Ethics for School Ethics for School CounselorsCounselors

Mustang Public SchoolsMustang Public SchoolsOctober 20, 2010October 20, 2010

Wendy Perry, M.Ed., LPC, NBCTWendy Perry, M.Ed., LPC, NBCTTechnical Careers CounselorTechnical Careers Counselor

Moore Norman Technology CenterMoore Norman Technology Center&&

Gina Musae, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, NCSCGina Musae, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, NCSCDean of StudentsDean of Students

Darlington Public SchoolsDarlington Public Schools

DisclosureDisclosure

► I am not an attorney… any I am not an attorney… any information given in this presentation information given in this presentation is based on my study, experience, and is based on my study, experience, and training as a professional school training as a professional school counselor and not meant to take the counselor and not meant to take the place of legal advice.place of legal advice.

AgendaAgenda

► Intro to EthicsIntro to Ethics► TerminologyTerminology► Decision Making ModelDecision Making Model► Advanced Ethical Decision MakingAdvanced Ethical Decision Making► Cases discussedCases discussed► Closing/EvaluationClosing/Evaluation

Ethics 101 Ethics 101

Ethics is defined as:Ethics is defined as:

1.1. a principle of right or good conduct or a principle of right or good conduct or a body of such principles.a body of such principles.

2.2. A system of moral principals or values.A system of moral principals or values.

3.3. The rules of standards governing the The rules of standards governing the conduct of the members of a conduct of the members of a profession.profession.

Ethics vs. Legal StandardsEthics vs. Legal Standards

► Codes of EthicsCodes of Ethics provide an idealized provide an idealized standard of practice standard of practice to which counselors to which counselors should aspire.should aspire.

► Legal StandardsLegal Standards

are developed by are developed by legislators (and legislators (and interpreted by interpreted by judges) to set the judges) to set the minimum minimum professional professional standards that are standards that are tolerated by society.tolerated by society.

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

► Privilege Privilege Legal term to keep Legal term to keep

confidentiality with confidentiality with clients…lawyers, clients…lawyers, doctors, clergy doctors, clergy

Does Does notnot apply to apply to school counselors.school counselors.

► ConfidentialityConfidentiality Keep information Keep information

private but must private but must reveal when reveal when subpoenaed by the subpoenaed by the court. court.

Does not hold legal Does not hold legal status.status.

Does apply to school Does apply to school counselorscounselors

Kitchener’s Critical Evaluation Kitchener’s Critical Evaluation ModelModel

►AutonomyAutonomy►BeneficenceBeneficence►NonmaleficenceNonmaleficence► Justice or fairnessJustice or fairness

Another PerspectiveAnother Perspective

►School counselors can look to moral School counselors can look to moral principles or “shared beliefs or agreed-principles or “shared beliefs or agreed-upon assumptions that guide the upon assumptions that guide the ethical reasoning of helping ethical reasoning of helping professionals” (Remley & Herlihy, 2001, professionals” (Remley & Herlihy, 2001, p. 3) upon which the codes of ethics are p. 3) upon which the codes of ethics are based. The moral principles most often based. The moral principles most often cited in relation to ethical practices of cited in relation to ethical practices of counselors include the following:counselors include the following:

►Veracity or telling the truthVeracity or telling the truth► Justice or fairnessJustice or fairness►Nonmaleficence or doing no harmNonmaleficence or doing no harm►Beneficence or doing goodBeneficence or doing good►Autonomy or respecting free choiceAutonomy or respecting free choice►Fidelity or keeping promisesFidelity or keeping promises

Steps to takeSteps to take

1.1. Identify the problem or dilemma; be Identify the problem or dilemma; be aware of the different perspectives that aware of the different perspectives that may be used to identify the problem.may be used to identify the problem.

2.2. Identify the potential issues involved. Identify the potential issues involved. Consider autonomy, beneficence, Consider autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.nonmaleficence, and justice.

