What do you say or ask? Resolving Ethical Issues at School Jacques S. Benninga California State University, Fresno Issues in Teacher Education, Spring 2013 Introduction Many incidents in schools present ethical dilemmas for educators. Now, he says he’d like to take a shot at making a living at a long-shot career: hosting a TV, radio, or podcast show on “social change.” “I want to be a liberal Jordan Peterson.” Given his track record, reasoning, and communication skills, it’s clear to you that he’s facing lottery odds. 3. Conduct Conduct is an important aspect of ethical practices. Sexual and romantic relationships between counsellors and clients are deemed unethical by both APA and ACA standards. 1. School counselors need to be aware of their own cultural biases and values to avoid imposing them on their students. An ethical dilemma incorporates the concepts in the preceding definition and is a situation in which there is an apparent conflict of moral standards or imperatives. This overview of ethical issues in school counseling explores some common situations school counselors might face. You've driven me to think about committing suicide." School counselors must always be aware of ethical standards in their work. They can discuss their legal and ethical obligations and help the student and their parents understand the limits of confidentiality in their relationship. In essence, to uphold one standard would mean violating another. Not all solutions will be beneficial to each member, even though each member is facing the same problem. 10. Act in good faith and in the absence of malice. The Ethical Counselor, Therapist, and Coach. 4. To help counselors anticipate common ethical challenges and learn how best to handle them, Counseling Today invited Oswalt and four other ACA members with expertise in counseling ethics to provide some insights. The client says “I’ve been begging my wife to get a job but she says her skills aren’t great so she’d only get a low-paying job and, when you subtract the child-care and commuting expenses, it’s not financially worth getting a job. 6. Act in the best interests of the students at all times. Other dual relationships may be acceptable. Provide Equal Access to Opportunities and Support. She’d be a great salesman.” What would you say or ask? 8 Strategies for Balancing a Career, Family and Graduate School, A Look at Ethical Issues in School Counseling. Utilizing a decision making model to resolve these dilemmas is beneficial to counselors. For example, many of the ethical codes in counseling and psychology are based on what some define as universal moral principles. What do you say or do? Oswalt’s graduation invitation is just one example of the ethical dilemmas that confront counselors on a daily basis. advertisement. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. On the other hand, compassion says we should treat everyone equally, especially those with deficits. Ethical dilemmas occur all too frequently in everyday life. For example, a colleague of a fifthgrade teacher overhears that teacher’s School counselors may confront complex ethical issues involving confidentiality, student safety, parental rights, and social media. 14. School counselors need to develop trusting relationships with students, and an understanding of confidentiality in communications and discussions helps built that trust. And, in France, wine with dinner is normal; they give it to their kids.” What would you say or ask? This means that it is the therapist's responsibility to avoid unethical interactions with clients. Ethical dilemmas are important puzzles with no easy answers but are fun to contemplate. You’re aware that employers use resumes and cover letters not just as a recitation of work history but as an index of the person’s ability to reason, communicate, and produce an error-free document. A counsellor should evaluate how the second relationship will affect the cou… You’ll face dilemmas that may challenge your own beliefs and values. Message and data rates may apply. Master of Science in Information Systems and Security, Master of Science in Nonprofit Management, online Master of Education in School Counseling. 8. Is there an ethical dilemma here? Of course, they exist in all forms of counseling, from short-term advising to long-term therapy, from eating disorders counseling to career counseling. Therefore, the essay serves two functions: informing readers about ethical and legal dilemmas in counseling and providing an example for a properly written essay. School counselors can use informed consent to set guidelines with their students. An increasingly diverse U.S. population equals an increasingly diverse student population. The client decides to discontinue working with you and a month later, phones you: “I saw another career counselor, who recognizes there’s nothing wrong with writing your resume and cover letter, and saying you’re Hispanic even it’s just 1/4 because there’s racism even against 1/4-Hispanic people. Both of these are cornerstone concepts in the counseling profession, and at first glance, they seem simple enough. Plus, the website’s donor page makes no mention of this. During conversations, James is abrupt, curt and tries to avoid conversation. The client quits that job and decides to start a marijuana delivery service. He argues in favor of it because he has applied for many jobs without having stated that and hasn’t landed anything, has three children, a wife who is a stay-at-home mom, and savings have run out and they face eviction for non-payment of rent. You’ve read the two most authoritative reviews of the literature, one by the National Institutes of Health and one by the National Academies of Sciences and conclude that marijuana is at least as deleterious as a second alcohol and that millions of people would be greatly harmed by that. We bought a house and have a big mortgage and we’re still paying off our kids’ college loans. Ethical Tips for School Counselors. James is a 13 year old teenager in Grade 7 at school. 