CNL-505 T8 E-Portfolio - Benchmark - Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices
CNL-505 T8 E-Portfolio - Benchmark - Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices
CNL-505 T8 E-Portfolio - Benchmark - Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices
Michelle Hernandez
Counselors have the ability to change the course of many clients' situations by providing
quality and ethical care. To do this, counselors must remain objective and avoid scenarios where
this may be obstructed, for example, dealing with dual relationships where professionalism could
be negatively impacted. Professionalism also comes from being able to consult with colleagues
and supervisors who are able to ethically provide support to each other. To do this a relationship
and connection must properly be built between one another. This could become complicated if
the counselor at hand is not able to properly network or is not receiving acceptable supervision.
In addition, prior to practicing with clients, counselors gained experience by being supervised by
could then determine counselors in training capability to practice; thus it is important to have a
counselor-client roles. It will also teach counselors to take action when they find themselves in
difficult situations with colleagues who are performing unethically. With this education and
experience counselors become aware of greater case example scenarios and fully appreciate
A dual relationship may be considered ethical if it is not impairing the work of the
counselor. This could mean that the counselor ultimately has the decision to choose whether
However, refusing working with a client could be considered unethical despite the
be refrained if a counselor shares sexual intimacy with potential client(s) (Gottlieb, 1993). It is
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important to consider who this client is to the counselor, is it someone who the counselor has
been involved with sexually or an individual who the counselor crosses paths with once in a
while? Nonetheless, the American Counseling Association (2014) mentions that counselors
weigh the risks when entering certain dual-relationships besides those of consisting of sexual
intimacy, in addition, counselors should make note of these dual-relationships prior to starting
sessions for protection to counselor and client (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014,
Counselors determine if they work with potential clients who they have come across in
church, grocery stores, community events, and other outside interactions. These relationships are
not deemed as difficult to manage, on the other hand, a client-counselor relationship with an old
partner, family, friend, or a “spark,” may be deemed unethical to work with. These complex and
ambiguous relationships can cause more harm than good as it could impact counselors
objectivity (ACA, 2014, section A.5.c.; ACA, 2014, section A.5.d.). A “spark,” could be defined
as someone who the counselor finds physically attractive and craves intimacy with; thus, this
alone impairs counselors judgment similar to other complex relationships like family, friends, or
an old partner.
At times working with professionals who are within the same scope of practice could be
great but at other times could be found difficult. In cases of disagreement, a counselor in practice
would find it hard to navigate with their multidisciplinary team. This could be due to the
manners that each professional learned and trained for their practice which may create tension
(Hrovat et al., 2012, p. 3). However, to ensure quality care to clients, each professional should
come to terms with the agreement of clients needs being met then set differences aside by
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implementing shared boundaries through the profession (Hrovat et al., 2012, p. 4). Shared
boundaries could be ensuring no harm is done to the clients and shared dedication to ethical work
to provide quality client care. To work collaboratively with other mental health professionals in
the human health and behavioral health care systems, each professional could learn the
disciplinaries to become familiar with their team's profession. Learning their team's
disciplinaries would allow each professional to work hand and hand; this learning could be in the
form of trainings (Hrovat et al., 2012, p.4). With this, each team member would be able to come
to one another to share knowledge and advice for quality client care.
specialization. For example, in situations where a counselor is practicing in a hospital they are
more likely to work with other health professionals such as nurses, doctors, and other clinical
professionals. The role of each professional in this scenario would be to manage, support, and
take care of the similar client at hand. These professionals are most likely to internally refer their
clients to counselors who work in the same hospital as they do. Therefore, working with one
another to ensure that the client is receiving care by working together to find solutions or ensure
the client needs are being met (ACA, 2014, section D.1.d.).
