...PCN-505 Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices Denise I Ratliff Professor RaTonya Bennett March 30, 2016 * * * * Introduction Ethics, boundaries and potential dual relationships are important for counselors to comprehend. Understanding the code of ethics and understanding the many facets of counselor /patient scenarios that can arise during a professional relationship. Dual relationships is a gray area in which there is a very paramount question that the counseling professional need to address and that is; whether a dual relationship is necessary. Simply put, impractical dual relationships can be charged with unnecessary jeopardy. Certain situations may arise in which a dual relationship could be hard to avoid and may have its challenges. It is important that any counseling that is given regardless of the relationship should be safe and secure. Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships Part A – Decision-Making Model and Counseling Examples Engaging in dual relationships is risky business in being a counseling professional. Ethical issues related to professional boundaries and dual relationships can be complex because, dual relationships and the issues that follow are multi-faceted. “If a dual relationship is exploitative, whether it is before, during, or after a professional relationship, it should be avoided” (ACA, 2015). It is important that the counselor acknowledge the fine distinctions between crossing boundaries that lay in the difference...
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...Gift Giving The human service field is a field of helping. When people are helping people, it is natural and in some cultural cases, required to offer gifts of appreciation. There are many fine lines that divide the boundaries of gift giving within the helping industry. The value of the gift must be considered, the policies of the agency that a helper is employed by as well as the expectations that could potentially be attached to that gift. Some agencies have policies that avoid this dilemma all together and state absolutely no gifts will be given or received from clients. Other agencies will state that in order to avoid any insults or culture disrespect, a helper is allowed to receive a gift and ensure the client that the agency thanks them and the gift will be shared with the staff. Gifts from clients can have many or no strings attached. Some gifts come genuinely from the heart and are simply a cultural way of thanking someone for their help. Other clients however could have an ulterior motive behind the gift and consider the acceptance of the gift from the helper an indication that their relationship just took a step in a different direction. Whether or not a helper has permission to accept a gift, they must have the knowledge and capability to identify the boundaries of each client and the gift. In the revised version of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, it states in section A.10.f. “Counselors understand the challenges of accepting gifts from clients...
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...Personal Values and Ethical Standards Nanette Chambers BSHS/332 April 30, 2012 Theresa Y. Edwards Personal Values and Ethical Standards In the business of substance abuse counseling is not easy. Counselors deal with putting people’s lives back together so that they may enter back into a productive world. However, before this takes place in understanding the development behavior in why it has come to this and how ethical principles can help others to turn their lives around in a positive way. Focusing on what is right or wrong is not the issue; it is about putting life in perspective. In using the ethical way in developing a way in teaching clients to incorporate these ethics in their everyday lives to be free and stay free from mind altering chemicals for the rest of their lives. I am in a position as a counselor to engage in the ethical manner that I must abbey by as well in making sure that the clients adhere as well while participating in the program. There are factors that play a part in substance abuse counseling field. Not only teaching to stay sober but also learning a new way of living without drugs and alcohol. The personal values that I have tried to instill in my life I try to pass it along to the clients who I see in everyday life are values taught and carried down as a child growing up. This has made me the woman that I am today in despite of the past. Values I have learned to value in my personal life that has meaning to the person I am....
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...a youth counselors one must watch their relationships and how they manage their clients in order to avoid problems such as ineffective counseling, favoritism, exploitation, mental harm, and the like. One of the most controversial subjects a counselor ever has to deal with is the dual relationship. Some examples are therapists that become friends with their clients and see them in social situations, therapists who accept family members or partners of the clients they are already seeing, therapists who seek business relationships with clients, therapists who engage in sexual behavior with their clients, and other such non-professional relationships (Johnson & Ridley, 2008). In a profession such as counseling there must be lines drawn between personal and professional life, just as there must be lines drawn between oneself and the client. Maintaining such a boundary without overstepping the line, or over-compensating for the need to separate one's personal and professional life, is to set up realistic guidelines for personal and professional relationships. The most important thing to remember when entering into any helping field, is that professional boundaries are necessary. Ethical standards set by governing agencies aren't always enough to regulate one's actions and guide one into a safe, beneficial, and effective decision. In counseling, the client is of the utmost importance, and it is important to remember that the counselor must keep their well-being in mind at all times...
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...adversity. They develop relationships with their clients, often in a very personal way, and recommend problem-solving approaches and relationship-building techniques. Counseling is a dynamic profession that offers the rare opportunity to do work of profound significance on a daily basis. FIND A SCHOOL Counselors specialize in a variety of subjects: marriage and family, addictions, school guidance, mental health, community health and nutrition, or career. They may also specialize in rehabilitation, physical and mental disabilities, or crisis counseling with people in times of serious need or injury. The counseling field is growing, yielding many opportunities to fine-tune a specialty and establish a career that is truly rewarding. Work Environment Counselors are employed at all levels of government and private industry, or have their own practice. They often provide counseling services to government and private business or directly interact with clients. Some counselors work through community clinics or hospitals while others choose to work at religious institutions and schools. Requirements Education Most counselors have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but an associate’s degree is a great place to begin a counseling career, particularly if a person wants to maintain flexibility in his specific counseling path. In general, an associate’s degree...
