Transcript Ethics-Power-Point - Anchorage Annual School

Ethics in Human
Services
Lynn M. Eldridge, MEd
Division of Behavioral Health
[email protected]
Definition:
Values are beliefs about what is good or
desirable which guide choices and
motivates our actions.
Values

Knowledge-Based Value:
“I value driving slowly when the roads are slick
because it prevents accidents.”
Aesthetics-Based Value:
“I prefer the color blue because I look good in
that color.”
Types of Values
Moral-Based Value:
“I believe it is wrong to steal because it is illegal,
it disrespects others, and violates others.”
Values persist over time. After childhood,
values continue to develop and new values are
build on the values of the past.
(Kenyon, What would you do? An Ethical Case Workbook for Human Services Professionals, Chapter one)
Types of Values
Assuming responsibility for one’s own
actions.
2. Developing effective strategies for
coping with stress (especially stress that
comes with the job)
3. Developing the ability to give and
receive affections.
1.
Basic Human Service
Values
4. Being sensitive to the feelings of others
5. Practicing self-control
6. Having a sense of purpose for living
7. Being open, honest, and genuine
8. Finding satisfaction in one’s work
9. Having a sense of identity and feelings of
worth.
Basic Human Service
Values
10. Being skilled in interpersonal
relationships, sensitivity and nurturance
11. Being committed in marriage, family,
and other relationships
12. Having a deepened self-awareness and
motivation for growth
13. Practicing good habits of physical health
Basic Human Service
Values
Ethics, on the other hand, are rules,
standards, and/or moral principles
adopted by an individual and/or group
that govern conduct and are based on a
set of values.
Ethics
1.
Principle Ethics:
A Set of obligations and a method that
focuses on moral issues with goals of:
a) solving a particular dilemma and
b) establishing a framework to guide
future ethical thinking and behavior.
Two Types of Ethics
Principle Ethics:
Focuses on Acts and Choices.
Asks the question: “What shall I do?”
Two Types of Ethics
2. Virtue Ethics:
Focuses on the character traits of the
counselor and nonobligatory ideals to
which professionals aspire rather than just
on solving a specific ethical dilemma.
Virtue Ethics ask: “Am I doing what is
best for my client?”
Two Types of Ethics

We ask clients to open up their lives, to
be honest, to choose the way they will
change and subject themselves to
scrutiny. We as counselors need to be
doing the same with our own lives.
Personal Values

It is not a matter of having problems or
personal needs, but rather how the
counselor handles their problems and
have their personal needs met.
Personal Values
Sometimes a counselor’s personal
problems or needs can get in the way of a
client’s growth.
 There is a danger of depending on our
clients as the main source of meeting our
needs of admiration, acceptance or
belonging.

Personal Values
Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. How can I know when I’m working for
the client’s benefit and when I’m
working for my own benefit?
2. How much might I depend on clients to
tell me how good I am as a person or as
a counselor?
(Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 38)
Personal Values
3. Am I able to appreciate myself, or do I
depend primarily on others to validate my
worth and the value of my work?
4. Am I getting my needs for nurturance,
recognition, and support met from those
who are significant in my life or to my
clients?
(Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 38)
Personal Values
5. Do I feel inadequate when clients don’t
make progress? If so, how could this
affect my work with these clients?
Personal Values
Counselors do not have to have all their
problems resolved before they can help
clients.
 These struggles can actually assist the
counselor in providing good care for their
clients.
 If you never felt anxiety before, how could
you relate?

UNRESOLVED PERSONAL
ISSUES

The question is not whether or not you
are struggling with personal questions or
problems but rather HOW you are
struggling with them.
UNRESOLVED PERSONAL
ISSUES

Questions to ask yourself about whether
or not you are effectively dealing with
your struggles:
1. Do you see your part in creating your
own problems?
2. Are you aware of your alternatives for
action?
(Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 39)
UNRESOLVED PERSONAL
ISSUES
3. Do you recognize and try to deal with
your problems, or do you invest a lot of
energy in denying their existence?
4. Do you find yourself generally blaming
others for your problems?
5. Are you willing to consult a therapist,
or do you tell yourself that you can handle
it, even when it becomes obvious that you
are not doing so?
(Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 39)
UNRESOLVED PERSONAL
ISSUES
In short, are you willing to do in your own
life what you expect your clients to do?
UNRESOLVED PERSONAL
ISSUES
Do you see anything unethical in Rollo’s
behavior?
 Is there a point where personal
involvement can be counterproductive?
How would you determine that?
 Do you agree with the supervisor’s
suggestion of personal therapy? Why or
why not?

