Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct - Essay Example

the counselor’s behavior with his clinical supervisor was a breach of ethics on the supervisor’s part. Even though the supervisor was unaware of how the counselor treated one of his patients, he did not inquire from the counselor about his clinical practice. Furthermore, the supervisor was made responsible for the counselor and he should have realized the implications of developing a private intimate relationship with his counselor. The supervisor was more experienced and was partly responsible for the practice conducted by the counselor and therefore he should be the implication for the counselor’s behavior on account of breach of ethics.
 •Examine the influence of your own personal values as it relates to the issues presented in the case. 
I seriously condone developing personal relationships in my professional life. Since psychologists have to be more personal with their clients in order to treat them, they should be more serious about developing such relationships.

• Compare this violation to the APA’s ethical standards and describe the similarities or differences in the ethical code.

According to the APA ethical standards, ‘A psychologist refrains from entering into multiple relationships if the multiple relationships could reasonably be expected to impair the psychologist’s objectivity, competence, or effectiveness in performing his or her functions as a psychologist, or otherwise risks exploitation or harm to the person with whom the professional relationship exists’ (APA, 2010)

These relationships extend to both counselors and supervisors. Therefore, according to the APA ethical standard, both the counselor and supervisor performed a breach of ethical standards. The ACA, on the other hand, completely forbids such relationships and takes a harsher stand against the issue.

•Imagine you are a member of the ACA ethics committee. Recommend appropriate behavioral codes for counselors with reference to relationships with clinical supervisors.

Appropriate behavioral codes for counselors should be to refrain from activities that hinder the professional practice of counselors. Sexual Relationships should be forbidden (ACA, 2005).