Abstract
Ethics refers to moral principles that influence how a person behaves. Also, it can be termed as a philosophical discipline that is concerned with how human beings make moral decisions. Ethics are normative, and they focus on standards that shape people’s relationships. A common set of principles provides guidelines upon which counselors can build their work. In the field of counseling, professionals have responsibilities and commitments in how they deliver their services. A principal rule that supports ethical commitment stipulates that counselors must act in recognition of clients’ rights. Principles observed by counselors are inspirational in nature, and they intend to motivate professionals towards an ethical ideal. Respecting people’s rights and dignity is among the key adherence required by the professional code of conduct in counseling. To see this followed, certain principles like autonomy, fidelity, or justice help strike a balance between how services are delivered and observation of the rights of clients.
Everyone has a set of core values that he or she obtain during upbringing. The values shape individuals and help them chose things or people to relate with in life. In the counseling profession, a person must separate personal values from professional life to helping clients in different situations. Typically, counseling is a profession that applies approaches to meet the needs of people who present with different psychological issues. Counseling as a career requires personal values as an essential part of a person’s or society’s development. As such, counselors influence society by guiding clients in situations that have challenging life events. The purpose of this paper is to provide a thoughtful response to sections that will provide insights into the ethics and responsibilities of counselors.
Section One- Client Rights
Principles of Ethical Practice
The essential principles that counselors incorporate in their practices to help maintain clients’’ right include fidelity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and autonomy. Clients have the right to obtain information about their situation and can take part in the ongoing counseling plan. To see this achieved effectively, counselors adhere to the principle of autonomy as a practice that acknowledges the role of humanity in deciding about their destiny and has within themselves the answer to impact their lives. Thus, counselors use the principle of autonomy by showing respect to clients’ self-governing and have them decide about their fate throughout the counseling process. A counselor listens to the client to understand what they would want to gain and apply the motivational approach to make people understand what they want to achieve.
Clients in the counseling process have the right to protection from harm, and it is the role of counselors to apply standards that confirm this right. Professional avoid harming the interests of clients by not using interventions that are outdated or techniques that would ultimately cause adverse outcomes. In that way, they apply the principle of non-maleficence. The standard of beneficence requires a commitment to promoting the well-being of individuals. The principle means acting in the best interest of people based on professional assessment. To ensure that clients’ interests are attained, systematic assessments and monitoring are applied through available means. Acting that way help achieve clients’ rights to best care or services, and professionals do this, for instance, by providing safe environments where people can express themselves. Should a counselor feel that he or she is not in a position to offer help that patients need, they responsibly provide alternative options.
Clients have the right to fair treatment without any discrimination in the counseling field. Professionals maintain this by employing the principle of justice- to treat individuals with respect without discriminating by race, age, sex, religion, or life situations. Lastly, clients and counselors must maintain effective relationships that are based on trust. Both parties need to stay committed to the process to attain positive outcomes, and professionals apply standards of fidelity by remaining committed and not abandoning or neglecting patients.
Informed Consent Process
According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), informed consent is the process of disclosing to the patient, clients, or research subject the risks and expected benefits of a program. When information is told, a person has the right or freedom to choose whether to enter or remain. Regarding clients’ rights to information, counselors must inform clients about billing information so that they can determine affordability before the counselling process starts. Once in the program, counselors have rights. Clients also have right to confidentiality and to be provided an explanation of limits including how interdisciplinary team is involved. The ACA standard requires that counselors must respect clients’ privacy. As such, privacy information should be requested by professionals only when it is needed, and legally, counselors are obliged not to reveal private data about clients unless there is consent. The HIPPA guidelines formed by the US department of health demand protection of health data and allowing a secured flow of information for quality care. The rule makes a balance that allows information while protecting people’s privacy who seek healing. All counselors are required by the register board to conform to ethics and compliance of standards through a specified board of credentials. To satisfy the counselling board or credentials, work ethics need to incorporate an informed consent process.
Section Two- Responsibility to Warn and Protect
In most cases, professionals in counseling departments are required not to disclose information or discuss clients’ issues. However, there are instances when counselors have a duty to warn and to protect according to the ACA code of ethics. Factors considered include when clients declare to cause self-harm or hurt other people or when there is information about communicable disease. In those situations, it is the duty of a counselor to warn people in danger and protect clients from harm. A duty to warn means that the counselor should verbally inform victims about the foreseeable danger. The act may entail a warning or notifying police. In the field like mental health, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and medical social work, duty to warn and protect is much relevant. For example, in the field of HIV/AIDS, a client can enter counseling to seek help in managing grief as well as depression linked to the disease. In the course of counseling, client- X discloses that he continually engages in sex with wife and anonymous partners. The person admits that he has not disclosed his status to anyone and hold that it is not necessary. Should the person insist that he has intentions to infect people, then a counselor has a duty to warn.
