Read The Section Course Case Study Below And Analyze The Beh

Read The Sectioncourse Case Study Belowand Analyze The Behavior Of The

Read the section Course Case Study below and analyze the behavior of the counselor, as a professional, that you consider unethical or unprofessional. Write a brief summary of the questionable behavior. Substantiate the summary with reasons for your analysis. Next, identify how the counselor may have been in violation of the ACA Code of Ethics. Give the number and definitions of specific violations and compare these violations to the APA ethical standards. In relation to these specific violations, describe the similarities or differences in the ACA and APA ethical codes. Finally, select an ethical decision-making model from those in your readings and apply the model to a minimum of one ethical dilemma you identified in the course scenario. Your paper should be at least 4 pages long, not counting the title page and the reference page.

Paper For Above instruction

The case study depicts multiple unethical and unprofessional behaviors committed by Joe, a counselor working with Jill. His conduct violates foundational principles of professional ethics in mental health counseling, including maintaining professional boundaries, practicing cultural competence, and adhering to ethical standards related to client relationships and confidentiality. This paper critically analyzes Joe's behaviors, highlights specific violations of the ACA Code of Ethics, compares these with the APA ethical standards, and applies an ethical decision-making model to one of the dilemmas.

Unethical and Unprofessional Behaviors

Joe’s conduct exhibits clear breaches of professional norms and ethical guidelines. Firstly, his reaction to Jill's disclosure about her sexual orientation was visibly shocked and judgmental, revealing a lack of cultural sensitivity and an inability to provide an affirming environment. His immediate moral judgment—that her attraction was 'immoral and wrong'—demonstrates a violation of the ethical principle of non-discrimination and respect for diversity (ACA, 2014, A.4.a); (APA, 2021, Standard 3.05).

Secondly, Joe proposed and attempted to implement an experimental hypnotherapy technique called 'rebirthing' without proper training or evidence-based justification, which is unethical and potentially harmful (ACA, 2014, A.4.b); (APA, 2021, Standard 4.01). His insistence on proceeding despite Jill’s refusal constitutes a boundary violation and a disrespect for client autonomy (ACA, 2014, A.6.b).

Third, Joe's dismissive attitude toward Jill's cultural background reflects a lack of cultural competence. By claiming he need not study her cultural context because of geographical limitations, Joe fails to respect cultural diversity and demonstrate cultural humility, which is essential in ethical practice (ACA, 2014, A.2.a); (APA, 2021, Standard 2.01).

Fourth, Joe’s inappropriate disclosure of his personal feelings and attraction to Jill, coupled with his subsequent decision to engage in a sexual relationship, breaches multiple ethical principles related to dual relationships and integrity (ACA, 2014, A.5.b); (APA, 2021, Standard 3.05). His failure to provide the referral, as promised, further exemplifies neglect of professional responsibilities.

Finally, Joe’s actions after ending therapy—discussing her condition with her employer, seeking personal contact under false pretenses, and engaging in a sexual relationship—are highly unethical, breaching confidentiality, client welfare, and professional boundaries (ACA, 2014, A.1.a, A.5.b); (APA, 2021, Standards 4.01, 5.01).

Violations of the ACA Code of Ethics

• Standard A.5.b - Multiple relationships: Engaging in a sexual relationship with a client constitutes a dual relationship that can impair objectivity and harm the client.
• Standard A.4.a - Cultural Sensitivity: Failing to respect Jill’s cultural background and dismissing her issues reflect a lack of cultural competence.
• Standard A.6.b - Boundaries and Professionalism: The attempt to hypnotize Jill without proper consent and training violates boundaries.
• Standard A.1.a - Confidentiality: Discussing Jill’s mental health with her employer breaches confidentiality obligations.

Comparison with APA Ethical Standards

The APA Ethics Code shares similarities with the ACA code, emphasizing respect for clients’ dignity, confidentiality, and professional boundaries (APA, 2021). Both stress the importance of cultural competence—APA Standard 3.01 Culture and Diversity—and avoiding dual relationships (Standard 4.05). Joe’s behaviors violate these principles similarly in both codes.

However, the APA places a stronger emphasis on scientific foundation and evidence-based practice, which Joe disregarded by proposing an unproven technique. The APA also explicitly discourages boundary crossings that could impair objectivity (APA, 2021, Standard 4.05), aligning with ACA’s stance but with more emphasis on scientific validation.

Application of an Ethical Decision-Making Model

Applying the Morrison and Oliver (2012) Ethical Decision-Making Model, Joe’s dilemma concerning his sexual attraction to Jill and subsequent sexual relationship exemplifies a breach of ethical standards. The first step involves recognizing the ethical issue—abuse of power, dual relationships, and harm to the client. The second involves applying ethical codes—both ACA and APA—to assess the violations. The third step entails developing an alternative action plan that prioritizes client welfare and maintains professional boundaries.

By recognizing his personal feelings and opting for professional boundaries, Joe could have avoided a harmful relationship. Ethical decision making underscores the importance of self-awareness, consultation with supervisors, and adherence to codes that guide appropriate behaviors, such as seeking supervision when personal issues interfere with objectivity (Morrison & Oliver, 2012).

Conclusion

Joe’s behaviors reflect multiple ethical violations including boundary violations, lack of cultural sensitivity, and failure to uphold confidentiality and client welfare. His actions breach both ACA and APA standards, although the emphasis varies slightly between the organizations. Applying an ethical decision-making model reveals that adherence to professional codes and standards could have prevented the deterioration of the counseling relationship and subsequent harm to Jill. Ethics in counseling demand continuous self-awareness, cultural humility, and strict boundary maintenance to ensure the safety and well-being of clients.

References

• American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. ACA.
• American Psychological Association. (2021). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. APA.
• Morrison, T. & Oliver, J. (2012). Ethical decision-making models in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90(2), 183-190.
• Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2021). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (5th ed.). Pearson.
• Knapp, S., & VandeCreek, L. (2012). Practical ethics for psychologists: A positive approach. American Psychological Association.
• Fisher, C. B. (2017). Decoding the ethics code: A practical guide for psychologists (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Zur, O. (2017). Boundaries in psychotherapy: Ethical and clinical explorations. Routledge.
• Welfel, E. R. (2015). Ethics in counseling & psychotherapy (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Bassman, A., & McClam, S. (2018). Ethical issues in mental health counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(2), 163-169.