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...patients and refers them to the proper units or facilities in which they may receive treatment. This paper helps the student to understand the role she will play in the church community as a pastoral counselor. She will seek to identify ethical boundaries, Paradigm for Identity and Ethical Boundaries, future partnerships, and pre-counseling paperwork. Paradigm for Identity and Ethical Boundaries Paramount in any ministry is the need to adhere to a biblical code of ethics and the standards set forth; that is, a minimal standard that identifies oneself as a competent and trustworthy Christian worker. These standards are largely found within the context and framework of the Bible. As a biblical counselor or pastoral counselor it is important that one adheres to the word of God and recognizes the importance to maintain ethics and boundaries. This is to ensure that the worker is not operating according to their own flesh, but by the will and purpose of God. However, this is not a goal one can obtain on their own. In order to successfully do this one has to be connected to the Vine, in good fellowship with God, and listening for His voice when working with counselees. Trull and Carter (1993/2004) present the following items as essential boundaries for the establishment of this student-counselor’s biblical professional paradigm: 1. Education – The pastor will prepare for service by obtaining an education in liberal arts while specializing in theology and ministry. This will reflect...
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...get worse are one of the major objectives of family counseling (Atwood , 1995 . Family counseling may help in promoting better relationship and understanding within a family (Berg , Sperry Carlson , 1999 . All families have conflicts or disagreements at times , and resolving their differences in a positive manner with respect to the interest and needs of each member is possible with the aid of family counseling approaches (Berg , Sperry Carlson 1999 . Different types of family counseling therapy can help in improving the lives of each family member with focus on different orientations , including the past family origin and early life difficulties , the present happenings which may either be satisfactory or unsatisfactory , their thoughts , behaviors , and emotions (Berg , Sperry Carlson , 1999 What causes the pain in the lives of family can be healed and have great potential to move into more productive ways through different family therapy approaches (Eisenberg , J Wahrman , 1991 . The Psychodynamic or Transgenerational Models , Cognitive Behavioral or Behavioral Models and Structural /Strategic /MRI Models are some of the more well-known family counseling approaches that will be explored and analyzed in this study (Eisenberg , J Wahrman , 1991 . Comparing and contrasting the Cognitive Behavioral Models of family therapy with other major models of family therapy can help better understand the family system 's boundaries , complementarities , family ties , capacity for change...
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...apply moral ethics in their practice. Study from several academic periodicals, trainings and textbook understandings are noted features for this paper. Groups The implementations of ethics in counseling is not to micromanage and/or try to inform someone of how to do their job, it is provided in order to help counselors and other professionals maintain standards within the profession one is in and it is the standard of behavior or action in relation to others. “A code of ethics for most professional organizations or associations is designed to articulate the standards of practice for a group of people.” (Kocet, 2006). Although ethics have many definitions, they are all intertwined to state the same meaning. According to Jacobs (2012), “Most ethical problems and situations deal with therapy and growth groups, although ethical standards apply to leaders of all kinds of groups.” (p. 27) These types of problems or unethical behavior usually occurs when a leader is not knowledgeable enough to lead a group or the leader shows or have a lack of care for their members. “All professional associations, such as the American Counseling Association, the National Association for Social Workers,...
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...of Ethics As approved by the ACA Governing Council AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION counseling.org Mission The mission of the American Counseling Association is to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity. © 2014 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved. Note: This document may be reproduced in its entirety without permission for non-commercial purposes only. Contents ACA Code of Ethics Preamble • 3 ACA Code of Ethics Purpose • 3 Section A The Counseling Relationship • 4 Section B Section Confidentiality and Privacy • 6 C Professional Responsibility • 8 Section D Relationships With Other Professionals • 10 Section E Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation • 11 Section F Supervision, Training, and Teaching • 12 Section G Research and Publication • 15 Section H Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media • 17 Section I Resolving Ethical Issues • 18 Glossary of Terms • 20 Index • 21 • 2 • ACA Code of Ethics Preamble The American Counseling Association (ACA) is an educational, scientific, and professional organization whose members work in a variety of settings and serve in multiple capacities. Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals...
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...their opinions. Counseling is the application of mental health, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic intervention strategies, that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology. Thus counseling focuses on helping people make changes unlike guidance that focuses on helping individuals choose what they value most. Therefore a counselor is a person who gives counsel or advice. Counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Their duties vary greatly, depending on their specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve. Although the specific setting may have an implied scope of practice, counselors frequently are challenged with children, adolescents, adults, or families that have multiple issues, such as mental health disorders and addiction, disability and employment needs, school problem or career counseling needs, and trauma. Counselors must recognize these issues in order to provide their clients with appropriate counseling and support. As a counselor you need to have patience with your clients as they process the discussion. It may take them time to accept certain things and to move towards positive changes. Some people need to discuss something many times before they are prepared to make a move in any particular direction. Keywords: counseling, characteristics...
