Ethical and Legal Issues

Ethical Issues in Career Development InterventionsChapter 14 Classifying Practitioner BehaviorEthical and Legal -------------------------- Ethical and IllegalUnethical and Legal -------------------------- Unethical and IllegalEthical Rules of ThumbDual relationships with the potential to exploit client trust and vulnerability are unethical.Consult with professional colleagues who understand career interventions when unsure about how to resolve a dilemma.Be aware of clients values and those imbedded in career intervention models.Ethical Dilemmas vs. Moral TemptationsKidder (1995) contends that an ethical dilemma occurs only in instances when there are competing rights or there is a struggle to determine the least bad course of action.Using Principles to Resolve Ethical DecisionsVan Hoose (1986) recommended that counselors use ACAs five principles to guide their ethical practice:AutonomyNonmaleficenceBeneficenceJusticeFidelity (Herlify & Corey, 1996, p. 4-5)Additional PrinciplesBeauchamp and Childress (1995) identified additional relevant principles to guide professional-client relationships:Veracity: Tell the truth and do not lie or deceive others.Privacy: Allow individuals to limit access to information about themselves.Confidentiality: Allow individuals to control access to information they have shared.Relevant Ethical Codes for Career PractitionersAmerican Counseling Association (ACA)National Career Development Association (NCDA)American Psychological Association (APA)International Association of Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG)National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)Strategies for Minimizing Insensitivity to Clients ValuesBecome informed about variety of values held in society.Be aware of your own values.Present value options to clients in an unbiased manner.Be committed to clients freedom of choice.Strategies for Minimizing Insensitivity, continuedRespect clients with values that differ from your own.Consult with others when necessary.Consider referring clients to another counselor when substantial moral, religious or political value differences exist.Special Ethical ChallengesAre all individual career interventions counseling?Should those without traditional training and credentials provide career services?How should the Internet be used in career development interventions?Reasons for Using the Internet in Career Service Delivery (current NCDA guidelines)To deliver occupational informationTo provide online searches of occupational databases for the purpose of identifying occupational optionsTo deliver interactive career counseling and career planning servicesTo provide online job searchesSix Sections of NCDA Ethical StandardsSection A - GeneralSection B - The Counseling RelationshipSection C - Measurement and EvaluationSection D - Research and PublicationSection E - ConsultingSection F - Private PracticeEthical Standards and Ethical Practice for Career CounselorsOffer only services they are competent to offer.Respect and value individual differences among clients and potential clients.Treat information received from and about clients as owned by the client and held in trust by the counselor.Ethical Standards, continuedDo not engage in any professional relationship in which the counselors objectivity and ability to work for clients welfare might be impaired.Assume professional responsibility for clients and, if unable to assist, help the client obtain alternative services.Ethical Standards, continuedRecognize they have obligations to other members of the profession and to society to act in responsible ways and to consider the effects of their behavior on others.The End