Ethical Decision-Making Processes #5

Assignment Overview:

Instructions: This week, students will again use an ethical decision-making model to address a mini case study dilemma developed by a peer in Week 1. Students will apply the ACA endorsed ethical decision-making model while doing this assignment, respond to the dilemma in an ethical manner.

Each student will be responsible writing as if they were counselor in this situation what would you do? Next students will then comment on (1) way that they responded to the dilemma that they would do the same again and (1) way they responded that they would do differently.

Ethical Mini Case To Consider:

The case of Maria is an example of a licensed professional counselor current in a community mental health clinic where adolescents and young adults are served. One of her clients is a 17-year-old high school senior called Jason, who has been undergoing counseling on his anxiety and academic stress issues. In a recent meeting, Jason revealed to him that he has been taking a prescription stimulant drug that is used by his mother to enable him to be awake and active when studying for exams. He disclosed that the usage is infrequent and not a high-risk factor but said that the key element in the counseling relationship is confidentiality and that the honesty and candor of self-disclosure require trust that is vital in the ethics of professional counseling (Remley & Herlihy, 2020).

Maria is facing an ethical conflict because she thinks about what she can do to react to the information disclosed by Jason. Although one of the key roles of a counselor is to maintain the chosen secrecy when preserving the therapeutic relationship, ethical decision making must pay close attention to the concepts of beneficence and nonmaleficence in cases where the safety of the client can be at risk (Remley & Herlihy, 2020). Since Jason is a minor who participates in an activity that can be detrimental, Maria has to balance her responsibility to safeguard his welfare with the expressed privacy that the former proposes.

Maria is required to consider the ethical and legal boundaries of confidentiality in counseling the minor because decision-making in adolescent cases is complicated by parental rights and informed consent. Ethical practice involves a process where a counselor must exercise autonomy versus the consideration of development and professional judgment in favor of a client and probably apply an ethical decision-making model to determine the way to act in case of competing responsibilities (Remley & Herlihy, 2020). This case puts Maria in a slim position on whether to keep the situation confidential or to go an extra mile to mitigate the chances of harm and serve the overall wellness of Jason.

• Use an ethical decision-making model to resolve an ethical dilemma case study through video demonstration
• Apply ethical principles to the counseling profession

Helpful Resources

This week Reading: Chapter 11, 12, & 13 Remley, T. P. & Herlihy, B. (2020). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

: https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf?sfvrsn=55ab73d0_1

ACA Code of Ethics Sections: A.1.d, A.2.d., A.8, B.5.b., C, and D

: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/winter11-working.pdf

Brennan, C. (2013). . Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 35(3), 245-261.

http://ez-proxy.methodist.edu:2048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/ensuring-ethical-practice-guidelines-mental/docview/1404761293/se-2