Ethical Implications of Value Imposition
Value imposition affects the therapeutic relationship between clients and counselors. This reduces the productivity of therapy sessions and lowers clients’ satisfaction levels. The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics enables counselors to uphold professional standards when interacting with clients (Corey et al., 2017). This helps to reduce the likelihood of value imposition.
The Ethical Implications of a Counselors Expressing Their Values to a Client
Counselors should understand the impact of expressing their values to clients. A counselor’s values and beliefs should not supersede his or her professional obligations. As such, counselors should exercise caution when interacting with clients to avoid the impositions of their values (Corey et al., 2017). The values and beliefs of some clients may not be harmonious with those of the counselor. In this context, the ethical principle of autonomy recognizes the unique role of a patient in the decision-making process (Corey et al., 2017). The client’s values and beliefs should be respected to achieve holistic care.
The American Counseling Association’s code of ethics prohibits counselors from inflicting their values and beliefs on clients. Furthermore, they should seek assistance and training when specific circumstances increase the risk of value imposition (Corey et al., 2017). Value imposition depicts counselors as judgmental and stereotypic (Corey et al., 2017). This impedes the achievement of open and successful interaction with clients. Additionally, value imposition is associated with poor compliance rates because clients feel disrespected and discriminated against. To avoid these ethical implications, counselors should uphold self-awareness to mitigate their weaknesses, such as underlying prejudices and stereotypes (Corey et al., 2017).
Actions to Take When Dealing with Difficult Cases
Counselors are likely to encounter scenarios in which their values and beliefs contrast with those of clients. Examples of issues that create conflict include abortion, adultery, and child abuse (GoodTherapy.org, n.d.). Counselors may face difficulties managing clients with the aforementioned problems. The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics requires counselors to seek supervision and training to solve difficult-to-handle issues (Corey et al., 2017). Supervision and training can occur via consultation and personal counseling. Supervision and training promote self-growth and competency (Corey et al., 2017). The counselor gains pertinent knowledge and skills in handling diverse problems. By so doing, counselors recognize the importance of subordinating individual values and beliefs to clients’ values. This enables clients to reevaluate, understand, and use their values to tackle problems.
Counselors should avoid making referrals when they encounter clients whose conditions are difficult to manage due to conflicting values and beliefs. Making referrals implies that the counselor has abandoned his or her client (GoodTherapy.org, n.d.). When a counselor makes a referral, the client may feel rejected due to his or her personal beliefs. This has a negative emotional impact on the patient. The thoughts and feelings of abandonment and rejection caused by referral breach the ethical principle of non-maleficence (GoodTherapy.org, n.d.). Non-maleficence directs that the actions of counselors should not harm their clients (McDermott-Levy et al., 2018). For example, a counselor’s values and beliefs may be against abortion. In this context, rather than referring the patient, the counselor should consult and seek supervision to enable him or her to remain objective in tackling this problem.
Legislation and Government Policies
Various federal legislations have been formulated to guide clinical mental health counseling. These legislations aim to make mental health services available in various setups such as schools and healthcare facilities. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act aims at increasing the number of counselors and psychologists in schools (SchoolCounselor.org, n.d.-a). The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act advocates for an increase in counseling services in career and technical education (SchoolCounselor.org, n.d.-a). Every Student Succeeds Act advocates for the introduction of elaborate counseling programs at schools (SchoolCounselor.org, n.d.-a).
The American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics provides elaborate guidelines to help clinical mental counselors deal with their clients effectively. The ACA code of ethics contains the obligations of counselors and their professional code of conduct (Firmin et al., 2019). ACA aims to improve the productivity of counselors and achieve higher patient satisfaction rates by creating stronger bonds between the patient and the counselor. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) code of ethics contains various provisions to guide the action of school counselors. It has elaborate obligations for school counselors (SchoolCounselor.org, n.d.-b). Furthermore, ASCA provides a framework for client confidentiality, comprehensive counseling programs, and referral programs (SchoolCounselor.org, n.d.-b).
Referring a Client to Another Counselor
Various factors can necessitate the referral of clients. Firstly, a referral should be done when the client needs specialized services. (Hullinger & DiGirolamo, 2018) For example, a counselor may lack sufficient knowledge and competency in conditions such as personality disorders. As such, he or she should explain to the patient the reasons and importance of making a referral to another counselor with specialized knowledge and skills. Secondly, a referral may be made when an inappropriate therapeutic relationship exists between the counselor and client (Hullinger & DiGirolamo, 2018). For example, when a patient is attracted to the counselor romantically, the therapeutic relationship is ruined. In this context, the counselor should make a referral to ensure that the patient benefits from the counseling sessions.
