COUN226 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Professional Code Of Quebec, Pro Bono, Therapeutic Relationship
19 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Why do we have ethics codes?
Protect the public
-
Educate members of the profession about ethical conduct
-
Ensures accountability by enforcing the standards
-
Serve as a catalyst for improving practice - be best practise
-
Protect the profession from government, allowing the profession to regulate itself
and function more autonomously
-
Help control disagreement, promoting stability within the profession
-
Protect practitioners in the instance of complaints
-
Hypothetical
A ship sinks at sea. You find yourself in a small group in the last life boat, which is
clearly overburdened by one person. You are nominated by the group to decide
which of the following passengers must be excluded from the life boat. The chosen
passenger will certainly die. Your comrades are:
i) a pregnant woman
ii) a renowned cancer surgeon
iii) a 20 year old, intellectually-impaired man
iv) a researcher in depression
v) a reader in Religious Studies
-
Whom would you choose? How would you decide?
-
Key terms in decision-making
Ethics, Morals & Values
Values: Beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living
○
Morals: Our perspective of good conduct
• Influenced by values, which are influenced by:
Culture
□
Society
□
Religion
□
○
Ethics:
In this context: agreed-upon rules (based on moral principles) about
good conduct established by a group (the counselling profession)
Professional Code of Ethics □
§
○
-
Law and Ethics
Law: defines the minimum standards society will tolerate - enforced by
government
-
Ethics: represents the ideal standards - enforced by professional associations
-
Regulation
The legal and ethical practice of mental health professionals is regulated in all
states at a national and/or state level
○
Registration laws establish the scope of practice of professionals and how
these laws will be enforced by registration boards
○
-
Professional Monitoring of Practice
The major duties of regulatory boards are:
to determine standards for admission into the profession
-
to screen applicants applying for registration
-
to regulate the practice of counselling for the public good
-
to conduct disciplinary proceedings involving violations of standards of
professional conduct
-
Levels of Ethical Practice
Mandatory Ethics
Level of ethical functioning wherein counsellors comply with minimal
standards, acknowledging the basic “musts” and “must nots” - ethic codes on
what you have to do!
E.g., no sex with client
§
○
-
Aspirational Ethics
Refers to the highest professional standards of conduct to which counsellors
can aspire
Example: providing services pro bono for those in the community who
cannot afford needed services
§
○
-
Principle and Virtue Ethics
Principle Ethics
Based on moral principles
○
“Is what I am doing ethical?”
○
-
Virtue Ethics:
Focuses on characteristic traits of the counsellor
“Am I ethical?”
○
○
Intergrity - motivated to do what is right becaues its right, not in fear1.
Discernment - maintain persepective and create others 2.
Acceptance of emotion - can inform reasoning process - beaware of our emotions
and how it effects our decision
3.
Self-awareness - knowing own biases and how it may effect your client 4.
Independence with the community - understand our community beliefs5.
-
Models of Ethical Decision Making
The Feminist Model
Calls for maximum involvement of the client at every stage of the process - more
personal
•
Based on the feminist principle that power should be equalised in the therapeutic
relationship
•
-
Transcultural Intergrative Model
Addresses the need for including cultural factors in the process of resolving ethical
dilemmas
•
Based on universal factors such as altruism, responsibilty, justice and caring •
-
The Social Constructionist Model
Focuses primarily on the social aspects of decision making in counselling •
Sees ethical decisions-making process as interactive rather than individual •
Considers the social context itself•
-
Steps to making an ethical decision
Identify the problem 1.
Identify the potential issues involved 2.
Review the relevant ethics codes 3.
Know the applicable laws and regulations - can change with each work place 4.
Obtain consultation - make better decisions taking with other people and
practioners
5.
Consider possible and probable course of action - what are your desired uotcome
and actions to get these outcomes
6.
Enumerate the consquences of various decisions - pros and cons of actions7.
Choose what appears to be the bet course of action8.
The Case of Carla
Carla has been counselling a 15 year old girl, Danielle, for several weeks. Carla has had
to work hard to gain Danielle’s trust. Danielle was raised by abusive parents until she
was 13, when she went to live with her grandparents. Today she tells Carla she is having
some problems with her boyfriend. As Danielle describes these problems, Carla realises
that the boyfriend is treating her in an abusive manner. When Carla expresses her
concern about this, Danielle replies that she loves him and can get him to change, that
her grandparents don’t know about his behaviour, and that she absolutely does not
want Carla to tell them or anyone else.
