Ethical Issues Of Group Therapy And Individual Counseling Essay

Many times in counseling sessions, situations arise that require the ability to make ethical decisions. When confronting these types of situations, counselors often refer to the Elizabeth Reynold Welfel’s Ethical Model, comprised of 10 steps, to guide them in making an ethical decision. These steps provide a framework which counselors may use to help with ethical dilemmas. Below are the 10 steps in the Ethical Decision-Making Model provided by Elizabeth Welfel in the book Ethics in Counseling and Psychotherapy to examine the multiple relationship case described in Herlihy and Corey’s ACA Ethical Standards Casebook (2006, p. 242) "A

I intend to show an understanding of the ethical framework for good practice in counselling, relating it to practice and also my own beliefs and opinions, how this influences the counselling relationship, I will also show the need for protection of self and client.

The ACA Code of Ethics states, “when counselors are faced with ethical dilemmas that are difficult to resolve, they are expected to engage in a carefully considered ethical decision-making process,” (ACA, 2014, p. 3). Throughout these three case studies, I will use the seven-step ethical decision-making model to address the important professional issues, relevant ethical codes, and legal standards (Forester-Miller & Davis, 1996). By applying the steps to each case I will share how I came to my resolutions.

The moral principles upon which the Ethical Standards of the American Counseling Association are based is a critical part of knowledge as counselors we must possess. Counselors are often faced with situations where their ethical morale is tested and they must know how to assure they will make an ethical decision. There will be situations where it is difficult to identify the problem and being aware of these principles will guide professional counselors towards an ethical practice.

The overarching goal as an effective and competent counselor is the ability and knowledge to integrate ethical codes into ones professional practice (Kocet, 2006). Therefore, this ethics paper will explore the topics of ethics as it is within groups as compared to ethics regarding individual counseling. Ethical decisions are those pertaining to the overarching moral principles, such as doing good for others which is termed beneficence and to do no harm which is no maleficence in ethical terms (Rapin, 2004). Furthermore, it is imperative to know the two central components of ethics for counselors, which is first to outline the prescribed or mandatory professional behaviors by which counselors are expected to govern their conduct and secondly to know that a code contains aspirational components, which encourages active ethical beliefs of the profession (Kocet, 2006). However, no code of ethics can encompass every potential ethical dilemma faced by a professional but a code of ethics does serve as a blueprint for laying down the foundation that is necessary to promote the competency and efficacy of counselors (Kocet, 2006).

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ethics as the rules of behavior based on ideas of what is morally good and bad. According to Webster ethics is also defined as the principles of conduct governing an individual or group. Almost every profession abides by certain rules and regulations that protects not only the professional but the client or patient that the profession serves. These rules and regulations guide the professional and try and prevent decisions that might be detrimental to both parties. These rules and regulations are designed to protect the interests of the clients and avoid malpractice lawsuits of certain degrees. This research paper will concentrate on ethical issues in the field of the counseling profession. Even though Licensed Professional Counselors go through rigorous training courses and ethics training occurs at almost every counseling subject’s introduction, there are still counseling malpractice incidents. Most of the literature explains that most challenges professional counselors face occur when their professional code of ethics conflict with their own personal values. Most recently, legal cases such as Keeton vs. Anderson-Wiley, 2010 and Ward vs. Willbanks, 2010 have brought the counseling profession into the limelight. Most LPC do not view the ACA code of ethics as simple

The purpose of this paper is to compare the experiences in my practicum to the ethical issues addressed in American Counseling Association Code of Ethics. According to 2014 ACA Code of Ethics, “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” (p. 2). In the ACA Code of Ethics, there are six main purposes identified. The six identified purposes are: 1) The Code set forth the ethical obligations of ACA members and provides guidance intended to inform the ethical practices of professional counselors. 2)

This paper will discuss a fictitious case vignette that encompasses ethical issues associated within the Clinical counseling profession. There will be at least four of the nine sections of the ACA Code of Ethics that will be covered within the context of this case. In consideration of each of these ethical breaches there will be dialog on the nature of the ethical issue or violation, where the ACA ethical code applies, ramifications of the ethical issue or violation of both parties, and with supplementary support of Kitchener?s five primary ethical principles that were involved or violated. Additionally, application and consideration of the AMHCA Code of Ethics to the situation in the setting of Clinical Mental Health counseling, and indication of personal response to the situation presented. Furthermore, the use of the ten step model (Welfel, 2016) from the text of this course in an approach to aid the thought process of the individual problem being addressed. Unequivocally, these codes and principles are valuable tools in helping a counseling practitioner in working with clients to make comprehensive decisions that will not create conflict within personal ethical parameters, more importantly, are aligned within the laws and regulations of the counseling practice.

An ethical dilemma exists when an individual is deciding between two right choices. No dilemma exists if one choice is wrong. What framework guides these decisions? Is the moral value common to all those involved in the decision making process? The commonly accepted virtues of Plato, Socrates, St. Augustine and many other philosophers are honesty, responsibility, respect, fairness and compassion. The expression of these virtues in beliefs guides one’s behavior. In the counseling profession, values plus behavior communicates what one believes concerning what is important. How then does a counselor manage conflicting values in the counseling relationship?

A lack of understanding of how to approach a client can be harmful to the client and therefore clinicians and professionals continuously strive to obtain more education and have a clear understanding of ethics. The American Psychological Associations, the American Counseling Association, and various professional organizations provide a comprehensive code of ethics to be used by any professional of psychology.

In the mental health profession of counseling, therapy, psychology, psychiatric and social services ethical dilemmas are faced primarily on a daily basis. Being that mental health professionals are working with clients who are often fragile and vulnerable, they must develop an intense awareness of ethical issues. On the other hand, mental health professionals would never intentionally harm their clients, students or colleagues and others whom they work with. Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough to ensure that wrong doings will not occur and mental health professionals have no choice but to make ethically determined decisions. Depending upon the experience and expertise of the professional determines the outcome of the ethical

In providing therapy to a client, the therapist has a duty to do no harm (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002). According to Pope and Vasquez (2010) an ethical practice is dependent upon the competency of

I faced a dilemma about confidentiality. My client, 80 years old male, who had been experiencing martial problems for the past 17 years, admitted that his close girlfriend just enrolled the treatment. The company policy generally prohibits family and friends to attend the same group therapy because dating and other relationships between or among group members could be harmful. The relationships could distract other group members, make them feel left out, or uncomfortable and embarrassed if the couple discusses their relationship problems, argues or breaks up. Additionally, being in a relationship with a member of the same group may draw patient’s focus away from the group and the purpose for being there. Group therapy is for people who want to work on their individual problems within a group, not couple or family

SRM explores deeper into group dynamics and focuses on dyads and many great and positive outcomes, arrives using this model for instance, Christensen & Feeney (2016) state, “In theory, the SRM could be applied to any form of group therapy. In reality, however, the SRM is often best suited for therapy groups in which members have some basic level of knowledge about other individuals in the group. That is, each group member should have some level of identifiability to each other group member” (p. 197).

Group counseling may be adverted to as a course of counseling, which takes a group of people coming together under one or more trained therapists, who simultaneously facilitate them and promote them to help one another to overcome their challenges. The group members are usually peers who may not necessarily face the same problem, but their problems may be linked. According to Jacobs, Masson, Harvill and Schimmel (2012), all members in a counseling group wish and desire personal growth. This kind of therapy has been employed over the years and it has produced excellent results in the lives of the group members.