Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions

Part 1 Introduction to professional ethics: the focus of this book; ethical decision-making; some suggestions for using this Book; self -assessment - an inventory of your attitudes and beliefs; chapter summary; suggested activities. Part 2 The counsellor as a person and as a professional: Self - awareness and the influence of the therapist's personality and needs; the issue of personal therapy for counsellors; dealing with transference and countertransference; client dependence as an ethical issue; manipulation versus collaboration; stress in the counselling profession; counsellor impairment; chapter summary; suggested activities. Part 3 Values and the helping relationship: clarifying your own values and their role on your work; the ethics of imposing your values on clients; differences in life experiences and philosophies; the role of spiritual and religious values in counselling; end-of-life decisions; values pertaining to sexuality; ethical and value issues in counselling gay and lesbian clients; chapter summary; suggested activities. Part 4 Client rights and counsellor responsibilities: the client's right to give informed consent; the counsellor's responsibilities in record keeping; counsellor's responsibilities in a managed-care system; ethical and legal issues in counselling children and adolescents; involuntary commitment and human rights; malpractice liability in the helping professions; causes of malpractice suits; ways to protect yourself from malpractice suits; course of action in a malpractice suit; legal liability in an ethical perspective; chapter summary; suggested activities. Part 5 confidentiality - ethical and legal issues: confidentiality, privileged communication, and privacy; the duty to warn and to protect; child abuse - ethical and legal issues; ethical and legal aspects of HIV-related issues; chapter summary; suggested activities. Part 6 Issues in theory, practice, and research: developing a counselling stance; the division of responsibility in therapy; diagnosis as a professional issue; the issue of using tests in counselling; the use of techniques in counselling and therapy; ethical issues in psychotherapeutic research; cultural diversity aspects of research; inventory of your position on research; chapter summary; suggested activities. Part 7 Managing boundaries and multiple relationships: dual relationships in perspective; bartering for professional services; social relationships with clients and former clients; sexual attractions in the client/therapist relationship; sexual dual relationships - ethical and legal issues; a special case - non-erotic physical contact with clients; dealing with unethical behaviour in dual relationships; chapter summary.