Why is it important for a counselor to have an understanding of ethical theory?
Counselors have a sworn duty to help their clientele by listening and being attentive to the person’s problems, it can be argued that a counselor’s sole purpose is to guide someone on how they should deal with everyday problems. It cannot be argued that there are limits to a counselor’s power as far as giving advice, counselors are fully aware of what to do or say and what not to. For example, a counselor can instruct a person on how to effectively deal with their problems, but the counselor cannot give them specific instructions on how to go about it.
It is important for a counselor to have an understanding of ethical theory because it is important for the counselor to remember what lines not to cross or how far they should take their professional advice, an example of this is telling their client to do something or to act on feelings that they have so as to either make them happy or to satisfy a need. According to Rainbow (2002), “Counselors are the silent partners in human relations, exercising ethical theory is what makes them effective at their jobs” (Rainbow, 2002).
Another reason why counselors should remember ethical theory is because of the possibility of allowing themselves into their client’s personal lives. Ethical theory allows the counselor to keep that counselor-client relationship strictly professional, and prevent any kind of interference in that client’s personal life. It can hardly be argued that the importance behind the counselor utilizing ethical theory in their practice is to consistently remind their clients as well as themselves that they cannot tell a person what to do as far as the actions they should take when dealing with a problem whether it is personal or unrelated.
Ethical theory does not just count for counselors, but also other professionals as well even those who are in a similar field.
Body I
Compare Virtue Ethics vs. Principle Ethics, what is the difference?
As most people know, virtue is based on the characteristics of a person such as their sense of honesty or ethical behavior in the face of a dilemma or how they account for their actions based on a given situation. Virtue takes into account a person’s ability or definition of their sense of right and wrong. Principles can be described as something that guides the person’s actions, an example of this is when a man refuses to help his sister-in law because of a past wrong or refuse to associate with her based on that particular situation or to have anything to do with her based on how she is from him. This is what makes Virtue Ethics and Principle Ethics different, virtue ethics consists of a person being motivated to do the right thing no matter what even if they strongly dislike that person. Virtue ethics has a more karmic association that guides a person’s actions. According to Bersoff (1996), “Virtues and Principles, while both might mean the same thing, they are similar in many ways; virtue guides a person’s actions based on their ability to do what is right. Principles guides a person’s action based on their feelings about something or someone (p. 87).
Principle Ethics are ethical actions based on a person’s feelings but still manage to do what is right based on principle, a person might have a strong dislike for someone, but still manage to help them out because it is the right thing to do. Principle Ethics also follows the principle of doing another person no harm, it can be argued that this principle prevents any and all people from doing harm to one another; the truth is far less designed.
People who live by Principle Ethics are obligated to do no harm to another person even if they feel that person is not worth the help they are providing, this class of ethics forces a person to be able to apply the principle of justice when someone is in trouble.
Body II
How should Multicultural Theory and Social Justice be integrated into ethical decision making?
Multicultural Theory can be integrated into ethical decision making by acknowledging that the person’s problems lie more in the society that they grew up in rather than what they were taught, a man might feel practically god-like because he is living in a society where men are brought up to be supermen who make the money, pays the bills, does not get sick or miss days of work and always find time for his children. Based on the concept of Multicultural Theory, the theory itself can be integrated into ethical decision making by understanding the way a person is or what they believe is based on society’s poison so to speak. For example, a grown man who is a nerd might feel as if he should end his life because society makes people like him feel as if they will never find anyone that will accept them as they are. Making the ethical decision to cheer the man up would illustrate a person who is doing right by that person. According to Boyd (2016), “Multicultural Theory and Ethical Decision Making can make a person feel valued in a society where certain types of people are turned away or ignored” (Boyd, 2016).
Social Justice deals with a person who is being left out because of issues with race or sexual orientation or even the religion that they practice. For example, a college educated atheist woman is making slightly less money than those who are only high school educated and believe in God. The social justice issue here is that the woman is being prevented from making what she is worth because of her religious preference or lack thereof, the ethical decision making process can be integrated into social justice by doing what is ethical just which would be to reverse the polarity of the earning power. Although those who believe in God would be making what the atheist woman was, the believers are making that amount of money justly because of their education level and not because of their religious beliefs.
Body III
Who are the various persons or areas to which a professional has ethical responsibility?
