Counselor's Ethics and Responsibilities
Counselor 's Ethics and Responsibilities
Grand Canyon University
PCN 505: Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethics
May 14, 2013
Counselor 's Ethics and Responsibilities
“Counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid
imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals” (APA Code A.4.b). It is
important for counselors to avoid causing harm to their clients and to minimize unavoidable or
unanticipated harm” (APA Code A.4.a). There are two situations that are highly emotional and
would be difficult to handle if not handled professionally.
The first is an abortion case where a nineteen year old had been raped, resulting in a
unwanted pregnancy. The rape and pregnancy is traumatic enough, but abortion is another type
of trauma that the young woman will undergo if she decides this option. The client has no
support system to turn to as her parents do not agree with her decision and have threatened to
disown her as their daughter if she decides to abort the child. The disagreement with her family
has added another level of stress as to what she is already undergoing. Counselor can provide
information as well as alternative options other than the client could go over. Counselor can use
talk therapy with the client to get in touch with the client’s feelings and decision making process
in regards to her decision about the pregnancy. If qualified the counselor could discuss the rape
and screen the individual for depression to ascertain if there are any suicidal idealisms due to the
clients deteriorating mental state. Counselor would encourage the client to attempt to discuss her
feelings with family members. If the client is unable open a dialogue with her family than the
client can request a group setting and the client can provide a written consent form providing the
counselor with permission to openly discuss the situation with family
Grand Canyon University
PCN 505: Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethics
May 14, 2013
Counselor 's Ethics and Responsibilities
“Counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid
imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals” (APA Code A.4.b). It is
important for counselors to avoid causing harm to their clients and to minimize unavoidable or
unanticipated harm” (APA Code A.4.a). There are two situations that are highly emotional and
would be difficult to handle if not handled professionally.
The first is an abortion case where a nineteen year old had been raped, resulting in a
unwanted pregnancy. The rape and pregnancy is traumatic enough, but abortion is another type
of trauma that the young woman will undergo if she decides this option. The client has no
support system to turn to as her parents do not agree with her decision and have threatened to
disown her as their daughter if she decides to abort the child. The disagreement with her family
has added another level of stress as to what she is already undergoing. Counselor can provide
information as well as alternative options other than the client could go over. Counselor can use
talk therapy with the client to get in touch with the client’s feelings and decision making process
in regards to her decision about the pregnancy. If qualified the counselor could discuss the rape
and screen the individual for depression to ascertain if there are any suicidal idealisms due to the
clients deteriorating mental state. Counselor would encourage the client to attempt to discuss her
feelings with family members. If the client is unable open a dialogue with her family than the
client can request a group setting and the client can provide a written consent form providing the
counselor with permission to openly discuss the situation with family
References: American Psychological Association, (1992). American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, Retrieved May 13, 2013, from Andew G., Benjamin H., Kent L., and Sirikantraporn S., (2009), “A Review of Duty to Protect Statutes, Cases, and Procedures for Positive Practice”, American Psychological Association, xiv, 282 pp. Barbee P., Combs D., Ekleberry F., Villalobos, S., (2007), “Duty to Warn and Protect: Not in Texas,” Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory & Research; Spring2007, (1999), “Feeling Controlled in Marriage: A Phenomenon specific to Physically Aggressive Couples?”, Journal of Family Psychology, Vol 13(1), pp Lien, H. (2003), “The Basics of Domestic Abuse”, Retrieved on May 14, 2013 from Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Child Welfare Information Gateway from website: website: ehow-to, http://www.ehow.com/list_6817482_techniques-counseling-suicidal-adolescent.html Steinhauser K, Clipp E, McNeilly M, Christakis N, McIntyre L, Tulsky J ( 2000) good death: observation of patients, families and providers”, Retrieved on May 14, 2013 from the website: Annual of Internal Medicine,