Citation metadataDocument controlsMain contentArticle Preview : Show The authors present the results of a survey of ethical complaints reported to state licensing boards, raise concerns about specific areas of ethical complaints and violations, and make suggestions regarding ameliorating problem areas. In recent years, ethical codes and ethics education have become increasingly important to counselor training and counselor education (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 1997; Cottone & Tarvydas, 1998; Neukrug, Lovell, & Parker, 1996; Welfel, 1998). This focus could suggest anything from a trend toward more ethical behavior, the result of ever-increasing unethical behavior, or an increased focus on professionalism and standards (Anderson, 1992; Coale, 1998; Spruill & Benshoff, 1996). Formal assessment of ethical violations by practicing counselors could assist counselor supervisors and educators in determining the kinds of ethics education that is offered and could be useful information when ethical codes are revised. To assist professionals and the public in understanding the extent to which ethical standards are being upheld, the Ethics Committees of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) provide annual reports on the number, nature, and disposition of ethical complaints (see APA, 2000; Brown & Espina, 2000; Shumate & Espina, 1999). However, these associations receive relatively few complaints (e.g., ACA received 14 in 1998 and 5 in 1999; APA received 42 in 1999), and only a small number are found to be valid and adjudicated through the mechanisms associations have--remediation of the problem or expulsion from the association. Because of the small number of complaints that come to these associations and because not all licensed counselors or psychologists are members of ACA and APA, these reports offer only a partial picture of the ethical practices of counselors and psychologists. However, such reporting can still offer evidence of trends concerning the nature of ethical complaints and ethical violations, particularly when examined with other data (e.g., information from state licensing boards concerning complaints made to them). In roughly its fourth decade, the movement toward professional counselor licensure now includes 47 states and the District of Columbia. This movement has been a significant force in the establishment of ethical standards for the practice of counseling (Bloom, 1997; Neukrug, 1999; Remley, 1991). In addition, licensure legislation sometimes uses ethical guidelines as standards to which counselors are held accountable (Cottone & Tarvydas, 1998). Finally, information obtained from licensing boards regarding ethical complaints and ethical violations can provide a focus for the future training of counselors and students (Herlihy, Healy, Cook, & Hudson, 1987; Neukrug, Healy, & Herlihy, 1992). Despite its apparent importance, information about ethical complaints made to licensing boards is difficult to find. The American Association of State Counselor Boards (AASCB) maintains records of actual ethical violations and disciplinary actions taken against professional counselors. However, these records do not include the number of complaints registered and the nature of those complaints. In 1987, Herlihy et al. described ethical complaints received and processed by 7 of 10 state counseling boards. A follow-up study 5 years later (Neukrug et al., 1992) contained reports of ethics cases processed... Get Full Access Gale offers a variety of resources for education, lifelong learning, and academic research. Log in through your library to get access to full content and features! Access through your library Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Source CitationGale Document Number: GALE|A77186723 By Tamara Hill, MS, NCC, CCTP, LPC on November 5, 2013 A research study done in 1997 by Johnston and Farber summarizes a conservative view of boundary violations from a therapist to a client. The researchers state that boundary violations
include:
When a therapist communicates his most intimate thoughts, feelings, beliefs, or behaviors to a client in a therapy session or therapy relationship, the therapist has crossed a professional boundary. However, it is important for all clients to carefully consider the situation because some therapists share details about themselves to develop rapport. Such an incident is known as self-disclosure. Some self-disclosure is good for building a long-lasting relationship with commonalities. But there are those therapist-client relationships that cross the line and end up making the client the therapist and the therapist the client. Some individuals believe that transference (when the client begins viewing the therapist outside of his or her professional role) and counter-transference (when a therapist reciprocates feelings of the client) can occur in which a therapist has crossed boundaries, making it difficult for a client to benefit from the transference because the therapist simply enjoys the confusion. Freudians or psychoanalysts believe that transference can be a useful tool for helping both therapist and client evaluate feelings, thoughts, and past relationships. If this is not done properly, the client can be manipulated or violated. There are a lot of signs of a bad therapist, but ethical violations can be very difficult to spot. So I recommend clients look for:
Ethical and legal boundaries are very difficult for clients and even therapists to understand or implement because there is a lot of gray. There are no black and white answers or perfect ways of doing anything in therapy. But there are common sense ways to protect everyone involved.I believe it is acceptable to develop a “friendship” within the proper bounds with clients. It is okay to use self-disclosure in appropriate moments. It is acceptable to let our guard down as therapists in the appropriate moments. It is only when boundaries are violated, client or therapist is disrespected, personal details become too personal, and danger can result that trouble is likely. You want to keep an eye out for therapists who walk over their clients, either blatantly or subliminally.If you would like to read the complete article of the study I cited at the beginning, click here for a an online overview of the article. For more recent research on ethical boundaries, visit the American Psychological Association: article 1 & article 2. As always, feel free to post your experiences or the experiences of a loved one. Let’s discuss and learn! All the best References Williams, M.H. (1997). Boundary violations: Do some contended standards of care fail to encompass commonplace procedures of humanistic, behavioral, and eclectic psychotherapies?Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 34(3), 238-249. doi:10.1037/h0087717 What are the most common ethical violations in counseling?According to statistics, the most frequent complaints about ethical issues in counseling involve dual relationships, incompetence, practicing without a license or misrepresenting one's qualifications, sexual relationships with clients, and breach of confidentiality.
What is the most common ethical violation?Common ethics violations include mishandling of client funds, conflict of interest, and lapsed licensing. Improper or fraudulent billing are ethics violations that can involve charging customers for services they did not receive.
What are some examples of ethical dilemmas in Counselling?These dilemmas cover a range of ethical difficulties, including the management of confidentiality, third-party information, child protection, competency, self-disclosure, the management of therapy when offered at home, and the setting of boundaries.
What is the 10 ethical behaviors of counselors?These principles are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, fidelity, justice, veracity, and self-respect (American Counseling Association, 2014; British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2018). They are largely consistent across frameworks aside from some minor variations.
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