Benchmark – Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices

Directions:

Follow the directions below to write a paper of 1,500-1,750 words on counselor

ethical boundaries and practices.

Provide a thoughtful response to each of the following four sections, including specific, concrete

examples to illustrate your ideas. Use the section headings provided below to separate each

section of your paper.

Your final deliverable should be one cohesive paper with headings addressing all four sections

along with an introduction and conclusion.

Section 1: Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships

1.

How would you determine if a boundary-crossing or dual relationship is ethical and

appropriate? What criteria would you consider when making your decision?

2.

Present examples of how you would apply this criterion to at least four counseling

situations in which you believe the dual relationship issues are complex and ambiguous.

One of your examples should address the issues of physical attraction between clients and

counselors.

Section 2: Professional Collaboration in Counseling: Working with a Multidisciplinary

Team

1.

How would you work collaboratively within your scope of practice with other mental

health professionals in the human service and integrated behavioral health care systems

(e.g., inpatient coordinators, case managers, psychologists, psychiatrists, dieticians) to

ensure quality client care?

2.

Identify a professional setting in which you would like to work. Who would you expect

to work with as part of a multidisciplinary team and what would the role of each person

on the team be, including yourself? Refer to Section D (Relationships With Other

Professionals) of the ACA Code of Ethics or Section A of the ASCA Ethical Code for

School Counselors and any other relevant sources.

Section 3: Relationships with Supervisors and Colleagues

1.

According to the ACA Code of Ethics, what is the role of clinical supervisors and what

are their primary responsibilities? Refer to Section F (Supervision, Training, and

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Teaching) of the ACA Code of Ethics or Section D of the ASCA Ethical Code for School

Counselors and any other relevant sources.

2.

Describe the ethical issues involved in the supervisor-counselor relationship. How is this

relationship similar to the counselor-client relationship? How is it different?

3.

Occasionally, counselors will observe unethical behavior in their colleagues. Describe an

unethical behavior that one might see and identify an ethical decision-making model that

would address the unethical behavior.

Section 4: Development of Your Thinking about Ethics

Clearly describe what you consider to be the most important developments in your thinking

about ethical practice that have occurred during this course. This may include areas you have

clarified your views and beliefs, modified your thinking on a given issue, gained new insights, or

acquired a new perspective. It may include issues whose complexity you now appreciate more

fully or difficult issues that you now understand you must grapple with as a counselor. Be sure

you include specific examples to illustrate general statements. This is the only section where

your personal experience is required. Therefore, you may use first person in this section only