Dual+Relationship+Ethical+Considerations

Case  -- Literature Review -- Legal Considerations -- Ethical Considerations -- Ethical Decision Making Model -- LPC Interview

= Ethical Considerations =



feelings about Vanessa’s issues in a social setting. Both of these actions have disrespected Vanessa’s dignity and dishonored her welfare.
 * A.1.a. Primary Responsibility ** The primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of client.
 * Phyllis has repeatedly not followed this code in her actions towards Vanessa. She has not fully explored Vanessa’s feelings in sessions, and she indirectly stated her


 * A.4.a. Avoiding Harm ** Counselors act to avoid harming their clients, trainees, and research participants and to minimize or to remedy unavoidable or unanticipated harm.
 * Phyllis’ actions have very obviously harmed her client Vanessa.


 * A.4.b. Personal Values ** Counselors are aware of their own values, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing values that are inconsistent with counseling goals.
 * By strongly stating her opinion on a manner that directly related to her client’s issues in counseling, Phyllis has inappropriately imposed her beliefs on Vanessa.


 * A.5.c. Nonprofessional Interactions or Relationships (Other Than Sexual or Romantic Interactions or Relationships) ** Counselor-client nonprofessional relationships with clients, former clients, their romantic partners, or their family members should be avoided, except when the interaction is potentially beneficial to the client.
 * The nonprofessional interactions that Phyllis and Vanessa have outside their sessions have certainly proved not to be beneficial. In fact, their last interaction was actually harmful for Vanessa. These interactions in the aerobics class should have been avoided from the beginning, according to this standard.


 * A.11.c. Appropriate Termination ** Counselors terminate a counseling relationship when it becomes reasonably apparent that the client no longer needs assistance, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued counseling. Counselors may terminate counseling when in jeopardy of harm by the client, or another person with whom the client has a relationship, or when clients do not pay fees as agreed upon. Counselors provide pretermination counseling and recommend other service providers when necessary.
 * Since it has been shown that Phyllis has harmed Vanessa, and will most likely continued to be harmed by Phyllis’ inability to remain objective as well as the harm caused in the most recent boundary violation, the counseling relationship should be terminated.

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Reference  American Counseling Association (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA