Dr. Jeff Jones Code Of Ethics

1022 Words5 Pages

Mental health and self-help professionals such as clinical psychologist, and counselors traditionally have always underestimated the importance of lifestyle functions and stressors that affect their work. This consistent neglect within the profession has almost made what is being preached to their clients hypocritical, although, it has been repeatedly documented in the professional literature as portraying a blatant disregard for their own self-care (Dattilio, 2015). Research has found that over 59.6% of psychologists have admitted to the lack of self-care or psychologist impairment, along with admitting that they failed to cease working while being too distressed to perform their job successfully (Pettibone, Pomerantz, Segrist, & Williams, …show more content…

Jeff Jones situation presents clearly goes against three American Psychological Association ethical standards or codes, along with a few ethical principles. The relevant ethical codes that Dr. Jones ethical issues identify with Ethical Standard 2.06, 3.04, and 2.03. Dr. Jones actions were also in violation of APA’s Ethical Principles A, Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, Principle B, Fidelity and Responsibility, and Principle D which is Justice. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct ethical standard 2.06 covers personal problems and conflicts in the helping profession. This ethical standard clearly outlined in an article by Behnke (2008) …show more content…

Jones possible harm caused to his patients, and colleagues due to his stress, anxiety, inability to focus, lateness, and more regardless if it was unintentional. Counselors, psychologists, and those in the helping profession must be open and able to identify when they need to take a break or get help in order to be well enough to help someone else. Which leads to the third ethical code that is relevant to Dr. Jones situation, and that is ethical standard 2.03. Ethical standard 2.03 is titled maintaining competence, and states that Psychologists undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their competence. Competence is vital to ongoing self-care and wellness that is necessary for mental health professionals to able to proficiently provide assistance to those who are in