INTRODUCTION The field of Clinical Mental Health is one of grave responsibility. It is the duty of the counselor to provide the client with a safe and healthy therapeutic relationship. Counselors are certain to encounter difficult situations and ethical issues in a counseling session that will require sound ethical decision-making ability. They have a moral responsibility to provide adequate treatment and uphold the trust of their clients. Understanding the ethical issues that exist and their implications will better prepare the counselors to provide their services in a professional manner to improve their client’s wellbeing. Ethics are at the center of how the counseling process functions. Mental health counselors are therefore guided by …show more content…
Counselors are to act in a non-discriminatory manner towards individuals and groups. According to ACA Code of Ethics C.5. Nondiscrimination, counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination against prospective or current clients, students, employees, supervisees, or research participants based on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/partnership status, language preference, socioeconomic status, immigration status, or any basis proscribed by law. For example, the counselor may have different religious views and attitudes regarding Jews as a Catholic counselor. However, in the therapeutic relationship, the counselor cannot engage in discriminatory practices based on culture, ethnicity, or religion. The Jewish clients should be treated equally as a Catholic …show more content…
This principle encourages counselors to aspire for the highest performance levels. It represents the very best of effort and practice that an individual can give. For example, a therapist calling to get an update on the client after referring them to another therapist goes above and beyond his responsibilities as a therapist, or a counselor taking a pro bono case for a less fortunate