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... By Jennifer Ewings Willis PCN 505 Professional Ethics in Counseling Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships In the Counseling field, Counselors will encounter many instances of boundary issues. These types issues will occur when practitioners establish more than one relationship with clients. These relationships can be come professional, personal and work related. In our field of work, boundary issues will occur when mental health professionals encounter a potential or actual conflict in the professional, personal an or business relationship. A prime example of this boundary crossing/dual relationship is when a client is also a business associate, close friend, or family member of the therapist. In this situation, It would become difficult when conflicts arise for the therapist to look at things in an objective fashion. The therapist must attempt to evaluate the conflicts using the Ethical Decision Making Model. In the Ethical Decision making model, Zur, O (2011), the therapist must evaluate the situation by giving clear and accurate facts, and gather information and questions about boundary and dual relations. The therapist must determine how the relationship will affect him/her professionally, personally, and in the business...
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...ABSTRACT Due to the many challenges that couples and families are faced with, they may find themselves dealing with problems and situations that they are unsure how to resolve. It is during this time, couples or families may seek out the help of marriage therapist. The purpose of this paper is to examine a brief history and the development of marriage and family therapy, and its importance to the counseling field. Five aspects of this field will be discussed: roles of marriage and family therapist, training and licensure requirements, techniques used in marriage and family therapy, client or therapist initiated termination, and confidentiality. Also, important elements of counselor identity, function, and ethics related to marriage family therapy will also be discussed. The author will also provide biblical values and insights related to the field of marriage and family therapy. In conclusion, the author will discuss their commitment to provide biblically- Keywords: family therapy, marriage therapy Marriage and Family Therapy Because of the many challenges families are faced with, marriage and family therapy has received increased attention. Overtime, the family structure has become more diverse. Families are no longer your typical nuclear family, where Father, Mother, and children live under one roof. At the present time, families may consist of step-parents, step-children, grandparents, adopted children, single parents, aunts and uncles, and same-sex couples...
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...Code of Ethics: American Counseling Association (ACA) versus American Association of Christian Counseling (AACC) Kristen Howard Liberty University Abstract The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) have unique Codes of Ethics as they relate to each profession. The ACA Code of Ethics was designed as a set of guidelines for counseling professionals to adhere to for keeping their sessions ethically in line, to help society’s quality of life and indorse respect for every human’s dignity and diversity. The AACC Code of Ethics was created for the Christian Counselor community in an effort to assist counselors with not only boundaries of unethical counseling practices, but also, provide education for counselors in becoming helpers with ethical excellence capable of securing the best outcomes in counseling for their clients. The AACC Code of Ethics takes what the ACA Code of Ethics entails and expands it further with the foundation of biblical principles to help the counselor and clients. Both ethics codes were designed to create the best counseling result for both the professional counselors and their clients. The differences and similarities between the ACA and the AACC Codes of Ethics will be addressed in greater detail, along with three specific areas of ethical concerns: informed consent, counseling fees, and sexual intimacies. Code of Ethics: American Counseling Association (ACA) versus ...
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...Items Name Institution Current Professional Issues, Relevant Etiological Models, and Key Actionable Items Introduction Thesis Statement: A healthy therapeutic alliance depends upon the resolution of professional issues facing the client-counselor relationship in addiction counseling practice. Counselors encounter regular professional challenges. These problems are exacerbated in substance abuse counseling due to the link between criminal activity and addiction. Counselors must weigh the risks and gains of various solutions to arrive at suitable decisions. This paper examines five current professional issues in addiction counseling, including the relevant etiological models and key actionable items for addressing these issues in a real world environment. Professional issues encompass topics of debate on practical or ethical conduct that underpins appropriate professional practice. In addiction counseling, five such issues are client rights (confidentiality, privileged communication, and privacy), physical and psychological self-care by the counselor, dual relationships, countertransference, and record keeping. Professional Issues In addiction counseling practice, it is common for interested parties (family members, medical doctors, probation officers, psychologists, or other counselors) to ask a counselor to share information concerning a client. Such a request could also come from an ancillary helping professional or the judicial system. Sharing...
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...students utilizing technology for professional purposes relating to counseling. Although most individuals view technology-based counseling as one engaging in therapy via online face-to-face communication, it extends to text messages, email, and video. Hertlein, Blumer, & Mihaloliakos (2015) indicates that online therapy consist of electronic scheduling including appointment updates (pg. 5). The research generated several themes in which both counselors and students presented issues surrounding counseling via technology. The themes were direct violations of the ACA Code of Ethics. There were not any suggestions provided to combat the various issues presented in the article. However, there was an overall belief from the participants that individuals should receive training prior...
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