This term paper must be at least 8 pages in length, well thought out and well organized, following APA format.
1. Present your ethical dilemma or problem.
In this scenario, we explore an Ethical Dilemma that arises when one partner in the couple reveals confidential information during 1o1 sessions with her counselor, the client presents a severe dependency on substances with a history of aggressive behavior; that indicates potential harm to himself or his own family, due to malfunction of the family founds the family end homeless. The counselor faces the challenge of maintaining confidentiality while ensuring the safety and well-being of all parties involved. The counselor should navigate the delicate balance between respecting the couple’s privacy and fulfilling their duty to intervene when harm occurs. This dilemma underscores the importance of ethical guidelines, such as the duty to warn or protect, and the need for therapists to assess and address risk factors in therapy sessions carefully since children are involved. The counselor needs to prioritize safety and well-being while upholding ethical standards.
This can be taken from the earlier assignment.
2. Explain why it is an ethical dilemma or problem.
3. What are the facts that will help up deal with the issue? What is known? What needs to be found out? How quickly do we have to act? (How much time do we have?)
What is known, and importantly, what else needs to be known to solve the dilemma. How urgent is the matter?
4. What are the major issues here? What’s at stake here? What are you first ideas of how to handle the problem? What are all the possible solutions you can think of at this point.
5. Cite relevant parts of the CASAC ethical canon which pertain to the dilemma/problem and explain.
6. Cite relevant laws that relate to the dilemma/problem and explain.
7. What ethical principles are involved? Explain.
8. Discuss the critical elements for making this ethical decision and analyze the situation.
9. What are the other than ethical considerations relevant in this dilemma? (Like self-interest, keeping your job, etc.)
10. Discuss relevant research topics which are raised by the dilemma. This could be ethical, legal, or research areas.
11. Choose at least one area, research it thoroughly, and report the findings, using APA citation and reference style. You must use at least 5 academic references, using scientific research articles found in PsychInfo. If you cut and paste from an original work and submit it as your own this is plagiarism and you will automatically receive an F for the paper and be referred to the office of academic integrity. Explain how this research helps understand the dilemma.
12. Integrating all of the above information, determine the solution to this dilemma/problem, being sure to explain yourself fully and clearly. (YOU MUST SOLVE THE DILEMMA OR PROBLEM AND EXPLAIN IT FULLY.)
13. Write a detailed script which indicates how you would implement your solution. I.E. how you would present it to your client(s) and/or colleague(s).
14. Conclusion: what did you learn about professional ethics writing this paper?
Write clearly, organize your presentation, engage in a systematic, rational inquiry, and back up any assertions that you make.
Include as appendix all submissions of the paper: Your original dilemma, your 5 abstracts.
the following is the guide of the entire aspects
Brief guide to substance abuse counseling ethics [Draft]
1. Competence: We want to provide counseling which helps our clients overcome their addiction and improves their lives. If we feel we can provide that, we should work on these goals. If we feel we can’t, we should end the treatment and provide an appropriate referral. We should only provide a service which we competently perform (scope of practice).
2. Keep a copy of the CASAC ethical Canon in your office. This is our code of conduct. Review it periodically.
3. When we face a challenging ethical situation, take time to think so that you can consider all of the relevant factors. One way to do this is to use the ethical decision-making model which we discussed.
First, consider how quickly you must act. if you have time, you can give yourself more time to consider all the facts. If you must act quickly, ask a trusted colleague to review the situation before acting.
Second, refer to the CASAC ethical Canon to see if it tells us what to do. If it is clear, you need go no further.
Third, consider who are involved and what issues are involved: potential harms, breaking confidentiality, boundary-violations, etc.
Determine if there is a conflict between the ethical principles or CASAC canon, or laws. If there is, what is it? For example respect for autonomy versus potential harm to someone. (I don’t want to tell my wife I have HIV).
Write down your thoughts, write down some possible options, consider the pros and cons of each.
Time-permitting go to your supervisor or trusted colleague and discuss the situation fully.
After that discussion, if it is clear what to do, think about how you will present it to your client or affected persons.
Then go ahead.
4. Justice and fairness. This is a part of the CASAC Canon. We want to be fair and helpful to all clients. We want to be fair to our clients, colleagues and all others in our professional capacity. This means not judging others for their political, religious beliefs, physical appearance, sexual or gender preferences.