The other factor that necessitates referral is when the counselor’s mental health is affected by his or her interaction with the client. This benefits both the client and the counselor. This referral ensures that the client receives the best mental health services. On the other hand, it helps counselors to reduce their emotional baggage and improves their productivity (Hullinger & DiGirolamo, 2018). The fourth reason that may warrant a referral is when the counselor is unavailable or incapacitated (Hullinger & DiGirolamo, 2018). Counselors should ensure that the referral process is diligently done and that the client is involved in the selection of their new counselor. This is necessary because an abrupt referral may make the client feel rejected and abandoned. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to guide the client in the selection of the best counselor.
Steps a Counselor Should Take if a Referral is not an Option
Counselors should embrace various strategies to fulfill the client’s needs when a referral is not an option. They should consult and seek supervision or training to enable them to address specific clients’ needs (Corey et al., 2017). Supervision and training equip the counselor with the pertinent knowledge and skills required to handle the client’s problem. This is relevant in instances where conflicts exist between the values and beliefs of the client and those of the counselor (Corey et al., 2017). Supervision and training promote collaboration with other specialists or members of other professions to provide holistic and patient-centered counseling services.
The ethical decision-making model to ensure best practices entail comprises four major ethical principles: beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity. Fidelity requires counselors to honor their commitments and uphold trust in their therapeutic relationships with patients (Corey et al., 2017). To accomplish this, patient confidentiality should be maintained when seeking supervision and training. Beneficence and non-maleficence advocate for actions that benefit and cause no harm to patients (McDermott-Levy et al., 2018). Supervision and training ensure that the best approaches are used to solve clients’ problems. This is associated with improved patient outcomes.
References
Corey, G., Corey, M. S., Corey, C., & Callanan, P. (2017). (10th ed.).Issues and ethics in the helping profession independence, KY: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning
Firmin, M. W., DeWitt, K., Zurlinden, T. E., Smith, L. A., & Shell, A. L. (2019). Differences in Competency and Qualification Requirements Between APA and ACA Code of Ethics. ACA Ethical Code Differences The Journal of Integrated Social Sciences, 9(1), 2019–2059. www.JISS.org,
GoodTherapy.org. (n.d.). When Should You Refer a Client to Another Professional? https://www.goodtherapy.org/when-should-you-refer-a-client-to-another-professional.html
Hullinger, A., & DiGirolamo, J. (2018). Referring a client to therapy: A set of guidelines. International Coach Federation, April, 1–23. https://coachingfederation.org/app/uploads/2021/02/Therapy-White-Paper.pdf
McDermott-Levy, R., Leffers, J., & Mayaka, J. (2018). Ethical Principles and Guidelines of Global Health Nursing Practice. Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 473–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.06.013
SchoolCounselor.org. (n.d.-b). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Legal-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)
SchoolCounselor.org. (n.d.-a). Federal Legislation. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Legislative-Issues/Federal-Legislation
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Question 
Should a counselor remain value-objective about controversial issues presented by a client (such as abortion, suicide, adultery, drug use, domestic violence, child abuse)? Some counselors might argue that they should not self-disclose their values or criticize their clients for these behaviors, while others would say that expressing moral judgment is appropriate. Consider the information above, Chapter 3 of the textbook, and the articles focused on ethical decision-making models. This paper should be written in the third person. Write a 1,000-1,250-word paper addressing the following:
Ethical Implications of Value Imposition
Analyze the ethical implications of a counselor expressing their values to a client.
Identify actions a counselor might take when confronted with clients they find difficult to treat due to differences in values/beliefs regarding one or more of the following issues: abortion, suicide, adultery, drug use, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Identify some of the legislation and government policies related to clinical mental health counseling or school counseling.
Identify factors that might lead a counselor to consider referring a client to another counselor.
Describe steps a counselor should take if a referral is not an option and discuss a specific ethical decision-making model that would be used to ensure best practices.
Be sure to use the ACA or ASCA Code of Ethics as guidelines when constructing your paper.
Include three additional scholarly resources in your paper in addition to the course textbook.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
GCU Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency and professional standards:
MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling; MEd School Counseling
2.3: Analyze ethical issues in the practice of professional counseling. [CACREP 2.F.1.i, 2.F.6.g; MC5]
This assignment is informed by the following CACREP Standard:
5.C.2.j. Cultural factors relevant to clinical mental health counseling.