higher ethical standards than casual relationships

Due to vulnerability trust and power imbalance