5. Maintaining a professional and helping relationship. Establish boundaries, avoid dual relationships with clients, including sexual or romantic relationships with clients. Decide what level of self-disclosure you are comfortable with and use it only for the benefit of the client. We should try to maintain a helpful attitude and objectivity so that we can determine what we think is best for the client. When our emotional reactions or prejudices get in the way, we should seek to overcome them, if we can’t, we should arrange a referral.
6. Confidentiality. Keep information about your clients confidential. Explain confidentiality to your clients, including when it can be broken. When clients want information released, go over the implications fully so they understand their rights and what is at stake.
7. Competing agendas. You will have to respond to differing demands from different areas:
Client wishes versus family, client versus court mandate, clinic policy requirements, individual client needs versus clinic rules and others. Here my advice is to be aware of these competing agendas, and try to make the best decision you can, keeping client interests most important most of the time.
8. Informed consent. The purpose of informed consent is to make sure clients know what they are getting into and what their rights are. At the beginning of treatment clients should be informed about treatment, the rules of the clinic, their rights, such as confidentiality and when it can be broken. They should be given a chance to answer questions they might have. Then clients should be given the chance to say yes or say no to it. Clients should be told that we can review any aspect of this in later sessions. Informed consent can be done verbally or in written form or a combination of both. See week 8’s lecture notes for a list of what should be included.
9. Supervision. Know your rights as a supervisee. (See Week 10’s lecture notes for a list.). Remember that your supervisor has a responsibility to the clients as well as you and may feel the need to step in if he feels it necessary. Keep in mind that what you say in supervision is not confidential. Understand that appropriate boundaries are important in this relationship. A supervisor is not your therapist. If you and your supervisor disagree, you should not automatically follow his recommendation. Make you concern known, and if necessary take it to the director or OASAS.
10. Burnout. Know your limits as a counselor. Do not take on more than you can really do. Have an outside life. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Seek counseling if you need it.
11. Dealing with ethical misconduct. Be honest to yourself about mistakes. Be compassionate and not punishing to yourself. If possible, find a way to undo the damage if any. Consult with a colleague or supervisor first to make sure this is a good approach. Figure out why this occurred. Take steps to prevent this from happening again. If a complaint is made against you, cooperate with OASAS or the agency making the investigation. Do not have further contact with the client. Keep it confidential and do not discuss any details with anyone except your supervisor, lawyer, or other authorized person.
When you have evidence of ethical misconduct in others. Do not be judgmental. If a minor infraction, you can discuss it with the counselor. This discussion should be private and should be carefully thought out in advance so that the counselor is less likely to become defensive. If the infraction is more severe, discuss it with your supervisor. You and they can decide if a complaint should be make to OASAS or the agency where you work.
If a client makes a claim of misconduct of a colleague, advise them of their rights, their right to make a complaint, details how to make the complaint, give them the choice to make it, and support them through the process.
12. Ethical issues of self-harm. Be alert to suicidal ideation. Be comfortable asking your client about it. Once it becomes an issue, monitor it. Always discuss this with your supervisor. If there is no plan or strong urges, schedule an interview with a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. If there is a plan or strong urges, arrange for a psychiatric evaluation immediately. Only as a last resort should you call 911. This is stressful. Do your best to stay calm. Understand you may be tempted to deny it, over-react, etc. If in doubt, have the client remain in your office while you consult with your supervisor or colleague.
13. Keeping yourself safe. While you will do your best to help your clients, you should also take good care of yourself. You should feel safe at the clinic, with your clients, and fellow-staff. You should make sure you are not subject to any type of harassment. We can’t be good counselors if we don’t feel safe.
14. When our clients are doing something unethical. In many of your scenarios, you had clients who wanted to do something that could potentially harm another person. For example, not informing a partner they had an STD. Here there is a conflict between potential harm to the partner versus the autonomy of the client. While we may think we must take charge and warn the partner immediately, this would damage our relationship with the client. Keep in mind the client has told you about it, so they are willing to discuss it. So I suggest doing so, with the idea that the client will develop the courage to discuss this. In the meantime, a plan can be made to protect the partner via safe sex or no sex until you and the client get there. Such discussion takes a great deal of skill. I suggest MI approach would be well-suited. If the client does not go along, then you can consider informing the partner.
