Counselling: Professional Identity, Ethics, and Scenario in Helping

This essay delves into the crucial concept of counsellor identity within the helping professions, emphasizing its significance in providing effective guidance and support. It examines the roles and responsibilities of counsellors, highlighting the importance of empathy, ethical conduct, and professional development. The essay also explores the ethical principles that inform a counsellor's professional identity, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, fidelity, and justice, illustrating how these principles guide decision-making in complex situations. Furthermore, the essay presents a counselling scenario involving a 36-year-old man facing business challenges, providing an opportunity to apply the discussed concepts and principles in a practical context. Desklib offers a wealth of similar resources for students seeking to enhance their understanding of counselling and related fields.

Running head: COUNSELLING 1
Counselling
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Date

COUNSELLING 2
Section 1 - Why counsellor identity is considered to be such an important concept in the
helping professions
Counselling is considered to be a helping profession since it highlights the intellectual
and the emotional experiences of people and give professional advice accordingly. A counsellor
enables the client to explore different aspects of life and their feelings through talking freely and
openly, this may involve carrying the conversations between the counsellor and the client in an
open way and enabling the client to be emotionally involved (Worden, 2018). A counsellor does
not judge but gives advice. This gives the client a chance for expression and the difficult feelings
such as anger, guilt, fear in a confidential environment, and resentment.
The counsellor identity as a helping professional is also perceived when the counsellor
encourages the client to examine the parts of their lives that they have found to be difficult and
impossible to face before (McLeod & McLeod, 2011). Research carried out in the field of
counselling have shown how some individuals usually react and responds to different situations
they encounter. This is usually followed by considering the ways in which the client changes the
behaviors. Counselling ensures there is no confusions and allows the client to make effective
decisions which leads to positive change in their attitude and behaviors. Counselling also enables
the client make their own choices and reach the best solution to the comfort of the client in order
to act on them accordingly (Truax & Carkhuff, 2007).
Counsellors are also trained to help others to work through the difficult situations they
might be undergoing. They help other people determine the major causes of certain problems
such as addictions and social issues and then focus on the process of healing. They direct and
guide people through different situations and help them to focus on what really matters most.
Additionally, the counsellors help people to find out which careers they are well suited to

COUNSELLING 3
undertake and how to undertake their education and in their search for jobs (Prilleltensky &
Prilleltensky, 2007). The counsellors take the person through the education which is required
and the testing processes and also the interview processes of landing a job. Other issues which
counsellors are of great help includes issues which pertains guidance, how to deal with
depression, anxiety issues, and employment.
Counselling also focus on the client's growth, wellness, and development. Counselors are
usually oriented positively and approach the clients with holistic and humanistic perspectives
(Rowland & Goss, 2013). They then try and develop the necessary skills and competencies in
order to help the clients to create a regimen in order to maintain their mental wellness and
improve them. Counselling goals include making the clients be independent and do not need the
counselling in having productive lives. In addition, counsellors may also specialize in
counselling in certain areas such as schools, marriages, clinical mental health, and families.
Some of the areas may appear to be similar to other professions but the core beliefs, training, and
the perspectives of counselling make them unique in the helping professions (Blustein, 2013).
Counselling also helps those struggling in the world cope up with difficult situations.
They ensure that they deal with personal problems such as divorce and loss of their jobs which
can be stressful for anyone. A counsellor may also help the person to get back to their feet and
feel rejuvenated. Counselling also ensure the person lets go of the past situations and start a new
life without feeling guilty about what he has been undergoing. The counsellor also may ensure
that an addict to any substance such as alcohol gives up their way of life in order to lead a normal
life (Bemak, 2000). They also help the individuals through difficult transitions from being
addicts to functional people in the community. Encouragements from the counsellor ensure they
recover from their hard situations and come to normality. Counsellors also focus on personal

