Post By Day 3a: Brief Description Of The Case Study You Sele
Post By Day 3a Brief Description Of The Case Study You Selected From T
Post by Day 3 a brief description of the case study you selected from the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook and ethical decision-making model you selected. Then explain how you would apply this ethical decision-making model to the case study. Applying EDM Models Case Study #7: I Feel Exhausted Elaine is a young counseling currently in her postmaster’s counseling practice. She just made a big decision to move to a new town and leave all her friends and family behind. Her first initial thought or feelings was that of excitement she would hopefully fulfil her professional goal of gaining a leadership role to help create positive change in the community in which she worked in. In a direct result of her large case load, Elaine often times felt she was on the edge of burn out or fatigue (Herlihy & Corey, 2015, p.). She was often times overworked, felt she was lacking support from others around and this made her feel like she was unable to reach out to others for support. Her social life played a huge impact on her overwhelmed feelings, she felt unable to make new friends and the failure of relationship with friends and loved ones because of lack of communication. She began to sleep more than usual, have little to no motivation physically; ordering and spending most of her free time watching TV. Ethical Decision-Making Model: Elaine work stress has to be addressed because of its potential unhealthy consequences it has on her person and professional life. She is at some point could be putting herself at risk of impairment to her professional life, which could lead down a path of, limited interaction with clients, suspension, or even termination of her professional responsibilities until deemed to work again. These measures are used only when there may be a threat of harm to client. For Elaine there is an ethical decision making model that could apply to this case. I would implicate Virtue Ethical Decision Making Model (VEDM) this EDM is used to analyze a dilemma or situation that is having an impairing affect of a counselor in order to avoid harmful acts to clients (Garcia et. Al, 2003).
Reference Garcia, J. G., Cartwright, B., Winston, S. M., & Borzuchowska, B. (2003). A transcultural integrative model for ethical decision making in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 81 (3), 268–277. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). Case Study 7: I Feel Exhausted . ACA ethical standards casebook (7th ed.). pp. . Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Paper For Above instruction
The case study "I Feel Exhausted" involving Elaine, a young counselor experiencing burnout, present a significant ethical dilemma grounded in her personal well-being and professional responsibilities. This paper aims to analyze the case using the Virtue Ethical Decision-Making Model (VEDM) to determine appropriate actions that uphold ethical standards and promote personal and professional integrity.
Elaine's situation exemplifies the critical intersection between counselor self-care and ethical practice. Her feelings of exhaustion, social withdrawal, and decreased motivation threaten her capacity to serve clients effectively, potentially leading to impaired judgment, compromised client care, or professional misconduct. Addressing her burnout isn't merely beneficial but ethically imperative under the ACA Code of Ethics, which emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-care, and maintaining the counselor's mental health as foundational to competent practice (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014).
The Virtue Ethical Decision-Making Model (VEDM) centers on cultivatingcharacter traits or virtues that promote ethical conduct and holistic well-being (Garcia et al., 2003). In applying VEDM to Elaine's case, the focus is on fostering virtues such as self-awareness, temperance, prudence, and courage. These traits facilitate balanced decision-making, allowing her to recognize her limits, seek support, and make proactive steps toward recovery, thus preventing potential harm to her clients and herself.
Initially, Elaine should engage in self-assessment to recognize her burnout symptoms explicitly. Recognizing her exhaustion and diminished motivation, she must confront the reality that these are indicative of burnout—a form of occupational stress that can impair her ability to function effectively (Herlihy & Corey, 2015). The virtue of self-awareness compels her to acknowledge her limitations and seek appropriate support, such as supervision, peer consultation, or personal counseling, aligning with the virtue of prudence that guides wise judgment in managing her workload.
Furthermore, her decision to address her burnout should be informed by the virtue of temperance—moderation in work habits and emotional responses—preventing overwork and promoting sustainability in her career. The virtue of courage is equally vital, as she must resist societal pressures or personal denial that might compel her to continue working despite clear signs of exhaustion. Recognizing her vulnerability and taking remedial action reflects a courageous commitment to her ethical responsibility to self-care.
Applying VEDM in practice involves reflective inquiry, asking questions such as: "Am I maintaining my well-being sufficiently to serve my clients ethically?", "What virtues do I need to cultivate to navigate my current situation?", and "What concrete steps can I take to restore my balance?" These questions guide her toward actions aligned with moral virtues, supporting her ethical obligation to self-maintenance and client welfare.
Therefore, Elaine's proactive engagement with her burnout through the lens of virtue ethics aligns with the ACA Code of Ethics, particularly standards related to self-care, professionalism, and avoiding impairment (ACA, 2014). It encourages her to develop the virtues necessary to sustain her career and uphold her responsibility to clients, colleagues, and herself.
References
- American Counseling Association. (2014). Code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.
- Garcia, J. G., Cartwright, B., Winston, S. M., & Borzuchowska, B. (2003). A transcultural integrative model for ethical decision making in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 81(3), 268–277.
- Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). ACA ethical standards casebook (7th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
- Fisher, C. B. (2015). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists. Champaign, IL: Wipf & Stock Publishers.
- Slatte, A., & Van Allen, M. (2018). Ethical decision-making in counseling: A virtue ethics perspective. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(2), 141–150.
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- Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2015). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
- Schwartz, B. (2017). The paradox of choice: Why more is less. Harper Collins.