12. What to Look for in an Online Counseling Program. 5. What would you say or ask? Related Topics Professional Ethics- Almost all professions have stated ethical guidelines, and, for those that do not, there are often unstated ethical expectations. W… Millions of people do that and their kids don’t become addicted. However, school counselors are sometimes obligated to break that confidentiality under circumstances where the law or professional ethics require it. 411 S.W. Ethical Issues for School Counselors By: Nicolette Kimmel, Melissa Gunderson, & Lauren Hickey Implications of Social Media in Secondary Education Educating Students about Their Digital Footprint Social Media Accounts of School Personnel The Role of School Counselors in Social Some students will require greater attention, but counselors should not use the needs of others or their personal preferences for certain students to prevent them from serving all students at their level of need. Olfaction Is a Primal Motivator, How to Spark Powerful Chemistry Through Simple Conversation, 5 Anxiety-Provoking Habits Among High Achievers, Psychology Today © 2020 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Blaming the Pandemic Could Help Your Relationship, The Surprising Benefits of Blinking on Visual Perception, 3 Ways Shopping Behavior Has Changed During the Pandemic, "I Want to Move Into the Non-Profit Sector", The Ethical Counselor, Therapist, and Coach. Of course, they exist in all forms of counseling, from short … Define the problem emotionally and intellectually 2. It’s clear he’s not open to stopping or moderating his vaping, so you focus on the kids: “Do you think it’s wise to vape in front of your kids?” He responds, “It’s no worse than drinking in front of your kids. Dilemmas like this demonstrate the many kinds of ethical crossroads you may face when counseling clients. What would you say or ask? Ethical issues in counseling generally fall on the therapist. This overview of ethical issues in school counseling explores some common situations school counselors might face. The client returns a few months later saying he wasn’t able to compete with other marijuana delivery services and wants you to help him find a job as a fundraiser for an environmental nonprofit. One of the biggest I can think of is the duty to warn rule, which differs by state. Creating ethical sensitivity • Identify ethical issues arising from counselling work • Read ethical codes and related literature • Explore value issues arising from counseling work • Clarify and confront one’s own values Disperceptions of the Ford-Kavanaugh Hearings and Ideology, Curing Coronasomnia: Four Tips from Neuroscience. He calls to say, "I can't get over all your implying I'm unethical and an overall jerk. Ethical Dilemmas 3 the school counselor involved is in a situation where they must decide what information to disclose while maintaining confidentiality and revealing necessary information to team members. Yes, I do want to communicate with Our Lady of the Lake University via SMS. Confidentiality and Its Limits. All her friends—and she has a lot of older friends in their 20s, so they’re legal. Comparing the Roles of Different Types of School Counselors, Helping Students Through the College Admissions Process in 2015, How Guidance Counselors Help Students Decide on a Career Path, Learning Styles of Introverts and Extroverts, The Top 5 Networking Associations for School Counselors, The Top 6 Free Online Resources for School Counselors, Three Ways Elementary School Counselors Make a Huge Impact on Early Learning. Informed consent reflects respect for the client as an individual and promotes self-governing during the counseling process (Pope & Melba, 2011). Inform students of possible limitations on the counseling relationship prior to the beginning of the relationship. This is why it is important to counselors to keep the code of ethics at hand and read it frequently until it is memorized. The authors apply an ethical decision making model to the case study of Liam. A counsellor should not accept a new client that is a close friend or family member of a current client. 4. A dual relationship is when there is another role in addition to the counselling relationship. As you're reflecting on clients like this person, you're wondering if it's ethical to try to help them get jobs. When you ask how the client’s wife feels about his going into that business, he says, “She’s fine with weed but is mad that I’d want to be self-employed. What would you say or ask? He wants your blessing. I am providing my consent by leaving the opt-in checked. 