Case Scenario-Rollo
If you are moved to tears by your clients,
does that imply that you have unresolved
conflicts? Explain.
 Does anger directed toward abusive
parents mean that you have unresolved
conflicts with your parents?

Case Scenario-Rollo
Question to ask yourself:
What possible conflicts are you aware of in
your life that might get in your way of
helping certain clients through their
difficulties?

Case Scenario-Rollo
(Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 19-22)
Steps in Making an Ethical Decision:
1. Recognizing a Problem:
a) Gather as much information as
possible.
b) Clarify whether or not the conflict is
an ethical, legal, clinical, professional,
moral issue or any combination of these
things.
Ethical Decision Making
c) Look at many perspectives of the
conflict. No ethical issue is simple.
d) Often ethical dilemmas do not have
“right” or “wrong” answers.
Be prepared for ambiguity!
Ethical Decision Making
2. Identify the Potential Issues Involved:
a) List and describe the critical issues and
discard the irrelevant ones.
b) Evaluate the rights, responsibilities,
and welfare of all those who are affected
by the situation.
Ethical Decision Making
c) Consider basic moral principles of:
1) Autonomy
2) Nonmaleficence
3) Beneficence
4) Justice
5) Fidelity
6) Veracity
Ethical Decision Making
d) Remember that good reasons can be
presented that supports various sides of
a given issue.
3. Review the Relevant Ethics Codes
a) Do the standards or principles of your
professional organization offer a possible
solution to the problem?
Ethical Decision Making
b) Consider whether your own values or
ethics are consistent with or in conflict
with the relevant codes.
c) You can also contact your professional
organization for assistance with
interpretation of an ethical standard.
Ethical Decision Making
4) Know the Applicable Laws and
Regulations.
a) Keep up to date on relevant state and
federal laws that apply to ethical
dilemmas.
b) Make sure you understand the current
rules and regulations of the agency or
organization where you work.
Ethical Decision Making
5. Obtain Consultation.
a) Talk to a colleague or colleagues to
obtain different perspectives on the
problem.
b) Consider talking to more than one
professional and do not limit the
individuals with whom you will consult to
those who share your viewpoint.
Ethical Decision Making
c) Present the situation to the person you
are consulting with and ask: Are there
any factors you are not considering? Are
you considering all the ethical, clinical and
legal issues?
d) Document the nature of your
consultation just in case this becomes a
licensing board or court issue.
Ethical Decision Making
6) Consider Possible and Probable Courses
of Action:
a) Brainstorm Options
b) Remember that one course of action
may be no action at all.
c) Discuss the options of resolution with
your client as well as with other
professionals as appropraite.
Ethical Decision Making
7. Enumerate the Consequences of Various
Decisions:
a) Ponder the implications of each course
of action; on the client, others who are
related to the client and for you.
b) Discussion with your client about
consequences for him or her is important.
Ethical Decision Making
8. Decide on What Appears to be the Best
Course of Action:
a) Carefully consider the information you
have received from various sources.
b) The more obvious the dilemma, the
clearer the course of action.
c) Follow up to determine outcomes and
see if any further action is needed.
Ethical Decision Making
Get with a partner and answer the following
questions:

What criteria could you use to determine
whether touching your clients was
therapeutic or counter therapeutic?

Do you think that some clients may never be
ready to engage in touching in therapy?
Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 163)
Touching Clients

What factors do you need to consider in
determining the appropriateness of
touching clients? (ie: age, gender, type of
client, client’s problems)

If you are favorably inclined toward the
practice of touching clients, are you likely
to restrict this practice to opposite-sex
clients? Same-sex clients?
Corey, Corey, Callanan. Issues & Ethics in the Helping Professions 6th Edition, page 162)
Touching Clients