Ethics and Legal Viewpoint
Order Instructions:
Write, from your future perspective of being an ethical and law-abiding counselor, a 1,000-1,250-word paper in which you incorporate your ethical and legal view on the following topics:
Volunteerism-What standards do you need to uphold if you are in a voluntary position or providing free/pro-bono work?
Self-disclosure-Would you disclose personal information to a client? If so, when and how is it appropriate?
Objectivity-Why is it important to remain objective for your client?
Self-care-How will you balance your life?
Spirituality-How will you maintain your spirituality in and out of practice?
Be sure to cite professional code of ethics and/or articles to support your statements.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Ethics and Legal Viewpoint
Volunteerism
Those volunteering should be suited, qualified, and trained for the various roles that they will undertake. The act of volunteering should be based more on the altruistic benefit as opposed to income. In this case, the income should be a secondary aspect regardless of how beneficial it might be. Professionals are prohibited from engaging in services which conflict with their official duties. For instance, it is inappropriate for federal employees to represent parties before federal governments. Worth noting, every federal agency possesses a set of regulatory conduct standards that should be adhered to strictly by the employees. for instance, the Department of Justice attorneys should never offer services involving habeas corpus or criminal matters, despite of if local, state, or federal (5 C.F.R. 3801, 106) (Neighbors et al., 2014).
A professional can offer services to the political organizations if only in compliance to the Hatch Act’s restrictions (5 U.S.C., 7234), in addition to the agency’s policies in relation to political activities by political and high-level appointees. In relation to the US, it is inappropriate to represent someone against the US, based on 18 U.S.C. 205. People seeking government benefits can be assisted in limited ways such as providing non-representational assistance. However, the professional should refrain from contacting a federal agency to influence as stated in 18 U.S.C. 205.
Self-disclosure
In considering self-disclosure’s ethical aspects, the principles which are most relevant include beneficence, non-maleficence, and a fiduciary relationship between patients and clinicians where the patient’s welfare and interests always predominate. Abstinence from individual gratification, autonomy, altruism, neutrality, and compassion can also be invoked when resolving dilemmas related to self-disclosure. However, therapists are prohibited from violating the stated principles by engaging in self-disclosure which is seductive, excessive, narcissistic or exhibitionistic, and exploitative (Psychotherapy.net, 2014). Moreover, it is unethical to engage in self-disclosure if the therapist has the intention of merely unburdening her/ himself of some concerns, while the patient gets no foreseeable benefit.
Intentional self-disclosures might be therapeutic or clinically-based, alliance-building, and supportive, but they can also be care-seeking, exhibitionistic, or seductive. In case a patient appears ambivalent about having individual questions answered, then the therapist has a role of exploring and determining if the patient actually should hear the answers to avoid a therapeutic impasse. The healthcare professional has a fiduciary obligation of taking responsibility for maintaining as well as setting the boundaries, even if the patient is pressuring that they be transgressed. It is important for the professionals to think through personal views on self-disclosure ethics in advance. The professionals should be careful that nondisclosure and disclosure can both impair or foster the therapeutic alliance (Morris, Javier & Herron, 2014).
Objectivity
There is a great need for professionals to promote and protect the law’s rule. When considering the interests of clients, some of the issues that come up include making proper decisions regarding when evidence should be disclosed, alleging fraud, witnesses who might present perjured evidence, and debt instruments’ status. In these matters, there is a heavy dependence on the objectivity and ethicality of professionals. It is advisable that healthcare professionals are handling their patients; they should explore the issues being faced from different angles. This goes a long way in ensuring that the interests of their clients are served accordingly. As far as objectivity is concerned, professionals are advised to think of the ethical issues as both individual and systemic problems. This can enable the professionals to handle the issues effectively. Avoiding bias and prejudice is very necessary.
Self- care
A majority of the ethics codes have provisions on the importance of self-care. For instance, the 2002 APA ethics version, for instance, instructs the psychologists to remain aware about the potent impacts of their mental and physical health on the ability of assisting the colleagues. Therefore, the first fundamental step is awareness, but there are many other things which are vital. According to standard 2.06 of the Personal Problems and Conflicts assert that psychologists can refrain from initiating activities which they truly know pose a substantial likelihood of their individual problems hindering them from carrying out the work-related activities competently. When professionals become informed of the individual problems which are likely to interfere with the adequate performance of work-related duties, then taking appropriate measures is encouraged. These might include terminating, suspending, or limiting work-related duties, and obtaining professional assistance or consultation. According to the 2005 American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics, counselors are advised to participate in self-care activities so as to promote and maintain their physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being so as to adequately meet professional responsibilities. Therefore, a professional is right to refrain from providing professional services in case of impairments which are likely to cause clients and others harm. Self-care is a fundamental prerequisite for there to be competent care. Therefore, self-care is a moral imperative, ethical necessity, and legal need.
Spirituality
The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct 2010 clearly address the issues to do with religion and spirituality in the discussion about individual differences and diversity. This is in relation to Principle E (Respect of People’s Rights and Dignity). Here, it is clearly stated that psychologists know about and respect role, individual, and cultural differences, including those with religion as the basis, and should have a deep regard for these factors when collaborating with members from these groups (Lee & Nelson, 2014). Moreover, in Standard 3.01 of the Unfair Discrimination, it is clearly advised that when engaging in work-related activities, it is important for psychologists to refrain from unfair discrimination as far as religion is concerned, or any basis that the law proscribes. Therefore, psychologists should be well informed about these issues so as to avoid bias and prejudice. Moreover, they ought to be sensitive about their possible meaning and roles to patient’s lives. Hence, it is vital to be proactive about dealing with them (Bornstein & Wiener, 2014).
Although spiritual and religious issues might not be the principal focus of treatment, they are relevant to the life of every client and can guide the professional in defining their beliefs, values, decision making, and lifestyle choices. Therefore, according to the APA Ethics Code (Principle E), professionals ought to be sensitive to, respect, and aware of all personal differences, including spiritual and religious beliefs, practices, and values. Overlooking or intentionally avoiding or ignoring to address every client’s spiritual and religious practices and beliefs is doing them considerable disservice. The client should be given priority in all these issues.
References
Bornstein, B. H., & Wiener, R. L. (2014). Justice, conflict and wellbeing: Multidisciplinary perspectives. New York: Praeger Publishers.
Lee, R. E., & Nelson, T. S. (2014). The contemporary relational supervisor. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
Morris, D. O., Javier, R. A., & Herron, W. G. (2014). Specialty competencies in professional psychology. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
Neighbors, I. A., Chambers, A., Levin, E., Nordman, G., & Tutrone, C. (2014). Social Work and the Law: Proceedings of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, 2000. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
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