Ethical maturity, autonomy, and competence are the primary foundation of effective counseling. They enable counselors to handle clients with respect and dignity. Counselors deal with clients from diverse backgrounds and address complex topics that they may not have been trained for in their curriculum. For this reason, the American Counseling Association (ACA) continually modifies its ethical standards to fit into the ever-changing social and political trends. Adherence to the ACA Code of ethics protects counselors from ethical and legal consequences. There are instances in which a counselor’s personal beliefs may collide with the professional guidelines. In such times, counselors should rely on the professional code of ethics to make informed decisions. Ethical dilemmas and ethical violations are common in professional counseling since some counselors cannot control their personal beliefs and attitudes upon encountering clients with different values.
Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics provides guidelines concerning the way a counselor should act when interacting with a client. According to the ACA Code of Ethics A.4.b, counselors should avoid imposing their values and beliefs on clients (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014). Professional counselors should continuously evaluate their behaviors around clients. This strategy reduces the risk of disproving the clients’ views and opinions. Counselors should understand that the client’s welfare and trust relies on their level of professionalism. Section I of the ACA Code of Ethics dictates that counselors should treat each other with respect and take action to ensure that professional standards are upheld (ACA, 2014). This ethical code provides that counselors support each other during the decision-making process. Counselors may encounter issues beyond their professional competence, and thus, they need to discuss their decisions with their colleagues to provide exemplary counseling services.
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Ethical Dilemma
An ethical dilemma arises when there are benefits but contradictory reasons for taking conflicting courses of action. When a counselor fails to internalize the ACA Code of Ethics, value conflicts occur, leading to an ethical dilemma (Robinson et al., 2020). The lack of internalization originates from a disparity between a counselor’s values and the profession’s collective values and principles as stipulated by the ACA Code of Ethics. Although the ethical dilemma's central focus is the difference between personal and professional morality, there can also be a conflict between the state and ACA ethical guidelines (Robinson et al. 2020). The conflict between the ACA Code of Ethics and counselors’ beliefs requires self-awareness. A counselor should be able to tell how their views can affect a client. Failure to understand the impact of their actions contributes to ethical dilemmas.
Example of an Ethical Dilemma
Counselor educators encounter an ethical dilemma when their students exhibit rigid thinking and impose their religious beliefs on clients. An example of an ethical dilemma involves a committee tasked with whether or not to retain a student counselor who cannot suppress his feelings when dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds (Corey et al., 2019). The counselor student has strong opinions on issues like racism and LGBT. His religious beliefs provide a guideline on how he should interact with people. Thus, he is conflicted when he encounters clients who have diverse opinions on racism, abortion, and LGBT relationships. The committee that reviews his performance has noticed this behavior.
Applicable Code of Ethics
In such a situation, the committee should rely on the ACA Code of Ethics to make the right decision. In case a counselor encounters an ethical dilemma, they should involve other counselors to address every possible solution. During ethical decision-making processes, counselors are likely to rely on their emotions and beliefs (Corey et al., 2019). A practitioner's feelings can determine how one relates to a client. In some cases, a counselor’s thoughts and emotions affect the way they handle clients. The Code of Ethics encourages counselors to recognize clients’ diversity and suppress their beliefs. ACA ethical code A.11.b points out that counselors should seek training in areas in which they risk imposing their ideas on clients (Robinson et al., 2020). In the provided case scenario, the committee should recommend Leo to seek additional training that will encourage him to differentiate between his religious beliefs and professional values. Besides, counselor educators have the responsibility to teach students the ethical standards and duties of the profession. The committee should not dismiss Leo. Before enrolling him into the program, Leo’s professor should have explained the ethical requirements and responsibilities of a professional counselor (Corey et al., 2019). This insight would have guided Leo to determine whether he would like to venture into this profession. Professional counselors should respect their clients’ diversity and avoid imposing their beliefs on clients. The counselor educators should reinforce ethical responsibilities throughout the curriculum. If counselors understand their ethical obligations, they will handle cultural issues, such as LGBT and racism. Besides, such counselors will be willing to discuss their motivations, values, and beliefs with their colleagues (Corey et al., 2019). One of the faculty representatives should hold a private session with Leo and enlighten him on how his religious beliefs affect his professionalism. Leo needs to learn that when counselors are open-minded, the clients benefit the most since they receive services that can improve their quality of life (Robinson et al., 2020). A therapy session that features open communication and professional relationship empower clients and minimize potential harm. The counselor educator who will interact with Leo should not be quick to judge Leo’s opinions. Instead, they should reason with Leo and provide real-life examples that involve conflicts between professional values and religious beliefs. Educators can also implement a feedback system to determine Leo’s progress throughout the program.
Applicable Decision-Making Model
A transcultural integrative model is applicable in Leo’s case since it focuses on cultural factors. The faculty representative who will interact with Leo needs to initiate a step-by-step approach when discussing how to handle clients from diverse backgrounds (Corey et al., 2019). A multicultural perspective will guide Leo to understand how to treat clients with care and respect. Besides, a transcultural integrative model is sensitive to the ethical dilemma's impact on the counselor and the clients (Robinson et al., 2020). It creates adequate supportive space for Leo and a faculty representative to explore different ethical dilemmas and settle on the right decisions. The transcultural integrative model has four vital steps: awareness of events and facts, devising solutions through discussion, analyzing the competing values, and executing strategy (Zeni et al., 2016). Educator counselors have to investigate the populations affected by Leo’s services and use the ACA Code of Ethics as a guide in honoring diversity and promoting social justice. The transcultural integrative model will teach Leo how to respect clients and avoid associating their cultural background with their behaviors. One faculty member can guide him on how to use his Christian background to enhance his services. For example, if Leo focuses on religious values of mercy, acceptance, and compassion, he will not be judgmental to the LGBT community (Grunhaus et al., 2018). He will also learn how to protect clients by using culturally-sensitive terms. If well-implemented, the transcultural integrative model can enhance the relationship between Leo and clients from diverse backgrounds. As a result, the committee will approve his performance.
