Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Ethical Principles 

Autonomy: This fundamental ethical principle requires mental health professionals to make decisions about their health (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). This principle is pegged on the right to self-governance for patients. In mental health care, professionals must ensure that all patients are offered the chance to make important decisions about their health.

Non-maleficence: This principle requires that all health professionals act in ways that do not harm others. In particular, health professionals should act in ways that do not cause avoidable harm to their patients (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). In mental health care, counselors must always make decisions that are in the client’s best interest.

Beneficence: This principle promotes the idea that every action should aim to achieve good. In every action that a health professional takes, a good outcome should be expected (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). In mental health, the actions taken by professionals should aim to improve the client’s mental health.

Justice: This is a broad principle of ethics that requires the application of fairness, equity, and equality in the implementation of health care services (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). The concept of justice is important in mental health care. Mental health services must be allocated to all people in an equitable and fair manner.

Fidelity: This principle broadly requires that mental health professionals remain loyal to the patient (Barker, 2011). Loyalty includes keeping promises, being trustworthy, and doing what is expected. Mental health professionals are expected to be loyal to the patients they serve. For instance, a patient requires that a professional keep their information confidential. Thus, the counselor must fulfill this expectation.

Veracity: This is the ability to maintain truthfulness at all times. Regardless of the situation, mental health professionals are expected to be truthful at all times regarding the mental health of their patients. Full disclosure of a patient’s information is essential, according to the principle of veracity.

Aspirational Ethics: This describes the desire for a person to perform their duties according to the best standards possible (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). Mental health professionals are expected to have the aspiration to demonstrate the best possible performance. In this way, they are able to provide the best possible care at a given point.

Mandatory Ethics: These are compulsory laws that every professional must comply with. For instance, if a counselor has a conflict of interest with a patient, they are legally required to refer the patient to another counselor (Barker, 2011). This is a law that they have no choice but to obey.

Implications for Mental Health Practice Under Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

A combination of ethical principles helps to promote inclusion. Health professionals can create an inclusive environment for all people when guided by ethical principles. For instance, the principle of justice ensures that a healthy environment is favorable for all people. Ethical principles also help to enhance the referral of patients for better health care (Barker, 2011). Applying health principles can help professionals judge situations that require referral to another professional for the patient’s good. This can be a result of the principle of non-maleficence to avoid harm to the patient or mandatory ethics requiring compulsory referral. Ethical principles also lead to best practices for mental health professionals (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008). When faced with an ethical dilemma, mental health professionals will make the best possible decisions to maintain quality and safe care when guided by ethical principles.

Multicultural Issues Under Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Cultural relativity significantly affects mental health treatment and understanding of ethical principles. Due to cultural differences, something may be viewed as wrong in one culture but good in another. Such relativity may influence the interpretation of ethical principles (Barker, 2011). For instance, an action that can be seen as an injustice in one culture can be okay in another. This creates confusion in the understanding of ethical issues.

References

Barker, P. J. (2011). Mental health ethics: The human context. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Koocher, G. P., & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Ethics in psychology and the mental health professions: Standards and cases. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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Common Assignment 1: Essay 1 – Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

Discuss each of the following ethical principles.

In your response include the implications for mental health practice and your understanding of the application of ethical standards for each principle. Also include the multicultural issues related to ethical principles.

(a) Discuss Principles                       (b) Implications                      (c) Multicultural

• Autonomy                                   Inclusion                                    Issues – Ethics
• Nonmaleficence                            Referral
• Beneficence                                 Best Practice
• Justice                            Limitations (as counselor)
• Fidelity                                        Supervision
• Veracity                                       Practice (as counselor)
• Aspirational ethics                      Other Implications
• Mandatory ethics
  

  Ethical Principles in Clinical Mental Health Counseling