CHAPTER 8

ETHICAL PROBLEMS OF COUNSELORS

The Ethical Problems are the dilemmas, the counsellor should be aware of these problems. She should be alert to
identify the kind of behaviour displayed by the counselee. The essence of knowing the ethical problems could enable the
counsellors to discern the appropriate counselling techniques to be applied.

CATEGORIES OF ETHICAL PROBLEMS

 Counselor Competence
= The counsellor’s behaviour is below acceptable standards.
 Confidentiality
= The counselee requests not to divulge information to anybody else.
 Role conflict
= The counselor’s function is multiple: as a friend, counselor, and superior.
If the counsellor is fully aware of this role, role conflict becomes easy to deal with.
 Conflicts with Employers and Institution
= The clients have problems with their employer or superiors.
 Danger
= Disclosing information to a third party may danger the client and others.

TWO VIEW POINTS in classifying Ethical Problems.

 Mandatory and Aspirational
= It is mandatory for the counsellor to adhere to ethical guidelines.
When the counsellor is sensitive of the effects of the counselling action and interaction on the client
and society, it is aspirational.
 Based on ethical principles (Kitchener, 1984)
= Kitchener categorized the Ethical principles in five different kinds.

Autonomy = Respecting the rights of others.

Normaleficience =The concept explains doing or causing no harm to others.
Beneficence = Refers to the positive obligation of doing good to help others.
Justice = In distributing services, fairness is adopted.
Fidelity = The promise between the client and counsellor is kept faithfully.

CODE OF ETHICS (ASCA, 1972)

 Responsibilities of the school counsellor stem from these basic tenets in the counselling
process.
1. Each person has the right to dignity as a human being.
a) Without regard to race, sex, religion, color, socio-economic status.
b) Without regards to the nature and results of behaviour, belief, and inherent characteristics.
2. Each person has the right to individual self-development.
3. Each person has the right to self-direction and responsibility for making decisions.
4. The school counselor, equipped with professional competency, an understanding of the behavioural sciences,
and a philosophical orientation to school and community, performs unique, distinctive, and highly specialized
service within the context of education’s purpose and the structure of the school system. The school counsellor
shall use these skills in endeavouring constantly to insure that the counselee has the aforementioned rights and
a reasonable amount of the counselor’s time.
5. The ethical conduct of the school counsellor shall be consistent with state regulations.
6. The school counsellor may share information consultation with those appropriate persons specifically concerned
with the counselee. Confidential information may be released only with the consent of the individual except
when required by court order.
  Principal responsibilities of the school counsellor to pupils/students.

A. The school counsellor

a) Has a principal obligation and loyalty to respect each person as a unique individual and to encourage
that which permits individual growth and development.
b) Must not impose consciously his attitudes and values on the counselee, though he is not obligated to
keep his attitudes and values from being known.
c) Should respect at all times the confidence of the counselee; should the counselee’s condition be such as
to endanger the health, welfare, and or/safety of self or others, the counsellor is expected to report this
fact to an appropriate responsible person.
d) Shall be responsible and knowledge about the strengths and limitation of tests; will share and interpret
test information with the counselee in an accurate, objective and understandable manner to assist the
counselee in self-evaluation.
e) Shall assist the counselee in understanding the counselling process in order to insure that the persons
counselled understand how information obtained in conferences with the counsellor may be used.