Many of the work that a counselor conducts with a client has to do with how they first
started and their competency. In order to practice legally within the state a counselor resides in,
they first must complete the hours of experience that their state is requesting. This is done by an
agency with a supervisor who is capable of providing the supervisor-counselor relationship. The
supervisor-counselor relationship helps counselors learn how to properly handle certain scenarios
with future or current clients; therefore, impacting the work of the counselor as a professional.
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Ethical supervision would allow the counselor to excel in their profession; thus, the important
role of the supervisor is to overview counselors' work, ensure no harm to clients, teach
procedures, teach professionalism, and ensure informed consent to successful lead counselor(s)
ensure that the counselor is capable of providing that quality service to the client with whom the
counselor forms a relationship with. It works hand and hand, the supervisor provides that
leadership influence by working with the counselor in training in reference to “goals, advocacy,
supervisor-counselor relationship could dictate the role of the counselor in the future and also
may play impact licensure. If a supervisor lacks in providing counselors in training direct
job to provide proper evaluation to the counselor (ACA, 2014, section F.6.a). This works with a
clients. Each of these must meet quality evaluation, care, and support to ensure no harm is done
difference between the two is one is to allow the counselor to practice in their state
(counselor-client).
As much competence that a counselor has, it does not mean they are safe from minor
mistakes or at times ones that can be irreversible. A case example of this could be, as mentioned
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earlier, a sexual relationship with a client that a colleague has been intimately involved with in
the past. This under the American Counseling Association is deemed unethical due to
colleague they [the witness] should take into consideration what steps to take next. In a
“Practitioner's Guide to Ethical Decision Making,” Holly Forester-Miller and Thomas E. Davis
(2016) informs under the ethical decision-making model in no specific order to evaluate the
situation, determine stakeholders, consult with other professionals, follow the code, and take
action to deal with the scenario at hand (Miller & Davis, 2016, pp. 1-6).
education and experiences. These set the tone for clarity and understanding of what it is required
to be considered ethical, competent, professional, responsible, and more. Those who are current
student counselors learn the importance of relationships and their duties to remain ethical.
However, through this process it could be difficult for some to not impose their own values upon
their clients. This is why a supervisor-counselor relationship is also principal in future counselors
practice as it may teach them how to avoid complications as such. This is a huge
[counselors] own values aside for a moment. A great example would be religion, for example,
I’m Catholic but also aware and capable of setting this aside within the profession to fully assist
all clients of any and every background. To some, I have learned, it is difficult to not incorporate
their religion such as the case of “Ward v. Wilbanks et al.,” (2011) where it was difficult for
Ward to accept clients whose sexuality went against her religion (American Civil Liberties Union
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[ACLU], 2011). This has helped gain insight in the importance of remaining objective as it is the
Conclusion
Counselors take into consideration ways to remain ethical and professionally practice.
They take into mind the possible complications that may impact their roles and what actions
should be done in order to avoid this. Counselors also become familiar with those with whom
they may consult with if needed such as their colleagues but also take action when ethical codes
are being broken by professionals as well. Those in practice ensure that they receive proper
supervision and build a relationship with their supervisor that is considered ethical to
successfully assist in gaining counselor experience. In addition, counselors should go over their
own personal values to avoid harm by accepting and acknowledging clients' beliefs to provide
References
https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
American Civil Liberties Union. (2011, October 4). Ward v. Wilbanks et al. ACLU.
https://www.aclu.org/cases/ward-v-wilbanks-et-al-case-profile
Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2019). Ethical Issues in Supervision. In Issues and ethics
https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/9781337671378/pdf2htmlex/index.html#page_337
https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.30.1.41
Hrovat, A. M., Thompson, L. K., & Thaxton, S. L. (2012, September 30). Preparing
https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/vistas/preparing-counselors-in-training-f
or-multidisciplinary-collaboration.pdf?sfvrsn=8
Miller, H., & Davis, T. E. (2016). Practitioner's guide to ethical decision making. American
Counseling Association.
https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/ethics/practioner-39-s-guide-to-ethical-d
ecision-making.pdf?sfvrsn=f9e5482c_12