When it comes to ethical responsibility, certain professionals are expected to do what is right based on the ethics of their profession. For example, a car salesman might sell a 2010 SUV to an Indian family (from India) who migrated to the United States who have no idea how much the vehicle is really worth. The 2010 SUV would cost no more than $7,000.00 and the car note a month is $237.00, but the car salesman might feel that taking advantage of the family’s ignorance and lack of research on the vehicle is in his best interest. However, the salesman is ethically obligated to do right by the Indian family so they are not overcharged for a six-year old vehicle. According to Rawls (2016), “Social Justice does not give people especially professionals the right to take advantage of other people, discrimination is wrong and discrimination is treating someone who is different than yourself is unjust” (Rawls, 2016).
Counseling professionals are another group of people who have an ethical responsibility to their clients, a person might tell their counselor that they have a desire to kill the person who is hurting someone they love. Although a counselor is advised to talk to the person about their problems and instruct them on how to handle those problems, a counselor is held to the standard of ethical responsibility which means that for them to not get involved in the person’s social or personal life. It cannot be argued that counselors have an ethical responsibility to their clients by watching certain events unfold no matter what happens.
People in the automotive profession are held to the highest ethical responsibility, it can be argued that an auto mechanic can charge whatever they want for any repair done on a vehicle, but the ethical responsible way of going about it is to make it reasonable enough so the person keeps coming back; ethical responsibility is every professional’s responsibility.
Body IV
What are some reasons why a counselor might be tempted to act in a less ethical manner?
Counselors see more than 5 people a day on average and throughout that work day, they encounter “pet peeves” that hold a personal place in their heart whether it is good or if it is bad; mostly bad. Counselors see people who are abused which most counselors are more than familiar with, they are consistently seeing these people who are trying their best to deal with it one way or the other. However, one reason why a counselor might be tempted to act in a less ethical manner is because they personally care about the welfare of the client. For example, a woman is abusing her son because he looks exactly like his father who left her alone with their son to take care of him. A counselor might feel inclined to do what is in the best interest of that child which would be to hurt the mother by beating her up, but it would not solve anything. The counselor might also feel inclined to make sure that the mother of that little boy never hurts anyone else ever again by taking matters into her own hands, counselors who develop personal feelings for their clientele become more involved with that person or people.
Ethically, a counselor has an obligation to do right by their customers and that means protecting them by any means necessary, it can be argued that a counselor is acting on their human impulses which is a more or less legitimate reason to take the actions that they would take. However, a counselor might find themselves ignoring their ethical responsibilities by making their clientele’s suffering or problems go away using any means that is convenient. It cannot be argued that a counselor might be tempted to act in a less ethical manner by making their clientele’s problems their own or taking a personal interest in that client’s problem, counselors care about their clientele and want only the best for them; a counselor has no place in a client’s personal affairs.
Body V
What process would you personally engage in when faced with a professional issue in which your ethical responsibility was not immediately clear?
The process that I would personally engage in is making my intentions clear and also making it a personal responsibility to make sure that I never crossed a line that I was not meant to. For example, if a child was being abused and I was counseling the couple that was abusing the child then I would contact my supervisor. I would tell him or her about my concern and what I have witnessed which is the child’s obvious abuse, and I would get advice on how to proceed from there. If the child’s parents ever came to me to complain about how unethical my actions were, I would respond by asking them about why their son or daughter always came to counseling with a different bruise every single session; it would be a cause of concern for any human relations professional especially if that child is barely in elementary school.
A particular issue of ethics that I have personally faced on a job that I had in the past is a supervisor threatening a client with violence, the client was in a wheelchair and the supervisor encouraged one of the other people to pick on that wheelchair bound individual. It was completely unnecessary because the negative exchange was between a girl who did not care for the guy who was enthralled with her. This is the first time I have ever encountered anything such as this because from an ethical perspective, supervisors are supposed to uphold edicts of social justice and protection among those who are wheelchair bound as well as downtrodden.
It cannot be argued that this was completely unjust and was completely wrong, it was a situation where no one was able to speak up because this person’s position kept them free of any type of retaliation that they might have had coming to them. I can personally say that it was the most disgusting thing that I have ever seen in my life.
References
Bersoff, D. (1996). The Virtue of Principle Ethics. The Counseling Psychologist, 24(1), 87-87.
Boyd, N. (2016). Multicultural Theory and Treatment of Abnormal Functioning. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/multicultural-theory-and-treatment-of-abnormal-functioning.html
Rainbow, C. (2002). Descriptions of Ethical Theories and Principles. Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/indep/carainbow/theories.htm
Rawls, J. (2016). What is Social Justice? Retrieved January 9, 2016, from http://gjs.appstate.edu/social-justice-and-human-rights/what-social-justice
