Ethical Decision Making - Case Study Example

Download file to see previous pages The behavior of the counselor that are unethical and unprofessional include judging his client, trying a new technique on the client without the client’s consent, and engaging in an intimate sexual relationship with the client. Arguably, counselors are expected to be cultural sensitive and have the ability to work with different clients from diverse population and so judging the client based on her cultural beliefs and values was unethical and unprofessional. In addition, the client has a right to be fully informed about any procedure and must agree or give an informed consent before proceeding and so planning to practice something without the client’s consent is unethical. Additionally, having any non-counseling relationship with the clients is unprofessional and it violates ACA and APA code of ethics. Nonprofessional interactions should be avoided especially if it is not beneficial to the client (Levitt and Moorhead, 2013).
The counselor violated the ACA code of ethics when he planned to try the new technique on his client even after the client declined and so this behavior violates ACA code of ethics of informed consent in counseling relationship. Moreover, the counselor violated ACA code of ethics by being culturally insensitive since he refused to listen to the client’s problem because of the client’s cultural rules and behaviors. He considered his culture decent and refused to discuss the client’s cultural issues. This is not in line with ACA guidelines because these guidelines encourage cultural awareness and sensitivity and urge counselors to be competent and work with diverse client populations. In addition, this counselor violated ACA code of ethics by engaging in sexual relationship with the client. ACA guidelines prohibit non-counseling roles and relationships when counseling a client (ACA, 2014). More so, the ...Download file to see next pagesRead More