Ethical Violation
An ethical violation occurs when a counselor does not follow the profession's rules; it refers to misconduct in professional settings. The ACA Code of Ethics guides the counselors’ ethical conduct. Counselors who fail to abide by the required rules are said to have committed ethical violations. Although the Code of Ethics is subject to interpretation, lack of competency amounts to ethical violation (Grunhaus et al., 2018). For example, when a counselor engages in a sexual relationship with a client, they commit an ethical violation since they take advantage of the client’s vulnerability. Any act that can potentially harm the client and is incompatible with the ACA Code of Ethics is an ethical violation.
Example of Ethical Violation
An example of an ethical violation is evident in Leo’s case. The committee that reviewed his performance noted that he had biased opinions towards the LGBT community (Corey et al., 2019). Leo exhibited rigid thinking, and some clients may be uncomfortable around him. ACA ethical code A.4.b dictates that counselors respect clients’ beliefs and seek additional training on areas that make them vulnerable to imposing their views and attitudes (ACA, 2014). However, Leo did not seek further training or respected the clients’ perspectives, amounting to an ethical violation. Leo needs to find ways to integrate his personal beliefs in the psychotherapy sessions but not impose them on clients. Another ethical violation from the case scenario is the potential to harm clients. ACA ethical code A.4.a asserts that counselors should protect a client from unexpected harm (ACA, 2014). Gender and racial discrimination present potential harm to clients. They affect clients’ psychological health. Leo was judgmental and insensitive to clients, committing an ethical violation.
Applicable Code of Ethics
When addressing an ethical violation, one needs to consider the relevant code of ethics. In Leo’s case, ethical codes A.4.a and A.4.a are applicable since they guide how counselors can protect clients and integrate their values into psychotherapy sessions (ACA, 2014). Leo should carefully consider his utterances and attitudes when interacting with patients from diverse backgrounds. He can only refer the clients to another counselor if he is incompetent but not due to a value-based conflict (Grunhaus et al., 2018). Counselor educators need to make sure that Leo has internalized these codes and learn how to apply them in real life. ACA. Section C.5 of the ACA Code of Ethics insists that counselors should not discriminate against clients based on religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity (ACA, 2014). Leo made an ethical violation when he overlooked these guidelines. Hence the reason the committee was unwilling to accommodate him in the program.
Applicable Decision-Making Model
The social constructivist model provides the best approach when resolving the above described ethical violation. This model incorporates some aspects of the feminist model and focuses on the social factors involved in the decision-making process (Corey et al., 2019). Mainly, it allows interaction between the committee and Leo and places the final decision in the current social context. Procedures such as negotiating, consensus, and arbitrating will enable the counselor educators to evaluate Leo’s progress. One of the faculty members needs to guide Leo to understand the repercussions of violating ethical principles. Three approaches can enhance the social constructivist model. One of them is the justice test, which entails analyzing the counselor’s sense of fairness and investigating whether he would treat other clients using a similar course of action (Grunhaus et al., 2018). Leo needs to be exposed to clients who share his beliefs and those from diverse backgrounds. He needs to prove to the public and committee that he can handle them with equal respect and dignity. The publicity test will determine whether Leo is willing to share his ethical decisions with the public (Grunhaus et al., 2018). If the public approves, the counselor would have attained cultural-sensitivity. The final test under the social constructivist model is universality; it checks whether the counselor is willing to recommend his colleagues his ethical decision. The social constructivist model develops counselors’ knowledge and skills by allowing them to interact with others. This model should be widely applied to reduce ethical violations.
Conclusion
Overall, the ethical dilemma and ethical violation are closely related terms in professional counseling. An ethical dilemma arises when there is a value-based conflict. Some counselors may not be equipped to handle multicultural issues, and thus, they need additional training to make the right ethical decision. An ethical violation occurs when a counselor ignores the professional code of ethics, jeopardizing a client’s health. Transcultural integrative models and social constructivist models can provide the best guidance on handling multicultural issues. Counselor educators should incorporate these models into the curriculum.
References
American Counseling Association [ACA]. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2014-code-of-ethics-finaladdress.pdf
Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2019). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (10th ed.). Cengage Learning Custom Publishing.
Grunhaus, C. M., Tuazon, V. E., Gonzalez, E., & Wagner, N. J. (2018). A counselor education case study: The counselor values‐based conflict model in action. Counseling and Values , 63 (2), 164-179.https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12086
Robinson, J., Moyer, M., Maghsoudi, M., & Martinez-Smith, C. (2020). Deconstructing ethical ambiguity: Ethical decision making when working with multiple ethical codes of conduct. Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory & Research , 47 (2), 61-74.https://doi.org/10.1080/15566382.2020.1799675
Zeni, T. A., Buckley, M. R., Mumford, M. D., & Griffith, J. A. (2016). Making “sense” of ethical decision making. The Leadership Quarterly , 27 (6), 838-855.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2016.09.002