Furthermore, when resuming the duty to warn and protect, professionals should be aware of ethical and legal guidelines pertaining to practices. Most states have passed legislation governing the duty to warn and protect. In Arizona, where I plan to practice, there is a statutory duty to warn, and it is mandatory that social workers must warn and protect. While doing so, ethical guidelines in Arizona state require the maintenance of the level of confidentiality.
Section Three- Client Record-Keeping
Usually, there are written procedures governing the handling of clients’ records. Information is kept safe in the event that a person can experience unexpected death or incapacitation. Recognizing the harm that might occur when clients are not able to access professional help, the written procedures ensure confidentiality in record keeping is maintained. Good record keeping is fundamental and part of professional practice for effective client care. The role of a well-kept record is to support the standard of care. For instance, records maintain vital details relating to clients’ health, treatment interventions, and this helps in refection instead of relying on memory. Should a person make a claim or complaint against clients, a significant role of record-keeping in such a case is to support advocacy or defense as one of professional standard care.
Client record keeping plays a vital role in protecting counselors from liability. Typically, nature, delivery, processes, progress, and result of care or services are detailed in psychological records. Care coordination among professionals is provided and supported by referring to documents. Accurate record support counselors in resoling disputes on issues concerning the quality of services provided. Should there be instances where counselors are alleged not to provide the best services or serve well, client records can be retrieved as evidence of their work.
Section Four- Self-Care
The ACA Code of ethics stipulates that counselors must engage in activities that promote self-care by maintaining or promoting their emotions, physical, spiritual, and mental state. In that way, they would be in a position to resume their professional responsibilities. The ethical standard is a call for professionals to reflect on what they do and the level at which their behaviors are working.
I maintain the balance between personal life and professional life by taking time as a priority. I set some hours to engage in personal matters like sending time with friends, partners, or family. When it comes to planning for activities, I prefer managing time well with the use of specific computer programs or customized work schedule tables. Also, I do not forget to exercise as much as I should prioritize clients.
Some self-care activities I have engaged in the present include attending yoga class, meditating, journaling, and seeking help from other counselors. I understand that an extended failure to self-care can cause illness, low performance in the job; thus, I ensure enough sleep.
Lately, I have considered dancing lessons, going for a hike with the family, and attending church. Getting in touch with values matters a lot, and it is a sure way to cope with stress or foster a calm mind. Spiritual activities are personal and helpful, and although I have considered going to church, reading the bible, pray and spend time with nature, but I have not implemented it.
I have observed some red flags that tell the need to address persona issues, including burnout, distress, and difficulty remembering things. I fell that a counselor being counseled is a way to take care of oneself, and professionals can also be clients or patients. There programs available such as Therapy networking, therapist aid, and Good therapy.
Section Five- Advocacy
In advocating the counseling profession at the governmental level, a population that I am passionate about is the Medicare reimbursement for republican members. The population is advocating to push the mental health access improvement act of 2019. The bill would enable the inclusion of professional counselors and Medicare givers and allow broad access to behavior services for those in need. The first step to getting involved in this community of advocacy is by writing to the congressional member of the house energy committee (E&C) that I know and air our views or recommendations. The cat will help pass the message broadly.
Section Six- Counselor Values
Two issues I feel strongly about are abortion and extramarital affairs. Typically, counselors need to clarify their views on issues before they start to work on clients; before looking at the abortion situation. I would try to visualize the situation in a non-judgmental way, whereby the client was raped, and she may not be able to raise a child. In that case, my value would be on the victim’s life aspect over the unborn child, hence warranting an abortion. For women who use abortion as birth control, I discourage the act. I would counsel the 19-years old client and the family to have a written waiver that consent in writing, as an indication that there is permission to share information. According to ACA standards, I would have expectations and limitations of confidentiality defined. Each party must express how they feel and try to make the parent understand why the client is making such decisions. The goal is to bring an understanding that moral values are not lost, and the act is to make her feel better than having a baby who will cause harm.
In the issues of marriage, I would the client know the effects of having open marriages, which include risks of contracting diseases. I would make the parties write what they think is wrong with their marriage to identify a problem. Miscommunication usually is cited as the primary course of the need to seek counseling to certified counselors, according to the NBCC, to help work on issues. As such, I would apply the ASCA standards to suggest essential techniques they can apply like defensive and listening, active listening. Once they practice that, it is easy to restore marriage in an upbeat track.
In conclusion, this paper has looked at the areas that provide insights into counselors’ ethics and responsibilities. From that, it can be identified that counseling requires the ability to manage a diverse group while remaining objective to meet people’s needs. Clients seek counselling for answers and understanding; hence it is paramount for counselors to watch out for judgments. Personal feelings or views should not interfere with service delivery, and this can be ensured by following necessary ethical guidelines by ACA, ASCA, or NBCC.