3. Unique issues in group therapy There are several ethical standards that apply to both group and individual therapy. The following case highlights an untenured school counselor’s inner thought processes as she manages an ethical dilemma involving allegations of child abuse. His father Brett has noticed a shift in James’s behaviour over the last few weeks. These reasons include inappropriate sexual behavior, improper treatment, violation of confidentiality, and wrong diagnosis. As an example of this, a school counselor may have knowledge of specific home-related You tell them that before he selects a career, it would be wise to spend a session or two plus some homework to explore. 13. What would you say or ask? School counselors face a number of legal and ethical issues and recognizing a clear decision isn’t always easy. 1. In the service of presenting as many dilemmas as possible within this space's confines, I’ll present each dilemma as pertaining to the same client. School counselors should be mindful of relationships that could compromise their objectivity and impair their ability to serve students fairly — such as counseling children of close friends or romantic partners. My wife is furious. I’ll make our ethically challenged client a man but, of course, it could have been a woman. In addition, she argues that before we got married, I agreed to be the sole breadwinner. Need Motivation to Exercise? You ask the client questions about his career history, in part to facilitate his making a clear-eyed decision on whether it’s worth the risk of trying to make a sustainable living as “a liberal Jordan Peterson.” The client ascribes his poor job history to a “racist society.” What would you say or ask? Ten years later, the client calls and says he became very successful as a fundraiser and has risen to vice president of fundraising but is sick of it: the people management, the ever-increasing fundraising quotas, and he’s thinking about returning to a simpler job. He helped me get a fundraising job.” What would you say or ask? Preparing for a successful career guiding students requires a comprehensive understanding of ethical issues in school counseling. Besides, she feels the kids benefit from her staying home. School counselors need to develop trusting relationships with students, and an understanding of confidentiality in communications and discussions helps built that trust. Each day is fraught with potential ethical dilemmas for a school counselor. In looking at the list of ethical considerations in Groups in action: Evolution and challenges (Corey et al., 2014), there were many that applied to both types of therapy in one way or another. 2. Ethical dilemmas are important puzzles with no easy answers but are fun to contemplate. of integrity, leadership and professionalism. Nine Dilemmas Counselors Face ... for example, your career counseling client is a data scientist. What would you say or ask? After all, it's a zero-sum game and if you're successful, you've taught the person tips and tricks that get him the job over more qualified candidates. You consider your writing a client’s resume and cover letter to be no more ethical than a parent writing their child’s college application essay. School counselors should ensure that each student in their charge has equal access to the counseling services they need. 7. Counselor educators and supervisors face many ethical dilemmas while educating and training future counselors and counselor interns. 15. She is recovering from a lengthy bout with breast cancer and is just back A model for ethical decision making Stage 1. Sasha, a Caucasian 37-year-old, is a counselor educator at a small university. 24th St.San Antonio, Texas 78207. download pdfLearn more about how to file a complaint about a distance program or courses. Areas of vulnerability within a professional environment can be considered as “hot spots” in ethical practice. When faced with any ethical dilemma, school counselors, school counseling program directors/supervisors and school counselor educators use an ethical decision-making model such as Solutions to Ethical Problems in Schools (STEPS) (Stone, 2001): 1. If such relationships are unavoidable, counselors should take extra steps to maintain their objectivity. Ethical dilemmas can prove to be a regular challenge for counselors. A Christian or pastoral counselor must exhibit an understanding of moral values in addition to emotional sensitivity, … Many of these issues are impacted by the school counselors’ abilities to acknowledge their own personal values while balancing ethical obligations and administrative boundaries. School counselors frequently face ethical dilemmas. What would you say or ask? Are High School Career Aptitude Tests a Good Predictor of Work Happiness? For example, while you know that you must maintain the confidence of a young teenager who tells you she is gay, you'll need to decide whether to tell her parents or not. (1) How do school counselors with more open pedagogical … The study raised two questions. Working knowledge of professional codes, principals, standards, laws and regulations regarding clinical practice provides helpful guidance for resolving ethical issues in counseling. The following case study highlights many of these dilemmas. Because most of my counseling experience has been as a career counselor, the ethical dilemmas I present here are career-related