-
How might you apply the six principle ethics to this case?
-
Legal problems
Legal proceedings have been initiated - lawyer = serious problem 1.
Lawyers are involved 2.
The therapists is in danger of having a complaint filed against him/her for
misconduct
3.
When confronted with a legal issue, consult someone from the legal profession,
not the counselling profession
-
When values, ethics and law collide
Ethics trump values
-
Law trumps ethics
-
Few conflict between law and ethics in counselling
-
Unethical colleagues
Do you judge practitioners?
-
Do you approach the person in question?
-
When is it necessary to bring to the attention of profession board?
-
Professional have an obligation to deal with colleagues when they suspect unethical
conduct
-
Informal peer monitoring is an effective way of 'watching out for each other'
Directly confront the colleague 1.
If not successful, file a formal complaint 2.
Expectionally bad offences require immediate reporting3.
-
Week 1 Video
Ice Epidemic (duration 25:00 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZqbf_3QA-g
Respecting the right of client help to make client
make independant decision
-
Faitful to promises we make - like confedientality
unless outside boudrise
-
Week 1 Lecture
Sunday, 25 February 2018
10:45 PM
Why do we have ethics codes?
Protect the public
-
Educate members of the profession about ethical conduct
-
Ensures accountability by enforcing the standards
-
Serve as a catalyst for improving practice - be best practise
-
Protect the profession from government, allowing the profession to regulate itself
and function more autonomously
-
Help control disagreement, promoting stability within the profession
-
Protect practitioners in the instance of complaints
-
Hypothetical
A ship sinks at sea. You find yourself in a small group in the last life boat, which is
clearly overburdened by one person. You are nominated by the group to decide
which of the following passengers must be excluded from the life boat. The chosen
passenger will certainly die. Your comrades are:
i) a pregnant woman
ii) a renowned cancer surgeon
iii) a 20 year old, intellectually-impaired man
iv) a researcher in depression
v) a reader in Religious Studies
-
Whom would you choose? How would you decide?
-
Key terms in decision-making
Ethics, Morals & Values
Values: Beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living
○
Morals: Our perspective of good conduct
• Influenced by values, which are influenced by:
Culture
□
Society
□
Religion
□
○
Ethics:
In this context: agreed-upon rules (based on moral principles) about
good conduct established by a group (the counselling profession)
Professional Code of Ethics □
§
○
-
Law and Ethics
Law: defines the minimum standards society will tolerate - enforced by
government
-
Ethics: represents the ideal standards - enforced by professional associations
-
Regulation
The legal and ethical practice of mental health professionals is regulated in all
states at a national and/or state level
○
Registration laws establish the scope of practice of professionals and how
these laws will be enforced by registration boards
○
-
Professional Monitoring of Practice
The major duties of regulatory boards are:
to determine standards for admission into the profession
-
to screen applicants applying for registration
-
to regulate the practice of counselling for the public good
-
to conduct disciplinary proceedings involving violations of standards of
professional conduct
-
Levels of Ethical Practice
Mandatory Ethics
Level of ethical functioning wherein counsellors comply with minimal
standards, acknowledging the basic “musts” and “must nots” - ethic codes on
what you have to do!
E.g., no sex with client
§
○
-
Aspirational Ethics
Refers to the highest professional standards of conduct to which counsellors
can aspire
Example: providing services pro bono for those in the community who
cannot afford needed services
§
○
-
Principle and Virtue Ethics
Principle Ethics
Based on moral principles
○
“Is what I am doing ethical?”
○
-
Virtue Ethics:
Focuses on characteristic traits of the counsellor
“Am I ethical?”
○
○
Intergrity - motivated to do what is right becaues its right, not in fear1.
Discernment - maintain persepective and create others 2.
Acceptance of emotion - can inform reasoning process - beaware of our emotions
and how it effects our decision
3.
Self-awareness - knowing own biases and how it may effect your client 4.
Independence with the community - understand our community beliefs5.
-
Models of Ethical Decision Making
The Feminist Model
Calls for maximum involvement of the client at every stage of the process - more
personal
•
Based on the feminist principle that power should be equalised in the therapeutic
relationship
•
-
Transcultural Intergrative Model
Addresses the need for including cultural factors in the process of resolving ethical
dilemmas
•
Based on universal factors such as altruism, responsibilty, justice and caring •
-
The Social Constructionist Model
Focuses primarily on the social aspects of decision making in counselling •
Sees ethical decisions-making process as interactive rather than individual •
Considers the social context itself•
-
Steps to making an ethical decision
Identify the problem 1.