3.3. Review the relevant ethical guidelines. Review the relevant ethical guidelines. Is there one or should there be one?Is there one or should there be one?

4.4. Obtain consultation; this is a good Obtain consultation; this is a good way to test reasoning and decision way to test reasoning and decision making strategies.making strategies.

5.5. Consider possible and probable Consider possible and probable courses of action.courses of action.

6.6. Enumerate the consequences of Enumerate the consequences of various decisions.various decisions.

7.7. Decide what appears to be the best Decide what appears to be the best course of action.course of action.

Decision Making Model Decision Making Model SummarySummary

►How do your emotions define this How do your emotions define this problem?problem?

►How does you intellect define the How does you intellect define the problem?problem?

►Apply ethical codes and lawApply ethical codes and law►Consider the chronological and Consider the chronological and

developmental levels of the studentdevelopmental levels of the student►Consider the settingConsider the setting►CONSULT, CONSULT, CONSULTCONSULT, CONSULT, CONSULT

Code of Ethics/StandardsCode of Ethics/Standards

►American School Counseling American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Association (ASCA)

►American Counseling Association American Counseling Association (ACA)(ACA)

►National Board of Certified Counselors National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)(NBCC)

►Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

TechnologyTechnology

►FaxesFaxes Get written permission to fax confidential Get written permission to fax confidential

information-release of recordsinformation-release of records

►EmailsEmails Not confidential, public informationNot confidential, public information Confidentiality disclosure will not stand up Confidentiality disclosure will not stand up

in courtin court

►Cyber counselingCyber counseling

ScenariosScenarios

►An 8 year old boy discloses he has An 8 year old boy discloses he has tried marijuana with his older brothertried marijuana with his older brother

Do you tell the parent? What about the Do you tell the parent? What about the brother? Does age matter? What if the brother? Does age matter? What if the boy was a senior in high school and his boy was a senior in high school and his brother was a college student?brother was a college student?

ContinuedContinued

►A 17 year old student comes to your office A 17 year old student comes to your office drunk and begs you not to call the police drunk and begs you not to call the police or his parentsor his parents Do you call? What if his parents are very Do you call? What if his parents are very

abusive? What if he has a prior history with abusive? What if he has a prior history with the police and this will create more financial the police and this will create more financial and personal hardships for him and his family? and personal hardships for him and his family? What if he shows signs of clinical depression What if he shows signs of clinical depression and you’re worried he may be suicidal?and you’re worried he may be suicidal?

ContinuedContinued

► Let’s hear your scenarios….what are Let’s hear your scenarios….what are you dealing with in your offices?you dealing with in your offices? SuicideSuicide Alcohol/Drug UseAlcohol/Drug Use Sexual BehaviorsSexual Behaviors Violent BehaviorViolent Behavior

Peer BlogPeer Blog

ResourcesResources

► American School Counselor Association American School Counselor Association www.schoolcounselor.orgwww.schoolcounselor.org

► American Counseling Association American Counseling Association www.counseling.orgwww.counseling.org

► Licensed Professional Counselor websiteLicensed Professional Counselor websitewww.health.ok.gov/program/lpcwww.health.ok.gov/program/lpc

►National Board for Certified CounselorsNational Board for Certified Counselorswww.nbcc.orgwww.nbcc.org

► Ethical and Legal Issues in School Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling Counseling by Remley, Hermann, and Hueyby Remley, Hermann, and Huey

Questions??Questions??

Wendy PerryWendy Perry, , LPC, NBCTLPC, NBCT

CounselorCounselorMoore Norman Technology CenterMoore Norman Technology Center

405-217-8263405-217-8263 wperry@mntechnology.comwperry@mntechnology.com

Gina Musae, LPC, NCSC, NCCGina Musae, LPC, NCSC, NCCDean of StudentsDean of StudentsDarlington SchoolDarlington School

405-590-9761405-590-9761gina.musae@yahoo.comgina.musae@yahoo.com