Responding to Ethical and Legal Issues
Review the case examples corresponding to your specialization in the media piece, Responding to Ethical and Legal Issues – Case Study, and then select an ethical decision-making model. To aid in selection, first review pages 15–18 of the Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling text and this week’s readings. You can also choose an ethical decision-making model from a current, peer-reviewed article in a professional counseling journal of your choice. Some examples include Practitioner's Guide to Ethical Decision Making [PDF] (Forester-Miller & Davis, 2016) and the Intercultural Model of Ethical Decision Making (Luke, Goodrich, & Gilbride, 2013). Use the Responding to Ethical and Legal Issues template, linked below, as a guide for constructing the following sections of your paper:
• Analysis of Ethical Decision-Making Model: Identify the most appropriate decision-making model appropriate for your selected case. Substantiate why this model is a better choice in comparison to others. Analyze the effectiveness of the selected decision-making model and provide an example of how it might be used to resolve legal or ethical dilemmas when working with students or clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Application of Ethical Decision-Making Model: Apply your chosen decision-making model to the case you reviewed. Discuss how you, as the counselor working with this case, would apply each step of the ethical decision-making model selected to respond effectively to these legal and ethical issues.
o Identify the ethical and legal dilemmas in the case selected for your area of specialization (CMHC/SC).
o Apply the selected most-appropriate ethical decision making-model. Include specific examples to illustrate the actions you, as the counselor, would take at each step.
o Include the specific ethical codes or standards and state laws that you would consult when determining your response to the situation. Explain how these laws and codes or standards would influence the choices you might make in responding to the situation?
• Impact of Cultural and Developmental Factors: Describe how you, as the counselor, would demonstrate developmental and cultural sensitivity when addressing the legal and ethical issues presented. Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas (such as culture, age, gender, setting, and population).
• Impact of Counselor Values and Strategies to Address Them: In the role of the counselor, explain how your personal values and beliefs impact your understanding of the situation and the choices you might make when deciding how to respond to the legal and ethical issues that may arise in working with this specific client or student.
o Include at least two examples of specific values and beliefs you hold that may influence your reactions to your selected case and the actions you may take.
o Present at least two specific strategies that you will develop to address the influence that your personal values and beliefs may have on ethical decision making with clients or students. Be sure to substantiate the implementation of these strategies.
• Include your graphic and two-paragraph description of it that you completed in Module 10 in Week 8.
this model incorporates both individual and community perspectives into its decision making process which allows counselors to more accurately assess the situational complexities that may arise when working with clients from diverse backgrounds.
When applying the Intercultural Model of Ethical Decision Making to this case, I would identify the legal and ethical dilemmas at hand by first considering all pertinent information about the client such as age/stage of development; race/ethnicity; gender identity; sexual orientation; culture and values etc.; as well as any relevant laws or codes that govern my practice in CMHC/SC. Once I had identified all relevant information pertaining to my client’s identity, I would then proceed onto developing a therapeutic relationship built upon trust and understanding between my client and myself by engaging in culturally sensitive practices throughout our treatment together. To ensure that I was being culturally competent in my practice with this specific client, I would consult relevant manuals such as A Guide for Culturally Competent Mental Health Care 2020 Edition (National Alliance on Mental Illness) along with referring back to applicable laws or codes of ethics governing CMHC/SC when addressing any potential legal or ethical dilemmas either during or after our course of treatment .
In order to demonstrate developmental sensitivity when addressing legal and ethical issues presented in this case ,I would closely monitor any changes that occur throughout each session so that I may adjust my therapeutic approach accordingly depending on where each particular session takes us versus remaining stagnant within one approach for every session regardless if it remained effective “A successful outcome will rely heavily on counselor awareness” (Lavoie et al., 2018). Furthermore ,when deciding how best respond ethically while maintaining respect for different beliefs involved ,I must be cognizant of not just solely looking towards myself but also consider what action might be most beneficial based off my client ‘s own beliefs(Ellis-Christensen et al., 2014). Additionally since some cultures possess significantly different ways of managing mental health services than normally used here ,I would need remain open minded while acknowledging these differences even though they may sometimes clash with personal values (i.e finding out if there are possible traditional healers or alternative forms treatments available )(Etter-Lewis&Singh 2002).
Lastly ,while displaying competency in responding legally and ethically should always remain forefront within counseling sessions ;the influence imposed by personal values still remains ever present . As such it is important regularly address ones biases through actively assessing oneself prior engaging with clients using tools like self reflection reports(Kerzner et al.). However doing so does not replace actual accountability measures implemented through curbing defensiveness whenever facing challenging situations instead focusing more on actively listening without passing judgement .Additionally seeking out professional consultation from colleagues can also help provide insight into perspective topics presented during sessions(Fouad & Primeaux 2009 ).