Identify the potential issues involved 2.
Review the relevant ethics codes 3.
Know the applicable laws and regulations - can change with each work place 4.
Obtain consultation - make better decisions taking with other people and
practioners
5.
Consider possible and probable course of action - what are your desired uotcome
and actions to get these outcomes
6.
Enumerate the consquences of various decisions - pros and cons of actions7.
Choose what appears to be the bet course of action8.
The Case of Carla
Carla has been counselling a 15 year old girl, Danielle, for several weeks. Carla has had
to work hard to gain Danielle’s trust. Danielle was raised by abusive parents until she
was 13, when she went to live with her grandparents. Today she tells Carla she is having
some problems with her boyfriend. As Danielle describes these problems, Carla realises
that the boyfriend is treating her in an abusive manner. When Carla expresses her
concern about this, Danielle replies that she loves him and can get him to change, that
her grandparents don’t know about his behaviour, and that she absolutely does not
want Carla to tell them or anyone else.
-
How might you apply the six principle ethics to this case?
-
Legal problems
Legal proceedings have been initiated - lawyer = serious problem 1.
Lawyers are involved 2.
The therapists is in danger of having a complaint filed against him/her for
misconduct
3.
When confronted with a legal issue, consult someone from the legal profession,
not the counselling profession
-
When values, ethics and law collide
Ethics trump values
-
Law trumps ethics
-
Few conflict between law and ethics in counselling
-
Unethical colleagues
Do you judge practitioners?
-
Do you approach the person in question?
-
When is it necessary to bring to the attention of profession board?
-
Professional have an obligation to deal with colleagues when they suspect unethical
conduct
-
Informal peer monitoring is an effective way of 'watching out for each other'
Directly confront the colleague 1.
If not successful, file a formal complaint 2.
Expectionally bad offences require immediate reporting3.
-
Week 1 Video
Ice Epidemic (duration 25:00 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZqbf_3QA-g
Respecting the right of client help to make client
make independant decision
-
Faitful to promises we make - like confedientality
unless outside boudrise
-
Week 1 Lecture
Sunday, 25 February 2018
10:45 PM
Why do we have ethics codes?
Protect the public
-
Educate members of the profession about ethical conduct
-
Ensures accountability by enforcing the standards
-
Serve as a catalyst for improving practice - be best practise
-
Protect the profession from government, allowing the profession to regulate itself
and function more autonomously
-
Help control disagreement, promoting stability within the profession
-
Protect practitioners in the instance of complaints
-
Hypothetical
A ship sinks at sea. You find yourself in a small group in the last life boat, which is
clearly overburdened by one person. You are nominated by the group to decide
which of the following passengers must be excluded from the life boat. The chosen
passenger will certainly die. Your comrades are:
i) a pregnant woman
ii) a renowned cancer surgeon
iii) a 20 year old, intellectually-impaired man
iv) a researcher in depression
v) a reader in Religious Studies
-
Whom would you choose? How would you decide?
-
Key terms in decision-making
Ethics, Morals & Values
Values: Beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living
○
Morals: Our perspective of good conduct
• Influenced by values, which are influenced by:
Culture □
Society □
Religion □
○
Ethics:
In this context: agreed-upon rules (based on moral principles) about
good conduct established by a group (the counselling profession)
Professional Code of Ethics
□
§
○
-
Law and Ethics
Law: defines the minimum standards society will tolerate - enforced by
government
-
Ethics: represents the ideal standards - enforced by professional associations
-
Regulation
The legal and ethical practice of mental health professionals is regulated in all
states at a national and/or state level
○
Registration laws establish the scope of practice of professionals and how
these laws will be enforced by registration boards
○
-
Professional Monitoring of Practice
The major duties of regulatory boards are:
to determine standards for admission into the profession
-
to screen applicants applying for registration
-
to regulate the practice of counselling for the public good
-
to conduct disciplinary proceedings involving violations of standards of
professional conduct
-
Levels of Ethical Practice
Mandatory Ethics
Level of ethical functioning wherein counsellors comply with minimal
standards, acknowledging the basic “musts” and “must nots” - ethic codes on
what you have to do!
