ACA Code Of Ethics Case Study

As stated in the American Counseling Association (ACA) code of ethics, “the primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients” (American Counseling Association, 2014, A.1.a., p. 4). This statement is one of the most important aspects to understand when approaching counseling, because this statements notes that above all personal dynamics of the counselor (including personal values) it is vital that the client is put first above all. Although, we are all humans with various and at times conflicting beliefs and values; I believe within my professional personal development it is important to correctly identify any bias or strong beliefs I may have before interacting with any clients. As supported

Granting, not all people will fit nicely into my expectations of what it is to be human, I feel that my efforts to positively move my clients forward will not change throughout the various and differing encounters of beliefs and values I will have. One particular incident that I may experience value conflict between the client and myself would be on the subject of end-of-life decision making. I personally feel that no person should feel that taking their own life is the only choice that they could make. I feel as if that by making a decision to take your own life, you are taking away the faith and hope of what it is to be alive and human. Of course, I understand that there will be expectations to end-of-life decision making such as incidents involving the client being terminally ill. A recent article suggest, “given the shift in public opinion and the potential expansion of legalized euthanasia, it is increasingly important that mental health counselor understand their own attitudes about the end-of-life option and their role in the decision-making process of clients who may choose to pursue it” (Bevacqua & Kurpius, 2013, p. 173). This particular article helped shed light on the counselors’ primary responsibility in respecting the client’s autonomy in the growing trend of making end-of-life decisions. In the same way, the ACA code of ethics and the Texas Administrative Code express the same approaches to end-of-life decision making. ACA states that “counselors who provide services to terminally ill individuals who are considering hastening their own deaths have the option to maintain confidentiality, depending on applicable laws and the specific circumstances of the situation and after seeking consultation or supervision from appropriate professional and legal parties” (American Counseling Association, 2014, B.2.b., p. 7). Also,