Professional, Legal and Ethical

Issues in Guidance and Counseling

GC 206

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 Objectives

1. Differentiate ethics, values, and morals

2. Reflect on one’s value system

3. Familiarize one’s self to professional ethics (ACA,

PGCA)
 Introduction
Every profession has in some
form or other a Code of Ethics
Profession of psychologists-
a more recent one (R.A.
10029)
US -> American Psychological
Association has Ethical
Standards of Psychologists

Phils – PGCA – code of ethics (R.A. 9258)

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 Ethics, Morals and Values
Values – fundamental beliefs that define which is right or wrong

Standards that direct everyday living; tells us what is

important

Morals -Rules we use to decide what is right or wrong

Private and personal; based on one’s understanding of

values

Ethics – aspiration goals, rules of conduct recognized in a particular

group or culture (moral principles)

Ideal standards set by the

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profession; guiding principles

Social Values
• Standards of behavior
determined by the society
• Eg. Good manners,
traditions such as
wedding reception, etc.
• Differ according to races,
castes, etc.
• Change under influence
of modern ideas
Values
Moral Values Religious Values
• Based on particular
faith & vary according to
• Based on dictates of
the tenets of that faith
right reason- one’s • Eg. Jains avoid killing
conscience of animals (non-
• Apply to all men violence), Parsis value
• Are objective & their fire temples,
unchangeable Catholics respect human
• Eg. love parents, not to
dignity, and promote life.
steal/tell lies
• Based on enduring
nature of human being
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 Ethics, Morals and Values

Values – fundamental beliefs that define which is right or wrong

Standards that direct everyday living; tells us what is

important

Morals -Rules we use to decide what is right or wrong

Private and personal

Ethics – aspiration goals, rules of conduct recognized in a

particular group or culture (moral principles)

Ideal standards set by the profession; guiding principles

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Ethics, values and morals

A person who knows the difference between right and

wrong and chooses right is moral. A person whose
morality is reflected in his willingness to do the right
thing – even if it is hard or dangerous – is ethical. Ethics
are moral values in action.
 Meaning of Professional
Ethics
• A systematized body of moral principles that guide or determine
the counselor’s behavior in his relationships to the counselee,
to the counselee's relatives, to his referring agency, and to
society in general

• Professional Ethics -> Values that determine the counselor’s

behavior

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Common themes of code of
ethics

Promoting welfare of clients (BENEFICENCE)

Practicing within the scope of one’s competence

Doing no harm (NON-MALEFICENCE)

Protecting confidentiality and privacy

Acting ethically and responsibly

Upholding integrity of profession

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 ACA Code of Ethics
A. The Counseling Relationship;

B. Confidentiality, Privileged Communication, and Privacy;

C. Professional Responsibility;

D. Relationship With Other Professionals;

E. Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation;

F. Supervision, Training, and Teaching (Teaching, Training, and

Supervision);

G. Research and Publication; and

H. Resolving Ethical Issues.

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 ACA Code of Ethics

Based on Kitchener’s 5 moral principles

Kitchener’s five moral principles

1. Autonomy
2. Nonmaleficence
3. Beneficence
4. Justice
5. Fidelity
6. (Veracity)
AUTONOMY

! Promotion of self-determination, or
the freedom of clients to be self-
governing within their social and
cultural framework

! Counselors should strive to

decrease client dependency and
foster client empowerment
NONMALEFICENCE

! Moral principle that one should

refrain from harming others ("first,
do no harm")

! Counselors have the responsibility

to minimize risks for exploitation
and practices that cause harm or
have the potential to harm
 BENEFICENCE

! Doing good for others and promoting the

well-being of clients.

! A counselor is obligated to act to benefit

others when one can do so with minimal
risk, inconvenience or expense.
!Formally corresponds to
BENEVOLENCE.
JUSTICE

! To be fair by giving equally to

others and to treat others justly.

! Counselors have the responsibility

to provide appropriate services to
all clients, regardless of age, sex,
ethnicity, disability, religion or
sexual orientation
FIDELITY

!The principle that one should

keep one's promises. Entails
trust in a therapeutic
relationship.

!Counselors should inform clients

about counseling and make
realistic commitments.
 VERACITY

! The principle that one should tell the

truth ("honesty is the best policy");
Truthfulness.

! Counselors are obligated to deal

honestly with clients.
 PGCA Code of Ethics
(Fundamental Ethical Principles)
· Respecting human rights and dignity

· Respect for the client’s right to be self-governing

· A commitment to promoting the client’s well being

· Fostering responsible caring

· Fair treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services

· Equal opportunity to clients availing counseling services

· Ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationship

· Fostering the practitioner’s self-knowledge and care for self

· Enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application

· Responsibility to the society

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 Activity 1

Compare the ACA and PGCA Code of Ethics

1. Point out and discuss at least 5 unique differences.

2. Which ethical principle either in the ACA or PGCA

impacted you the most and why?
 The Counseling Profession
Aims at helping individuals with their personal problems

These problems often involve ethical issues (eg. Real life

case)

Values influence both the goals of counseling & the

methods & techniques used to reach those goals

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Counselor’s relationships

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1. Counselor’s relationship
to the Counselee

A) Counselor must respect the values of the counselee

Can suggest to change her social values (not the moral or
religious values)
B) Counselor must keep secret the counselee's
confidential material
May not reveal info to anyone without securing her
permission
Exceptions: Suicide or crime or for the good of the
counselee (unsound mind), welfare of others
C) Test results must be interpreted to the counselee in
a manner likely to be constructive in her efforts to
solve her problem
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2. Counselor’s relationship
to the Profession

A) Counselor must maintain high standards of work, not just

aim at expedience or temporary success
Unethical to offer services outside his area of training
& experience or beyond the boundary of his
competence (must refer to a competent person)
Should not work only for money
B) Should try to rectify the malpractices of other counselors
Should not criticize counselors who use other methods
C) Counselor should not accept for counseling a person who
already receiving it from someone else
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3. Counselor’s relationship to
referring bodies

It is courtesy to inform the referring person or agency

that the counselee kept the appointment and is
continuing counseling or has been referred to another
agency

No confidential info should be imparted to them

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4. Counselor’s relationship to
himself

Right to private life and to relaxation

May not accept phone calls after certain hour

Must leave the problems of the counselee in the office

Should not encourage dependency

Should realize that he is not expected to help each and

every counselee
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Counselor’s influence on the
counselee

Counselor is not to teach a system of values or

philosophy of life (task of parents/ priests)

Can impress his system of values – influence more by

what he does than by what he says

Should not condone the unethical course of behavior of

the counselee- express implications of such actions but
should respect her freedom of choice

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 Conclusion

Counselor should have his own system of values or

philosophy of life

Act according to the above with the counselee

Must not impose his views

Respect her freedom of choice and her values

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Paired-discussion

How do I
ethically respond
to the situation?
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1. What is the problem / dilemma?

2. What are the issues involved?

3. What are the consequence of each course

of action?

4. What is the best course of action? Specify

the moral principle/s upheld.