Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling - Essay Example

Marcie said that she is currently in possession of a gun, but she does not know whether she would actually use it. This calls for confidentiality, which is a basic and long-standing legal and ethical principle that is recognized in all helping professions, and counsellors must realize how confidentiality applies in specific counselling situations in order to minimize the likelihood of their being required to divulge confidential client information against their will. Marcie indicates that her mother accompanied her for the appointment and is in the waiting room, but she stresses the importance of keeping the sissu from her mother.

Here, respecting diversity, a fundamental factor in protecting client welfare and promoting client dignity must be applied. As such, this delicate situation is handled more in accordance with the ethics orientation that tends to focus on client welfare and protection, than a legal orientation that focuses more on protecting the counsellor.