Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions Ch 1

Ethics

Pertains to the standards that govern the conduct of its professional members. Pertains to the beliefs we hold about what constitutes right conduct. Moral principles adopted by an individual or group to right conduct. Represents aspirational goals, or the

Law

The body of rules that govern the affairs or people within a community, state, or country. They define the minimum standards society will tolerate, which are enforced by the government.

Values

Pertains to beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living

Community Standards

Vary on interdisciplinary, theoretical, and geographical bases. A social contract with clients in a rural area may be different than in a large urban or between practitioners employing a humanistic versus a behavioral approach. They often become the ultim

Reasonableness

Usually defined as the care that is ordinarily exercised by others practicing within the specialty in the professional community.

Professionalism

Has some relationship to ethical behavior. It is possible to act ethically, but unprofessionally, for instance, it is not unethical to not return a client's calls, but it could be viewed as unprofessional.

Mandatory Ethics

Describes a level of ethical functioning wherein counselors act in compliance with minimal standards, acknowledging the basic "musts" and "must nots." The focus is on behavioral rules, such as providing for informed consent in professional relationships.

Aspirational ethics

Describes the highest standards of thinking and conduct professional counselors and it requires that counselors do more than simply meet the letter of the ethics code. It entails an understanding of the spirit behind the code and the principles on which t

Positive Ethics

Focuses on how therapists can do better at helping clients. Instead of focusing on a remedial approach, it focuses on an aspirational level of practice. Its goal shifts the emphasis of of mental health providers away from a focus of wrongdoing and discipl

Unethical

People tend to think of extreme violations of established codes. In reality, most violations probably happen quite inadvertently in clinical practice.

Principle Ethics

A set of obligations and a method that focuses on moral issues with the goals of solving a particular dilemma or dilemma and establishing a framework to guide future ethical thinking and behavior. They typically focus on acts and choices and they are used

Virtue Ethics

Focuses on the character traits of the counselor and non-obligationary ideals to which professionals aspire rather than on solving specific ethical dilemmas. It asks "Am I doing what is best for my client?" It compels the professional to conscious of ethi

Pro bono services

Found in the ethics codes of NASW (2008), California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT, 2011a), ACA (2005), and APA (2010). All four codes encourage practitioners to contribute to society by devoting a portion of their professional time

Autonomy

Refers to the promotion of self-determination, or the freedom of clients to be self-governing within their social and cultural framework. Respect for autonomy entails acknowledging the right of another to choose and act in accordance with his or her wishe

Nonmaleficence

Means avoiding doing harm, which includes refraining from actions that risk hurting clients. Professionals have a responsibility to minimize risks for exploitation and practices that cause harm or have the potential to result in harm.

Beneficence

Refers to doing good for others and to promoting the well-being of clients. It also includes doing good for society. Ideally, counseling contributes to the growth and development of clients within their cultural context.

Justice

Means to be fair by giving equally to others and to treat others justly. Practitioners have a responsibility to provide appropriate services to all clients. Everyone, regardless of race, sex, age, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, cultural back

Fidelity

Means that professionals make realistic commitments and keep these promises. This entails fulfilling one's responsibilities of trust in a relationship. ACA's code encourages counselors to inform clients about counseling and to be faithful in keeping commi

Veracity

Means truthfulness, which involves the practitioner's obligation to deal honestly with clients. Unless practitioners are truthful with their clients, the trust required to form a good working relationship will not develop.

Self-Care

Involves taking of ourselves so that we are able to implement the moral principles and virtues that are fundamental ethical concepts. If mental health professionals neglect to do this, their ability to implement other principles will be impaired.

Social Constructionist Model (of Ethical Decision Making)

Shares some aspects with the feminist model but focuses primarily on the social aspects of decision making process as an interactive rather than an individual or intrapsychic process and places the decision in the social context itself, not in the mind of

Transcultural Integrative Model (of Ethical Decision Making)

Addresses the need for including cultural factors in the process of resolving ethical dilemmas. Described by Garcia, Cartwright, Winston, and Borzuchowska who present their model in a step-by-step format that counselors can use in dealing with ethical dil