Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices Essay

Part of be a counselling requires an taste of duple kindreds and the boundaries that atomic number 18 in place amidst a lymph gland and their counsellor. Being a grievous counsellor requires an understanding of the role that honor adequate to(p) motive plays in the professional relationship. Ethics be non simply a way of treasureing the leaf node that offer cherishion to the pleader as well(p).Counselor Decision-Making and Counseling ExamplesIn the discuss profession two-fold relationships also known as multiple relationships can be delimitate as a situation in which multiples roles exists between the exponent and the lymph gland. Callanan et al discuss the fact that when a counselor and a lymph node lead their professional relationship with a non-professional relationship, thus good concerns must be considered (2014). The boundaries that be set in place between a counselor and a lymph node are done so to protect two parties. A counselor is in a utt er of affairs of power in the life of their node and if the boundaries are not in place, the counselor could fasten on advantage of their customer and cause difficulties for them. To determine if a boundary pass over or a dual relationship is ethical and appropriate with a client that I am treating I would look first to the ACA polity of moral philosophy to determine what is viewed as wrong dual relationships. The ACA tag of morals goes into some detail in regards to what is considered to be an unethical dual relationship. ACA ordinance A.5.a states that a sexual and/or romantic counselor client interactions or relationships with current clients, their romantic partners, or their family members are prohibited (2014).The code of moral philosophy also explains that counselors are prohibited from providing counseling services to someone that they turn in previously had a sexual/romantic relationship with. If thesituation that I am involved in is not covered in spite of ap pearance the ethical guidelines, thence I would seek the advise of my supervisor or trusted colleague to determine what their thoughts are in regards to the situation that I dumbfound found myself in. In making my decision, I would look to determine that the decisions universe made would not adversely affect my client or myself. I would also look to determine if the change in relationship would be therapeutic to my client. If I was dealing with a situation where I was sexually attracted to my client or my client was sexually attracted to me I would look to the ACA code of ethics and determine that a sexual relationship with a client is considered unethical. Geyer confides thither seems to be consider able agreement within both worldly and Christian circles that romantic or sexual relationships are always unethical concurrent with or during counseling and virtually always unethical later on (Dual Role Relationships and Christian Counseling, 1994).If during a counseling session with a client, they matte up that I was not hearing them, it might be appropriate to do some self-disclo veritable. This is a boundary bodgeing but as tenacious as the self-disclosure does not cause the client to feel negative make then it is acceptable as a way to make sure the client understands the counseling is listening and understands what the client is feeling. If I was running(a) in a small town that did not form other counseling options, then I might be placed in a mooring to pull in a dual relationship with a client. A consort could come to me needing lookance in dealing with an issue and delinquent to the area that we live in, thither might not be another(prenominal)(prenominal) counselor that they could go and see. In this situation, I commit a dual relationship would be allowed as long as the boundaries between fellowship and counseling are fully laid out before beginning.The friend would throw off to come into the sessions not as a friend but as a clie nt, someone that I am there to assist without passing judgment. If I had been treating a client who had been involved in railway car crash where their actions caused the death of the passenger in the car, would it be ethical for me to cross the boundary of leaving the office and going to the direct of the accident. I believe in this case that it would be acceptable for me to cross that boundary and go with my client as a support system as they are trying to come to terms with their actions that caused the death of another. By going with them to the site of the accident, they are able to have a sense of macrocosm saved as they process whattranspired and led them to that point in their life.Ethical Issues and DimensionsThe ACA enter of Ethics defines an appropriate amount of time of 5 years followers the termination of therapy to be acceptable for a counselor to pursue a sexual/romantic relationship with a past client. I believe that in some instances 5 years would be a good amou nt of time to pass before looking for that type of relationship but in some cases longer might be better. I will have been in a real powerful posture with my client and therefore depending on what they were receiving counseling for, it might not have been enough time for that power dynamic to have equaled out. If I were see a client and they invited me to their birthday party, this would be considered unethical because I would be seeing them outside of the counseling sessions.If services have been terminated and we are the five years out of the counseling relationship, I would be able to attend the party without fear of my actions cosmos unethical. How the relationship with the client terminate also plays a part in being able to interact with them afterwards termination of therapy. Lebaw (2014) states that there are different types of termination of counseling services the termination of services can be guardfully mean or be totally unplanned and based on cases that were al l successful or unsuccessful. If the termination of services was a negative have it away for the client, it might be more than ethical to not interact with them after the ending of the counseling sessions.Professional Collaboration CounselingIt is important for counselors and other stakeholders to work together in regards to the care of a client. There are different situations in which multiple areas of help will be necessitate for the clients safety and well-being and it is important that each member of the team is able to communicate effectively with one another.Multidisciplinary TeamIt is important for a counselor in certain situations to be able to work withother professionals to run into the best care is being given to a client. If I have not been learn in handling addictions and have a client that is