Practitioners should periodically apply formative assessment methods to monitor and judge the effectiveness of their plan as they progress through sessions. This is especially important when implementing a new decision or a plan to resolve an ethical issue. The evaluation may be informal; it should answer the following questions: ● Did the course of action, based on the decision, result in the anticipated effect? ● Did positive consequences result from the decision or course of action? ● Was the decision or course of action aligned with the plan of service? ● Was client assessment culture fair? ● Did the decision or course of action promote the client’s goals? ● Is the course of action in the best interest of client’s welfare? ● Is the client positive and participating in the course of action? ● Is there anything that should change in method or practice to be more effective for the client? When making any practice decisions about a counseling plan, with or without an identified ethical issue, it is important to follow an organized, thorough, collaborative process for decision making. The process must be grounded in skills of professional competence and knowledge of client needs that will inform the appropriate method(s) of practice. Applying the decision-making process, based on these skills, can inform the appropriate counseling method and plan. Clients should be included whenever possible in decisions about their counseling and therapy plan. They should be informed about the process and encouraged to be active participants in all sessions. The following the components
should be part of the planning and delivery process with clients: ● Discuss with the client the problem or dilemma that prompted them to seek assistance. ● Identify potential barriers to progress including any language or cultural considerations. Use an objective translator as needed, not a family member or friend. ● Discuss assessment measures and explain the rationale for use prior to conducting them. Always explain the results of assessment and how they inform delivery of services. ● Include the client in the decision-making process, when possible, to build ownership and autonomy skills. ● Identify and discuss various courses of action and consequences of each. ● Form a plan and set goals with the client, check for understanding and agreement through the informed consent process. ● Implement the course of action with clear objectives and timelines for progress. ● Provide resources and to support the client in reaching their goal. ● Review the plan, assess progress, and revise the plan as necessary. Any changes to the plan must be reflected in the informed consent document. ● Seek consultation from more than one source to gain multiple perspectives. Counselors and therapists should be vigilant in their practice to identify potential ethical concerns and areas that require consultation, review effectiveness of the service, and employ a decision-making model when warranted. This may include the practitioner’s self-evaluation to ensure they are maintaining clarity, objectivity, competence, and appropriate boundaries, free of bias, to prevent ethical violations in practice.
EVALUATING ETHICAL PRACTICE
● Consistently followed their code of ethics. It is also important for counselors and therapists to consider the following components in, addition to the foregoing, when assessing their practice related to ethics: ● Issues related to the specific client including levels of comprehension, informed consent, participation, cultural factors, goal achievement, and satisfaction of the client through the service delivery. ● Appropriate formative and summative assessment of client needs and progress to inform and guide the plan of service. ● Counselor bias, emotions, personality, and other factors specific to the counselor that may have impacted their practice during the service delivery. ● The dynamics of the counselor/client relationship. ● Review of evaluations, goal achievement, and client satisfaction with the outcomes and success of the service plan. Self-Assessment Question 3 Components of the tests that may assess sound decision- making for ethical practice should include: a. Truth, diversity, and justice
How can counselors or therapists self-monitor to know if they are practicing in an ethical manner? They may not encounter an ethical issue in their practice that necessitates the need for a decision-making team process but want assurances that they are following the ethics codes and practicing ethically. Van Hoose and Paradise (1979) suggested a process for judging professional practice against ethical standards. Their work has stood the test of time and serves as the basis for significant research on ethical practice today as referenced in current ACA publications (Forester-Miller & Davis, 2016). The counselor or therapist is probably acting ethically by evidence that they: ● Maintained personal and professional honesty. ● Can demonstrate they have acted in the best interest of the client’s welfare as their priority. ● Acted without malice or personal gain. ● Consulted with other professionals in the field. ● Can demonstrate fair and just actions. ● Would be comfortable with a peer review process to evaluate their practice. ● Could publicly report and defend their action. ● Can support their actions based on the best practice of the profession. ● Can show documentation of appropriate informed consent procedures and record keeping. ● Maintained client confidentiality following ethical and legal requirements. ● Employed a sound decision making model.
b. Confidentiality, justice, and publicity c. Justice, publicity, and universality d. Truth, confidentiality, and publicity
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Book Code: PCUS1525
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