One of the contemporary issues in the counseling profession is about the professional and personal ethics and responsibilities in counseling. Critical to note is that mental health counselors, specifically, help individuals in dealing with their challenges whether they are complex or personal issues (Francis & Horn, 2017). Based on the nature of the responsibilities that have been put on counselors, especially in a position of knowing the most intimate aspects of their clients, the ethical obligations, as well as concerns of counselors, are not only challenging but also complicated to resolve.
Notably, consent and abandonment have been one of the common issues that touch on ethical consent (Herlihy & Dufrene, 2011). Apparently, the American Counseling Association's code of ethics has specified that clients should be allowed the right of making informed decisions if they need to seek treatment, the kinds of medical attention they should participate in and whether they can end their treatment process. In ensuring that the client is given the information that is required for making such informed decision and consent, the counselor is expected to explain the methods of treatment that are supposed to be used, the training, as well as experience of the counselor in relation to the treatment methods to be applied including what the counselor hopes to achieve through the use of such methods (Francis & Horn, 2017). However, the counselor is not as free in ending the relationship with the client as the latter is since counselors have been forbidden from abandoning their clients. In such circumstances, if the counselor is not feeling comfortable or even safe while with the client or maybe one does not think he or she can help the client, the counselor has the obligation of referring the client to another professional instead of simply dropping him as a client. Notably, counselors find themselves caught in the middle when servicing their clients and in the process come to learn that the situation of the client was much more than they expected. The ethical issue comes in when deciding to either refer the client to another counselor or simply stopping the services. Depending on the nature of the client, some counselors find it hard to refer the client to another counselor if the situation might as well be not acceptable in the eyes of another counselor (Francis & Horn, 2017). However, as noted above, according to the American Counseling Association's code of ethics, a counselor should not leave or quit his or her services to the clients, which leaves counselors in a dilemma. The debate on whether there is need to review the code of conduct or ethics for the counseling professionals has been going on for a period, especially in light of the aforementioned dilemma (Cross & Cross, 2015). The common argument has been that the code of ethics needs also to recognize and appreciate the environment and situations in which counselors might find themselves in.
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Confidentiality in the counseling profession continues to be one of the critical issues across the globe (Francis & Horn, 2017). It is worth pointing out that under normal circumstances, counselors are always expected to ensure that they keep everything that they are told by their clients confidential. However, it is important to realize that there are some specific exceptions in circumstances where the counselors may suspect a clear threat to a certain individual or individuals, but not when the said threat is only vague or not being directed to a specific group or individual. In such situations, it can be challenging to a counselor if he believes that the client in question might be potentially dangerous, though the client may not have said anything that is clear enough to justify breaching of confidentiality. On this end, it is clear that although there are provisions on when a counselor can break the limits of confidentiality, professionals continue finding themselves in a dilemma, especially based on the kind of environment, situations or institutions they work in (Francis & Horn, 2017). One of the typical environments that have reinvigorated this conversation is working as a counselor in an educational institution. School counselors have been advised to ensure that they develop a trusting relationship with students as well as an understanding of confidentiality in discussions and communication that help create and sustain trust. However, though it is critically pivotal, school counselors are made to sometimes break the limit of confidentiality under situations where the professional ethics and law strongly call for compliance with privacy and confidentiality. School counselors have been allowed by law to breach confidentiality to parents as well as any appropriate third parties in circumstances where it would be ultimately in the interests of the clients or the student, including when they are needed to do so by all legal provisions. For example, if a learner is in one way threating to harm him- or herself, the medical authorities, parents, or both should be informed. Therefore, school counselors are obligated to make use of informed consent in setting guidelines with their students or clients (Francis & Horn, 2017). On this basis, they can discuss their ethical and legal obligations in helping the students as well as their parents in understanding the limits of confidentiality in their relationships. The aforementioned issues of confidentiality are only some of the dilemmas that counselors find themselves in and which have created some level of concern in the contemporary debate on matters related to the counseling profession.
