Discussion reply week 5 career 2

Cindy Le wrote:February 3rd, 2026 2:54 pm

2a. Elaborate on the culturally ethical practices you would develop to work with diverse clientele in vocational or rehabilitation settings.

Ongoing cultural humility and self-awareness: routinely examine my assumptions about success, work ethic, disability, family roles, gender norms, professionalism always intend on increasing awareness of how power, context and culture affect ethical decision making/services

Culturally responsive informed consent: explain services, testing, limits of confidentiality and client rights in a way that is developmentally and culturally appropriate. Using interpreters/translators if needed vs family members

Routinely incorporate how intersectionality is continuous factor in work options, safety, discrimination, risk (race/ethnicity, disability, immigration status, justice involvement, poverty, gender identity, etc overlapping identities)

Check for assessment validity to clients needs (format, timing, assistance) document any limitations

Remain client driven/autonomy and avoid labor market norms. Collaborative goal setting

Systemic collaboration with clear releases of information, remain vigilant through any coerciveness or stigmatizing, share minimum necessary information to other stake holders (rehab client)

Normalize advocacy: incorporate advocacy steps and planning, documentation support, etc when clients face barriers like discrimination, inaccessible workplaces or biased hiring practices

Supervision/consultation/ document decision trail if there is competing obligations (policy vs welfare, cultural norms vs safety/consent)

2b. Consider the case scenario below:

Joe works in a community job placement center as a career counselor. Joes personal values include a belief in working in a client-centered way and to take the interest of the client into account when supporting them in making decisions regarding their progression. From his past experience Joe also has a fear of mental health and the challenges that this brings. Joe is referred a client named Anne for career guidance. Anne is aged 28, is a single parent and is out of work for three years. She has low levels of education and skills.

After three months of working together, meeting once per week, for one hour of career guidance, Joe has concerns about the Annes mental health. A lot of these concerns are related to interpersonal contact between Joe and Anne. Joe noticed that Anne can be quick to anger and has made vague threats against people. Anne can also be paranoid at times, tending to display irrational thinking. At times Anne would speak very rapidly, without logical connections between sentences. These symptoms appear to be consistent with stimulant drug abuse (ex. cocaine or methamphetamines). Joe is under pressure from his manager to achieve placement targets into employment, education or training as the job placement center funding and his salary is dependent on achieving placement targets. Anne is interested in enrolling in a work experience/training program. This is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local community organizations. Joe has doubts about Annes stress coping levels for this type of scheme.

Elaborate on the ethical dilemma in this case scenario and how ethical guidelines can provide guidance for the career counselor to navigate the ethical dilemma.

Competing ethical obligations

Client welfare vs agency placement targets: quick placement pressures but joe suspects anne isnt ready for stressful work experience placement. ACA prioritizes client welfare

Competence/value awareness vs fear driven decisions: joes fear of mental health = maybe avoid addressing real warning signs, overreacting and pushing anne out to protect himself. ACA prioritizes practicing within competence/scope and managing personal bias

Confidentiality vs risk of harm: annes vague threats showing paranoia/irrationality. Potential confidentiality breach if joe really believes there can be harm to herself or others

Autonomy vs nonmaleficence: program vs setting her up to fail. Her choice vs rushed placement leading to risks/conflict/ escalated symptoms

Ethically guided steps

Recognize the tension in placement targets/ annes readiness- ground in client welfare

Ethical decision making process with consultation and documentation: minimally necessary information

Keep clear around scope (career counseling): if necessary, refer out. If anne declines joe can document and evaluate on continuing services or not

Transparent conversation/ informed consent: discuss his observations in a nonjudgemental way, discuss the options and confidentiality limits

Evaluate threats as vague or credible, if risk is serious/foreseeable- execut action consistent with the law and minimal disclosure

Address organizational pressure: joe can communicate ethical duties require a readiness-based plan rather than rushed placement. Rushed placement could harm partner sites

references:

American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

Smith, T. J. (2021). Multicultural ethics in rehabilitation services. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 54(3), 295304. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-211140