E.g., no sex with client
§
○
-
Aspirational Ethics
Refers to the highest professional standards of conduct to which counsellors
can aspire
Example: providing services pro bono for those in the community who
cannot afford needed services
§
○
-
Principle and Virtue Ethics
Principle Ethics
Based on moral principles
○
“Is what I am doing ethical?”
○
-
Virtue Ethics:
Focuses on characteristic traits of the counsellor
“Am I ethical?”
○
○
Intergrity - motivated to do what is right becaues its right, not in fear1.
Discernment - maintain persepective and create others 2.
Acceptance of emotion - can inform reasoning process - beaware of our emotions
and how it effects our decision
3.
Self-awareness - knowing own biases and how it may effect your client 4.
Independence with the community - understand our community beliefs5.
-
Models of Ethical Decision Making
The Feminist Model
Calls for maximum involvement of the client at every stage of the process - more
personal
•
Based on the feminist principle that power should be equalised in the therapeutic
relationship
•
-
Transcultural Intergrative Model
Addresses the need for including cultural factors in the process of resolving ethical
dilemmas
•
Based on universal factors such as altruism, responsibilty, justice and caring •
-
The Social Constructionist Model
Focuses primarily on the social aspects of decision making in counselling •
Sees ethical decisions-making process as interactive rather than individual •
Considers the social context itself•
-
Steps to making an ethical decision
Identify the problem 1.
Identify the potential issues involved 2.
Review the relevant ethics codes 3.
Know the applicable laws and regulations - can change with each work place 4.
Obtain consultation - make better decisions taking with other people and
practioners
5.
Consider possible and probable course of action - what are your desired uotcome
and actions to get these outcomes
6.
Enumerate the consquences of various decisions - pros and cons of actions7.
Choose what appears to be the bet course of action8.
The Case of Carla
Carla has been counselling a 15 year old girl, Danielle, for several weeks. Carla has had
to work hard to gain Danielle’s trust. Danielle was raised by abusive parents until she
was 13, when she went to live with her grandparents. Today she tells Carla she is having
some problems with her boyfriend. As Danielle describes these problems, Carla realises
that the boyfriend is treating her in an abusive manner. When Carla expresses her
concern about this, Danielle replies that she loves him and can get him to change, that
her grandparents don’t know about his behaviour, and that she absolutely does not
want Carla to tell them or anyone else.
-
How might you apply the six principle ethics to this case?
-
Legal problems
Legal proceedings have been initiated - lawyer = serious problem 1.
Lawyers are involved 2.
The therapists is in danger of having a complaint filed against him/her for
misconduct
3.
When confronted with a legal issue, consult someone from the legal profession,
not the counselling profession
-
When values, ethics and law collide
Ethics trump values
-
Law trumps ethics
-
Few conflict between law and ethics in counselling
-
Unethical colleagues
Do you judge practitioners?
-
Do you approach the person in question?
-
When is it necessary to bring to the attention of profession board?
-
Professional have an obligation to deal with colleagues when they suspect unethical
conduct
-
Informal peer monitoring is an effective way of 'watching out for each other'
Directly confront the colleague 1.
If not successful, file a formal complaint 2.
Expectionally bad offences require immediate reporting3.
-
Week 1 Video
Ice Epidemic (duration 25:00 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZqbf_3QA-g
Respecting the right of client help to make client
make independant decision
-
Faitful to promises we make - like confedientality
unless outside boudrise
-
Week 1 Lecture
Sunday, 25 February 2018 10:45 PM
Document Summary
Educate members of the profession about ethical conduct. Serve as a catalyst for improving practice - be best practise. Protect the profession from government, allowing the profession to regulate its and function more autonomously. Help control disagreement, promoting stability within the profession. You find yourself in a small group in the last life boat, which clearly overburdened by one person. You are nominated by the group to decide which of the following passengers must be excluded from the life boat. Your comrades are: a pregnant woman, a renowned cancer surgeon, a 20 year old, intellectually-impaired man, a researcher in depression, a reader in religious studies. Values: beliefs and attitudes that provide direction to everyday living. Morals: our perspective of good conduct: influenced by values, which are influenced by: In this context: agreed-upon rules (based on moral principles) about good conduct established by a group (the counselling profession) Law: defines the minimum standards society will tolerate - enforced by government.
