Ethical Decision Paper
James Worley
Liberty University
Abstract
This paper will provide a detailed summary of various aspects of the guide presented by the ACA in the area of ethical decision making. It will be divided into seven sections which will cover various aspects relating to the decision making model. The first section will describe be the introduction to the issue at hand. After the introduction, the ACA Code of Ethics will be applied to the issue. Next will be the course of determining the nature and dimensions of the dilemma. Once this is done, various courses of action regarding the issue will be determined. After identifying the courses available concerning the issue, the consequences of all of the available options will be explored and a course will be chosen. Once choosing a course, it will be evaluated to ensure it does not present further complications. Finally, the chosen course of action will be implemented as a means to resolve the issue presented.
Section I: Identify the Problem The problem presented is that the client has been in counseling for alcoholism and has failed to make any notable progress. The client has continued to drink on a regular basis throughout the six months they have been receiving services. The client has also failed to complete any of the therapeutic assignments given to her by the counselor to do between sessions. The counselor treating the client has become frustrated at the lack of compliance and progress regarding the client and her addiction. The counselor has made the decision to terminate services and discharge the client due to her lack of progress. The counselor has decided to take not measures to refer the client to another counselor due to her belief that the client is beyond help and not ready to participate in treatment. When looking at the situation it becomes apparent that this is a combination of multiple problems. There is an ethical problem of the counselor failing to recommend another service provider. This is a violation of the ethical standards in which counselors may not abandon a client in need (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014). There is also the issue of there being a professional problem in that the counselor is failing to practice within their area of competence based on the level of frustration, also leading to the aspect of the counselor not taking precautions to preserve their personal level of wellness (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014). There does not appear to be any legal problem with the case as there are no applicable laws being broken through the termination of services by the counselor. There is also the issue of this issue being associated with a clinical problem. When asking the question, is the issue at hand related to something the counselor is or is not doing ( Miller & Thomas, 1996). The reality that the counselor has failed to approach other clinical strategies in order to help the client and to abstain from early termination. The counselor has clinically failed to utilize resources available in the community or the consultation of other professionals whom are available to help them overcome the obstacles that the client is presenting in order to help progress treatment.
Section II: Apply the ACA Code of Ethics When referring to the ACA Code of Ethics in regards to the situation being reviewed, it is found that several standards are present regarding the various issues at hand. The counselor has violated standards C.2.a and C.2.b by not practicing within the boundaries of their competence, and also failed to seek additional education and training to develop new skills that would prevent harm from the client, according to the ACA Code of Ethics. When looking at the clinical problem, the counselor has failed to adhere to standard C.2.e in regards to consulting with other professionals regarding ethical obligations and professional practice (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014). Finally, the counselor has failed to