but most have broader applicability. A lot of them are in her spiritual community. They may also breach confidentiality to parents or appropriate third parties in instances where it would ultimately be in the best interests of the student or when they are required to do so by law. Given the developmental and chronological ages of minors in schools, the counselor recognizes the tenuous nature of 2. That way, I needn’t provide a separate client background for each dilemma. Ethical Dilemma Situations. That client finally lands a job, at another nonprofit, but after the first week complains that the organization is unethical because he learned that it retains 40% of donations as "administrative expenses," so only 60% is spent on the cause. To compound the dilemma, you may believe that being gay is wrong. Ethical issues in school counseling can be complex. Instead of being able to rely on external standards, people have to rely on their morals and values to navigate such situations. 11. Liam is a counselor for two minor male children who are … In marriage and family counseling, it may become difficult for the therapist to decide between what’s best for an individual and what’s best for the family or couple as a whole. School counselors’ relationships with students should always remain within the context of the counselor’s professional abilities. Romantic relationships with students are a serious breach of ethical standards, regardless of whether they are illegal according to state law and/or the student’s age. These dilemmas often involve relationships with principals, parents, and other stakeholders. Any type of counseling profession involves ethics, but the fact that school counselors are working with minors and during crucial stages in their emotional and mental development makes being aware of ethical standards and issues even more important. The Code addresses the responsibilities of professional counselors toward their clients, Issues such as confidentiality, dual relationships, referrals, group counseling and technological concerns are all covered. The American School Counselor Association provides a detailed explanation of ethical standards on its web site. She says we need financial security, that we can't afford the risk of going into business." This article will take a closer look at what the therapist's ethical responsibilities entail and examine some common ethical problems faced by mental health professionals. The ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors were developed in consulta-tion with state school counseling associations, school counselor educators, school counseling state and district leaders and school counselors across the nation to clarify the norms, values and beliefs of the profession. Ethical Hot Spots. Although all counselors, religious and secular alike, face ethical issues in their practice of counseling clients, Christian counselors face special concerns. 1. This study compared educational counselors with open approaches to counselors with more conservative approaches to social and moral dilemmas. School counselors have to work with a large number of students, parents, and administrators while conforming to ethical codes, state laws, and school board guidelines. What Does a Licensed Professional Counselor Do? 16. At first, he said it was because “I didn’t make my number” but on probing, he admitted that he lied to prospects, overstating what the nonprofit had previously accomplished. Again she’s calling me irresponsible even though I’ve worked my butt off to become a VP and afford the house, a nice car, furniture, vacations, everything.” What would you say or ask? What's the Difference Between a School Counselor and a School Psychologist? The American School Counselor Association recommends following G.3. As you review your responses to these dilemmas, is there anything you want to keep in mind? “establishes clear expectations in the group setting and clearly states that confidentiality in group counseling cannot be guaranteed. The individual may feel victimized if the therapist chooses the family over the… Most recently, James’s English teacher at school […] They should develop an understanding of how social and economic inequalities as well as gender, cultural and racial biases impact students and their families. A client was terminated as a fundraiser for an environmental nonprofit. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. For instance, if a student is threatening to harm him- or herself, the parents and/or medical authorities may have to be notified. Ethical & Legal Issues pg.2 In what capacity (e.g., licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, certified school counselor) is the professional operating? In his \"Counselor Magazine\" article entitled \"Ethics in Counseling: A Complex Issue,\" David J. Powell, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, identifies four main reasons why clients sue their counselors. Such areas of greatest risk regarding ethical concerns in education may include, but are not limited to, conduct, assessment and planning. You sense he doesn’t really want your opinion. He says, "I don't need to pay you for that. 1. Your thoughts? That's unfair to them, the coworkers, boss, the consumer, and ultimately the larger society.
2020 examples of ethical dilemmas in school counseling