dealing with severe depression but is also an alcoholic then it would be beneficial for me to work in conjunction with their addiction counselor. past as I am treating the c lient for their depression, the addiction counselor is work with them in regards to their alcohol addiction. In this case the addictions counselor and I would need to be able to communicate back and forrader with one another to ensure that our client was receiving the best possible care for their co-occurring disorders. Also, with having another soul involved in the care of the client it helps to keep the firm boundaries in place that maintains the safety of the client and myself. The addictions counselor and I would meet regularly to discuss our plans to achieve a detailed care plan that gives our client the best possible outcome. Staton and Gilligan (2003) define the objective of collaboration as developing mutual agreement on ways to work together to will the most effective services.Fiddler et al (2010) said that meaningful contest and decisions should be made in collaboration with the patient about his/her interference and future management. The client should be a part o f the process of the care plan and not just being told what is going to be winning place, it allows the client to have a voice in their treatment. If my client did not wish for me to collaborate with their addictions counselor, wanting to keep the two areas separate then I would need to treat the client solely within the mountain range of the depression. I would not be able to provide my client with whatsoever advice as to why they are drinking or even why they find it difficult to stop drinking. As an individual counselor working alone with the client, I need to be sure that I do nothing unethical with the client. By knowing what I have been trained in and informing my client that because I do not have the experience or training to treat them in regards to their addiction, I am not tho taking care of myself ethically but the client as well.Part of the job of a supervisor-counselor relationship is for them to not only train the student in what it is to be a counselor, but to be a support system for the student. This puts the supervisor in a position of extreme importance to the student. Not only is the supervisor putting forth a grade on the students performance, but they are also being confided in by the student with thestruggles the student is having. The supervisor could use this position to influence the student in an unethical way if they are not careful. It would be simple for the supervisor to manipulate the students feelings towards them.These are very similar to the things that a counselor could do to a client if they did not monitor themselves. AS a counselor, you have the trust of your client that everything you are doing is being done to help them and not slander them. A criteria that could be used to determine if something a fellow counselor is being done is ethical or not is by knowing and being familiar with the ACA code of ethics as well as the laws of the state that I am practicing in. If I found a fellow counselor acting in an unethical way it would be my duty to wrap up them to the licensing board. The board is the only one who has the right to pass judgment and execration on a counselor who has behaved unethically.Development of EthicsPonton stated In whatever specialty counselors practice, they are asked to provide expertise to the problem of reconciliation an individuals needs, strengths, and identity with the group or society within which that individual functions (2009). Since taking this course I have become more familiar with the roles that ethics needs to play in the relationship between not only counselor and client but counselor and counselor, and counselor and supervisor. That each of these relationships forms a chain that needs to be strong and well defined.The role that ethics plays in the life of a counselor is something that is very important. Ethics are not just there to protect the client, they protect the counselor as well. From this course I have learned that there will be times when the line s between ethical and unethical are not going to be clearly defined yet there is a support system available to me. I learned that there is nothing wrong with going to my community of counselors for support or direction when I am unsure of a step. This is a profession where not only do we help clients but we help each other. cultivationSomeone who is beginning in the counseling profession needs to be fully aware of the ethical guidelines set in place by not only the ACA but the state in which they are practicing. The code of ethics are not in place simply toprotect the client but to also provide protection to the counselor. The role of ethics and boundaries is important and something that a counselor will need to continuously vigil and learn about as the work with clients. Though boundaries can oscillate they should never be crossed in a way that could harm a client. As a counselor, I need to know what cases that I can treat and those that I cant and be uncoerced to work with oth ers to give my clients the best possible care. There are ethical guidelines for not only the interaction with clients but for the interactions with other counseling professionals. Without ethics to guide a counselor in their practice, they are in a position to do major harm to their clients. This course has shown me that ethics are an integral part of the counseling profession and need to be respected.RefeencesAmerican Counseling Association (2014). 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA Author Callanan, P., Corey, C., Corey, G., & Corey, M. (2014). Issues and Ethics in the serving Professions. StamfordCT Fiddler, M., Borglin, G., Galloway, A., Jackson, C., McGowan, L., & Lovell, K. (2010). Once-a-week psychiatric ward round or daily convict team meeting? A multidisciplinary mental health teams experience of new ways of working. International ledger Of Mental wellness Nursing, 19(2), 119-127. doi10.1111/j.1447-0349.2009.00652.x Geyer, M. C. (1994). Dual Role Relationships and Ch ristian Counseling. Journal Of Psychology & Theology, 22(3), 187-195. Lebow, J. (2014). Stages of therapy Engagement, assessment, and termination. In , Couple and family therapy An integrative map of the territory (pp. 151-170). Washington, DC, US American psychological Association. doi10.1037/14255-007 Ponton, R. F., & Duba, J. D. (2009). The ACA Code of Ethics Articulating Counselings Professional Covenant. Journal Of Counseling & Development, 87(1), 117-121. Staton, A. R., & Gilligan, T. D. (2003). Teaching School Counselors and School Psychologists to Work Collaboratively. Counselor cultivation & Supervision, 42(3), 162.