CNL-505- Value Objective Paper
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Grand Canyon University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
505
Subject
Law
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
7
Uploaded by DukeSealPerson956
Kimberly Hall Grand Canyon University
CNL 505: Professional Counseling, Ethical, and Legal Considerations Shamia Swanks
December 6, 2023
Abstract Counselors hold the duty to help their clients and giving them the best service as possible with their needs. Counselor should know that the ACA teaches that our values and beliefs should
not be pushed on the clients because it can cause harm and hurtfulness to the client. Because not every client that comes into the office is going to be in the same page with your beliefs/values. There is ethical implications when a counselor expresses their values/belief system to the clients.
As well, there are steps when you have a client that you cannot just agree with their values in referring them to another counselor. Must also know the government policies when it comes to the clinical mental health counseling. There are examples when these situations on why a counselor does refer a client to another counselor that can be more understandable and able to work with clients that have such different values then their own.
Value Objective Counselors should remain value-objective when it comes to controversial issues that is presented from a client, especially if it something that the counselor can not just agree. It is not the counselor duty to judge nor tell the client what they think they should do that aligns with the counselor values. Counselor should not be expressing moral judgment to the clients as it can cause harm to the client and make the situation worse where they would not want to seek help from any other counselor. As well, it us unethical for a counselor to be disclosing their values because “Counselors [should] respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants, and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature.” (ACA, 2014). Ethical Implications
When a counselor expresses their values to a client it can be a harmful act even at time unintentionally trying to impose your values to your clients. When it comes to when you are intentionally trying to impose your values to your clients the client can become upset and not feel
as they are in a safe space anymore speaking with you. For example, what happened in the South
Shore Public School District a counselor named Grossman found out her contract with the school
was not going to be renewed. When she found out the reason why it was because the school was promoting to have safe sex in a pamphlet in educating students to use condoms. Well, as Ms. Grossman being a Christian she did not believe in this type of value and of not trying to cause any harm but thought instead of almost promoting sex to these students she took out those pamphlets and replaces them with pamphlets that promotes on how to stay abstinence. Therefore,
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
after going to court it was determined by the court that “
Teachers and other public school employees have no right to make the promotion of religion a part of their job description and by doing so precipitate a possible violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause” (Justia US Law, 2023) Options for actions
Option that counselor can take when they are confronted with clients that they cannot face with the challenge of different values/beliefs is they can “Consult your state or national professional associations to see if they can provide help with the dilemma.” (Forester-Miller & Davis, 2016) This is a great way of action to take when it comes to being confronted with a situation that you don’t know where to turn. You can also brainstorm different way on how to handle the situation with your client in still giving them the best type of service. Legislation and Government Policies One case that show when the government comes to play would be the Jennifer Keeton case at Augusta State University where she felt when students (clients) would come into her office, and she learned that they were gay Keeton would call her session as “conversion therapy”
where she would imply and have session for the student to turn back to being straight. Of course,
this led to Keeton going to court for the University to take her back. The Court ruled in the favor of the University because what Keeton was doing was unethical and the University was correct for enforcing the ethical standard policies that they have. One policy that was signed in Arizona Bill in 2012 is called the freedom of conscience in which the purpose is to help protect the
freedom of religion. Which in turn is trying to protective conservative counselors from the changes that were made in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics. Factors for Referral There are many factors in why a counselor would be referring a client to another professional. The most ethical reason to be referring a client to someone else is because maybe you are not as experience in a certain topic in which the client is seeking assistance with. Therefore, in your network you know someone who has more experience in the specialty area in where this is justifiable. Of course, it would be ideal if you keep getting the same type of specialty that clients are seeking it would be ideal to continue your education in that area. As well, if you know the person that comes into your office it is unethical to be their counselor so the best type of action would be to refer them to another professional. The most unethical reason why a counselor would refer their client to another counselor is when your values/belief does not align with your client. For example, if someone came into the office and they are pregnant and is seeking assistance, but they are considering the option of abortion strongly. The counselor cannot agree with this type of action but as a counselor we know we cannot implicate/instill our values to the client to change their mind. So instead, counselor would refer them to another professional who is more comfortable in this topic and are
reason for the referral because they did not want to harm the client. This is consider discriminating the client because of their beliefs. As a counselor, it’s important to set aside your values when working with all your clients.
Conclusion
Counselors hold a duty to be open to all diversity, values, beliefs, cultures, and the list go on when it comes to working with clients. Reality is not everyone is going to match with the same value/belief system that you have. Coming into the counseling world that should be understood, because it not always going to be agreeable what the client what to do with their life and their decisions. At the end of day, we are there for them on their journey where they feel in a safe space, and not feel judge. It is emphasized that the counselor seeks counseling themselves on how to be better in putting their values/beliefs to the side once they are in session with their clients. Also, always educating yourself on different topics/situations and talking with peers on advice or going to the state broad for advice on how to handle what you are facing. Referring clients out of your office because you don’t want to deal with hearing what you disagree on their values is unethical, and only should be referring when it a conflict of interest (when you know the individually personally) or when you truly are not specialize in that area.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
References ACA code of ethics (2014),
American Counseling Association
ACA 2014 Code of Ethics (counseling.org)
Forester-Miller, H., & Davis, T. E. (2016). Practitioner’s guide to ethical decision making
(Rev. ed.). Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/ethics/practioner-39-s-guide-to-ethical-
decision-making.pdf?sfvrsn=f9e5482c_10
Justia US Law (2023) Grossman, Kathyrn v. South Shore, No. 06-4294 (7 TH Cir. 2007) https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca7/06-4294/06-4294-2007-11-15-
opinion-2011-02-25.html