Counseling Module 2

What is the difference between ethics and morals?

Ethics

• Rules prescribed by social systems and in counseling, they are professional standards

• “What I am professionally expected to do”

• Here are the rules and standards:

  • Keep it confidential

  • Work only within competence

  • Maintain professional boundaries

  • Be truthful and accurate

Morals

• Individual principles we live by that define our beliefs about right and wrong

• “What I personally believe is right or wrong”

  • Be honest when no one’s watching

  • Treat others fairly

  • Don’t take advantage of others

  • Do what you believe is right

This fundamental principle of professional ethics in counseling reminds you that every person has a right to decode what’s best for their own life

Autonomy

This fundamental principle of professional ethics in counseling reminds you to avoid any action or advice that could hurt the client emotionally, mentally or physically

Nonmaleficence

This fundamental principle of professional ethics in counseling reminds you to always act in ways that help the client and support their well-being

Beneficence

This fundamental principle of professional ethics in counseling reminds you to provide the same quality of care and respect to every client, no matter their age, background or status

Justice

This fundamental principle of professional ethics in counseling reminds you to Build and maintain trust by keeping promises and protect client confidentiality

Fidelity

This fundamental principle of professional ethics in counseling reminds you to be open and truthful with your clients so that they can trust you and the counseling process

Veracity

In the counseling relationship, what is your primary responsibility in client welfare

• Protect the dignity and well-being of clients

• Maintain accurate, timely and secure records

• Collaborate with clients to create, review and update counseling plans that are realistic and fit for the client

• Recognize the importance of support systems and involve them with client’s consent

What should be in the informed consent in counseling relationship

• Freedom of choice

• Explain:

  • Goals, methods, risks and benefits

  • Counselor’s credentials and approach

  • Fees, billings, and what happens if its unpaid

  • Limits of confidentiality and access to records

• Informed consent should be revisited as its ongoing

• Developmental and cultural sensitivity

  • Use appropriate language

  • Provide interpretors

  • Adjust consent based on cultural contexts

• Those unable to give consent

  • For minors or incapacitated adults, seek assent

  • Balance client rights with legal rights of parents or guardians

What are the limits of confidentiality

Harm to self/others, abuse or legal mandates

What is the rule for mandated clients?

Counselors must explain confidentiality limits when working with clients required to undergo counseling

• specify what info will be shared, to whom and for what purpose

True or false. Sexual or romantic relationships w current clients, their partners or family are strictly prohibited

True

True or false. Counselors cannot provide counseling to individuals with whom they have a prior sexual or romantic relationship with

True

True or false, sexual or romantic relationships with former clients, their partners or family members are prohibited for at least 3 years after last professional contact

False, 5. Even after 5 years, do a detailed evaluation whether the relationship is viewed exploitative or harmful

When working with someone the counselor knew before, what should you do?

• Carefully assess risks and benefits

• Take precautions like informed consent, consultation, supervision and documentation to prevent harm or exploitation

Any decision to extend boundaries must be documented in advance, including!

• Reason for the interaction

• Potential benefits and risks

• If there’s harm, minimize and address the situation

When a counselor’s role (ex. Indiv to fam therapist) changes, they must:

• obtain informed consent from the client

• Explain client’s right to refuse the dhange

• Possible consequences of the role changes, including financial, legal, personal or therapeutic

When counseling two or more people in a relationship (ex. Couples), the counselor must:

• Clarify at the start who the clients are and the counselor’s role with each person

• If conflicting roles arise, clarify, adjust boundaries or withdraw

In group work, counselors must do this in order to ensure that their participants’ goals match the group’s purpose

Screening

True or false. In fees and business, you are allowed to do a self-referral because your services are considered high quality compared to others around the area

False. Only do self-referral when

• Organizational policy allows it

• Clients are informed of all available options

True or false. Fee splitting, commissions or kickbacks for referrals are prohibited

True

When you establish fees, you must

• Set fees that are fair and considerate of client’s financial situation

• Offer adjustments or referrals for affordable ser

Bartering is allowed only if:

• It does not exploit or harm client

• Client requests it

• An accepted practice in community

Counselor myst consider cultural factors, discuss any concerns and create a written agreement

When counselor receives gifts, they first must consider:

• The therapeutic relationship

• Monetary value of the gift

• Client’s reasons for giving it

• Counselor’s motives for accepting/declining it

This reminds you to not begin or continue counseling if you lack the skills. What is it called and Instead, what do you do?

Competence

• Provide culturally and clinically appropriate referrals

• If they decline, discontinue ethically

How do you appropriately terminate a professional relationship?

• Client no longer needs or benefits from services

• Continuing counseling may cause harm

• Safety risks or nonpayment

• Offer pre-termination counseling and recommend other service providers if appropriate

What do you do when you want to record or have others observe the client?

Obtain client’s consent before any recording sessions, allowing others to observe and share transcripts or recordings in a training setting

What are the circumstances in which you have to deny a client their right to access their records? True or false, if its a group setting, they can get as much information about their sessions

Access may be denied only if:

• There is evidence that access could case harm to client

• Include information about other clients

False, only info specific the the requesting client may be shared

This core ethic reminds you that _ is an ongoing process throughout counseling and it is important for case formulation, diagnosis, treatment plans and interventions

Assessment and diagnosis, clients should be collaboratively involved and fully informed of the assessments used and interpretations needed to be communicated

What is the potential ethical concern in assessment and diagnosis

• Certain assessments and diagnosis may not fully take into account the cultural factors

• Must be used only after appropriate training

• Diagnostic approach is vulnerable to pathologizing clients, esp those who come from vulnerable gros

This core ethic reminds you to have the right training and skills to effectively and appropriately treat clients in your respective practice. If you don’t, _ happens when you do the opposite and intentionally/unintentionally violated the codes of conduct

Competence and Malpractice

• Welfare of clients must be put first

• If not competent, referral

• Counselors should monitor the effectiveness of their counseling w clients

Potential ethical concerns of competence and malpractice

• Practicing outside of one’s scope w/o training/supervision

• Practicing when impaired

• Incompetence results to harm which can result to a lawsuit

This core ethic reminds you that having two or more concurrent or sequential roles with a client is not advised. Counselors are advised to minimize this but it is unavoidable. What is considered strictly prohibited and what to do when you cannot avoid a dual relationship?

Multiple relationships

• Sexual or romantic relationships w clients are prohibited or engaging w a past sexual or romantic partner

• Avoid any financial/business or personal relationships w clients

• If it is inevitable, counselors should take precautionary steps like supervision, consultation, informed consent and documentations

• Also limit virtual relationships

Potential ethical concerns of multiple relationships

• Multiple relationships w clients increase judgment and harm towards client

• Sexual/romantic w clients are exploitative and can cause emotional distress

• Engaging in financial/business can be exploitative and compromise trust and objectivity

• Entering a dual relationship without preparation can put themselves and the client at risk

Potential ethical concerns in termination and abandonment

• Abandonment is when counselors inappropriately end counseling without meeting clients’ needs

• Not being honest about why they terminate causes distress