Another area of concern is culture and bias. Notably, as is the case with anybody else in the society, counselors have personal and individualized values (Francis & Horn, 2017). However, they are not allowed to let any personal opinions influence how they interact and attend to their clients. According to the American Counseling Association, the importance of giving respect to the beliefs and cultural practice and not imposing a specific value system to the clients need to be emphasized. On the other hand, the ethical codes of the National Board for Certified Counselors as well as the American Psychological Association have the same requirements. Critical to emphasize is that counselors may be having strong moral objections in relation to the; lifestyle or decisions made by their clients, but they are not allowed to pressure such clients into perceiving things differently. However, this does not mean that they need not provide guidance on the most and best way of addressing an issue. Experts on psychology and counseling have noted that the question of culture and bias in the counseling profession has been on the rise due to different factors. One of such factors is the reality that due to globalization, cross-cultural counseling has demanded “counselor cultural knowledge,” which, to some extent, has been lacking in the profession. Studies have shown that in many cases, the lack of cultural knowledge by counselors serves as one of the key barriers to providing effective cross-cultural counseling (Francis & Horn, 2017). Apparently, cultural knowledge includes the knowledge and understanding of other norms, attitudes, and beliefs of cultural groups by the counselors. Both clients and counselors bring different sets of cultural norms to counseling, which need to be reinforced for long periods of time. Cultural knowledge has been of great importance in the field of counseling due to the globalization which has brought many cultures together. To this end, counselors with concrete knowledge of the norms and cultural preferences of their clients are better equipped in making appropriate decisions compared to those who might be culturally less knowledgeable. For example, in some cultures, passivity is revered as compared to assertiveness. Counselors who adhere to the Western culture, for instance, may have significant difficulties in understanding Chinese clients’ unwillingness to “demand” more from others (Burkholder, 2016). However, ensuring that one learns more about client’s culture would be instrumental in introducing counseling interventions that are in line with the Chinese cultural practices or norms. Studies have revealed that since most counselors lack the knowledge of varied cultural groups, they are often forced to rely on stereotypes in understanding clients who come from different cultural backgrounds (Francis & Horn, 2017). African-Americans, for instance, have been stereotyped as lazy and intellectually inferior. Based on this assertion, a white career counselor may assume that his African-American client is not intelligent enough to understand some issues in the process of counseling, which could be a strongly misguided perception. Together with racial issues across the world especially in the American society, the need to have cross-cultural knowledge has been encouraged from all areas of this discipline.
Other areas of concern that have attracted attention are the professional challenge of developing a unified profession and helping the promotion of core identity as counselors first and secondly in the specialty area. In addressing this form of challenge, experts have argued that the process of accreditation of programs related to counselor education as well as credentialing or licensing of counselors need to be taken with even more importance (Francis & Horn, 2017). In following up with their process, it is clear that it would be easier to advocate for the counseling profession as well as protect the public from unscrupulous counseling institutions or individuals especially if all counseling education programs in the United States, for instance, were accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. On the same note, it would be helpful that all graduating counselors achieved the credentials of National Certified Counselor as well as state licensure that is not only recognizable but also portable in all the U.S. states and territories. Putting such goals of standardization, experts note, will be pivotal in simplifying counselors’ and stakeholders’ task of ensuring that the public is protected and that advocating for the profession as well as solidification of a unified professional identity is made easier (Burkholder, 2016). Some professionals in the field of counseling have argued that the biggest threat to the unified counseling unit is pegged on the fact that there are divisive individuals, either within or without, who are opposed to unity due to personal and political agendas, which are above the common interest of the counseling profession (Francis & Horn, 2017). In this case, different stakeholders have been calling for unity to ensure that when counseling professionals go to legislators to advocate for their concerns, they must be seen to work as a single unit. (Holmes et al., 2015). In fact, it has been clear that other professionals such as dentists, physicians, psychologists and social workers have become strong after realizing this reality some years back.
Finally, financial matters in the counseling profession are also some of the contemporary issues. Notably, in private practice, counselors expect to make a profit to stay in business. However, not all of their clients are able to afford their services. According to the American Counseling Association code of ethics, counselors should be encouraged to do a specific amount of pro bono work, though not required. At the same time, The ACA has permitted counselors to stop treating clients who fail to clear or pay for the services. However, this body allows counselors to continue providing services if there are no other options for the clients. On another angle, there has been controversy on the ability of counselors to provide financial advice to the public (Francis & Horn, 2017). Critical to underscore is that most counselors have been trained to address both emotional and psychological consequences of financial issues. However, there have been reports of counselors assuming the role of financial advisors, which has created a negative reputation of the counseling profession in different jurisdictions.
Based on the above discussion, it is clear that there are key issues in the counseling professions that should be addressed. These contemporary issues include personal ethics and responsibilities in counseling, confidentiality in the counseling profession, culture and bias, financial matters and development of a unified profession. At an individual level, counselors should restrict themselves to their work and ensure that they follow their code of ethics.
References
Burkholder, D. (2016). A Model of Professional Identity Expression for Mental Health Counselors. Journal Of Mental Health Counseling , 34 (4), 295-307.
Cross, J. R., & Cross, T. L. (2015). Clinical and Mental Health Issues in Counseling the Gifted Individual. Journal Of Counseling & Development , 93 (2), 163-172.
Francis, P., & Horn, A. (2017). Current Issues in Counseling Profession. An Overview of Recent Research and Recommended Practices. Higher Education Policy , 30 (2), 263-277.
Herlihy, B., & Dufrene, R. L. (2011). Current and Emerging Ethical Issues in Counseling: A Delphi Study of Expert Opinions. Counseling & Values , 56 (1/2), 10-24.
Holmes, G. E., Patterson, J. R., & Stalling, J. E. (2015). Sense of Place: Issues in Counseling and Development. Journal Of Humanistic Counseling, Education & Development , 42 (2), 238.
