CONCLUSION
Ethical practice begins with the professional responsibility to follow the framework set by the national and state association codes of ethics. All counseling specialty areas share basic principles, values, and standards that guide ethical practice, and all professional counselors aspire to follow these codes. The highest quality of ethical practice is ruled by Texas state statutes and administered by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the National Board for Certified Counselors that regulate licensure of counselors in Texas. Federal regulations of HIPAA, HITECH, and FERPA regulate counseling practice in areas of confidentiality, informed consent, and electronic transmission of protected health information among agencies. State regulations defer to these federal rules and directives administered by the judicial system. The legal statutes and ethics codes cannot address every ethical conflict that may occur in practice. The counselor will need to apply a sound decision making-process that relies on professional knowledge, experience, understanding of the law, ethical standards, and resources to assist in their decisions. Counselors work to promote the welfare of clients and assist them to become confident and self-reliant to make decisions and build skills for autonomy. This involves engaging clients in planning their counseling process based on needs, preferences, values, and desired outcomes. This involves working together through a shared decision making-process that delineates the course of their care.
The most common ethical conflicts include issues surrounding confidentiality, informed consent, boundary issues, and misrepresentation or fraudulent statements, often due to conflicts of interest. Some ethical conflicts can be traced to the lack of knowledge concerning the legal statutes or ethical codes and others may be due to a lapse in judgement influenced by inappropriate relationships with clients or their associates. Specific regulations apply to minors, disabled, and elderly clients that may not be able to consent to participate independently in their care. Finally, the counselor has the obligation to maintain their competence for professional practice by adhering to law and ethics codes, updating skills and knowledge, reviewing current research, and maintaining their physical and emotional wellness. Though ethical conflicts arise in all counseling practice, the licensed professional should be confident to successfully navigate these issues. Counselors practice within their area of competence based on their knowledge of standards, codes of ethics, legal regulations, decision-making skills, and the availability of resources to assist them in delivering the highest quality of ethical practice.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/TX_Laws_Couns
TEXAS LAWS AND REGULATIONS FOR ETHICAL PRACTICE IN COUNSELING Final Examination Questions Select the best answer for each question and mark your answers on the Final Examination Answer Sheet found on page 106, or complete your test online at EliteLearning.com/Book 37. General ethical requirements for Texas counselors are found in __________. a. ACA Codes of Ethics 41. __________ recognize that their behavior reflects on the integrity of the profession, and thus, they avoid actions which can reasonably be expected to damage trust.
b. Texas Counseling Association c. TAC Rule §681.41, Subchapter B d. ASCA Standards 38. 2. __________ has a regulatory role governing professional practice in behavioral health.
a. Therapists b. Supervisors c. Colleagues d. NCCs 42. The principle of __________ is dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into professional contact. c. veracity d. consent 43. __________ is working for the good of the individual and society by promoting mental health and well-being. a. Advocacy b. Welfare c. Fiduciary d. Beneficence 44. Assent: to demonstrate agreement when a person is otherwise __________. a. disinterested. b. not capable or competent c. absent or missing d. consenting a. trust b. faith
a. TCA b. ACA
c. TBHEC d. HITECH
39. The ACA Code of Ethics is a comprehensive overview of values, principles, and standards and is the code of ethics adhered to by the __________. a. Texas Counseling Association b. FERPA c. Rule 681.45 d. HITECH 40. Honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts is a __________. a. federal law b. ACA core value
c. TBHEC rule d. Texas statute
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Book Code: PCTX1326
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