Transcript Ethics for School Counselors

Ethics for School
Counselors
Mustang Public Schools
October 20, 2010
Wendy Perry, M.Ed., LPC, NBCT
Technical Careers Counselor
Moore Norman Technology Center
&
Gina Musae, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, NCSC
Dean of Students
Darlington Public Schools
Disclosure
►
I am not an attorney… any information
given in this presentation is based on my
study, experience, and training as a
professional school counselor and not meant
to take the place of legal advice.
Agenda
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Intro to Ethics
Terminology
Decision Making Model
Advanced Ethical Decision Making
Cases discussed
Closing/Evaluation
Ethics 101
Ethics is defined as:
1. a principle of right or good conduct or a
body of such principles.
2. A system of moral principals or values.
3. The rules of standards governing the
conduct of the members of a profession.
Ethics vs. Legal Standards
► Codes
of Ethics
provide an idealized
standard of practice to
which counselors
should aspire.
► Legal
Standards
are developed by
legislators (and
interpreted by judges)
to set the minimum
professional standards
that are tolerated by
society.
What’s the difference?
► Privilege
 Legal term to keep
confidentiality with
clients…lawyers,
doctors, clergy
 Does not apply to
school counselors.
► Confidentiality
 Keep information
private but must reveal
when subpoenaed by
the court.
 Does not hold legal
status.
 Does apply to school
counselors
Kitchener’s Critical Evaluation Model
► Autonomy
► Beneficence
► Nonmaleficence
► Justice
or fairness
Another Perspective
► School
counselors can look to moral
principles or “shared beliefs or agreed-upon
assumptions that guide the ethical
reasoning of helping professionals” (Remley
& Herlihy, 2001, p. 3) upon which the codes
of ethics are based. The moral principles
most often cited in relation to ethical
practices of counselors include the
following:
► Veracity
or telling the truth
► Justice or fairness
► Nonmaleficence or doing no harm
► Beneficence or doing good
► Autonomy or respecting free choice
► Fidelity or keeping promises
Steps to take
1.
2.
3.
Identify the problem or dilemma; be
aware of the different perspectives that
may be used to identify the problem.
Identify the potential issues involved.
Consider autonomy, beneficence,
nonmaleficence, and justice.
Review the relevant ethical guidelines. Is
there one or should there be one?
4.
5.
6.
7.
Obtain consultation; this is a good way to
test reasoning and decision making
strategies.
Consider possible and probable courses of
action.
Enumerate the consequences of various
decisions.
Decide what appears to be the best course
of action.
Decision Making Model Summary
► How
do your emotions define this problem?
► How does you intellect define the problem?
► Apply ethical codes and law
► Consider the chronological and
developmental levels of the student
► Consider the setting
► CONSULT, CONSULT, CONSULT
Code of Ethics/Standards
► American
School Counseling Association
(ASCA)
► American Counseling Association (ACA)
► National Board of Certified Counselors
(NBCC)
► Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Technology
► Faxes
 Get written permission to fax confidential
information-release of records
► Emails
 Not confidential, public information
 Confidentiality disclosure will not stand up in
court
► Cyber
counseling
Scenarios
► An
8 year old boy discloses he has tried
marijuana with his older brother
 Do you tell the parent? What about the
brother? Does age matter? What if the boy was
a senior in high school and his brother was a
college student?
Continued
►A
17 year old student comes to your office
drunk and begs you not to call the police or
his parents
 Do you call? What if his parents are very
abusive? What if he has a prior history with the
police and this will create more financial and
personal hardships for him and his family?
What if he shows signs of clinical depression
and you’re worried he may be suicidal?
Continued
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Let’s hear your scenarios….what are you
dealing with in your offices?
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Suicide
Alcohol/Drug Use
Sexual Behaviors
Violent Behavior
Peer Blog
Resources
► American
School Counselor Association
www.schoolcounselor.org
► American Counseling Association
www.counseling.org
► Licensed Professional Counselor website
www.health.ok.gov/program/lpc
► National Board for Certified Counselors
www.nbcc.org
► Ethical
and Legal Issues in School Counseling
Remley, Hermann, and Huey
by
Questions??
Wendy Perry, LPC, NBCT
Counselor
Moore Norman Technology Center
405-217-8263
[email protected]
Gina Musae, LPC, NCSC, NCC
Dean of Students
Darlington School
405-590-9761
[email protected]