COUNSELLING 4
treatments and group therapy in order to help people having similar problems (Patterson, Uhlin
& Anderson, 2008). Counselling offers a lot of different opportunities which help others lead a
happy, normal, and healthy lives.
While counselling itself may not solve all the issues that pertain the lives of people, it
ensures that it brings about the social change. Counselling promotes well-being in the social
change of the society and the mental health together with behavior making it feasible in utilizing
it as the agent for the change in the society (Corey, 2015). Through the initiation of group
therapy to manage stress, a large group of the community members in dealing with the problems
with emotions consequently makes them become productive for the benefit of the whole society.
Additionally, through assisting the families to deal with their problems helps in giving out the
healthier and happy families. Through counselling, the disorders and the medical complexities
that would have otherwise emanated given the conditions they have been undergoing are
therefore prevented from occurring. Through the services of counselling, the clients are
encouraged to make positive and healthier decisions and thus leading to optimal outcomes in
their life and the society (Schiersmann, Ertelt, Katsarov, Mulvey & Weber, 2012).
Section 2 - What informs your professional identity as a helping professional.
The recurrent issues in the today’s world take a great toll in the helping professions
particularly counsellors. The counselling skills allow the counsellor and the clients to address the
issues and the misunderstandings very prompt and before they become bigger problems. A
counsellor identity is demonstrated by high levels of kindness, sincerity, and emotional maturity
to others (Okun & Kantrowitz, 2014). These are some of the aspects describing the professional
identity in the process of exercising as a helping professional. There has been an increasing
awareness in coming up with a strong professional identity. Having a strong professional identity

COUNSELLING 5
professional is important in increasing possibilities for ethical performances, the advanced
cognizance of the counselling roles and also better chances for the profession to survive.
The professional identity of counsellors is also defined in terms of their roles. Their
professional identity depends on their responsibilities, abilities of their profession, and who they
are. Counsellor identity involves the professionals understanding their limits of competence,
acquiring the subject knowledge, composure, and professionalism. The apparent self-efficacy in
counsellors is felt as they have mastered their roles. The stance of the counsellors who are
experienced is defined through their exemplary skills of competency and self-awareness.
Counsellors also play an important role in self-directed learning, professional development, and
self-care. All the professionals have the attitudes of reflective awareness and the commitments of
lifelong learning and developing as professionals (Sharf, 2016). The activities for conferences,
watching materials which are counselling-related, and sharing of professional experiences with
other colleagues are valuable experiences in the professionals.
As a helping professional, the tasks of helping people as a counsellor
always appear to be vast and they are normally not easy to be in positions to
counselling groups, individuals, families, and couples in the quest of assisting
them to attain the ideal health and also mental well-being. The
responsibilities to help individuals on various issues such as addictions,
substance abuse, stress management, parenting problems and self-esteem
defines the professional identity (Sue & Sue, 2012). At the end of the sessions
of counselling, it is important for the clients to make positive choices and the
changes which would be crucial in assisting them to realize their goals in the
future. In order to deal with the issues comfortably, changes and also and

COUNSELLING 6
maximum productivity in the profession, there must be a strong sense of
professional identity. Additionally, there are some ethical principles which
provide the unchanging ethical standards which often informs the professional
identity as a helping professional and provides a great assistance in making rational
decisions. This includes nonmaleficence autonomy, fidelity, justice, and
beneficence.
Autonomy in helping professionals involves the freedom in making
open decisions which are consistent with the professional practice. The clear
understanding of the principle is imperative in helping to comprehend
freedom possessed to the choices made in an action. With this principle, it is
easier distinguishing and discern the choices which are wrong and the right
ones for the client (Martin, 2009). This principle defines the responsibility of the
helping professional in encouraging the patients to act upon their own
convictions and the values they make on their own decisions. This also gives
the councilor the reason to explain to the client the essence of being
autonomous and also give some explanations on the decisions they may
impose on other individual’s rights and how they may not be in line with
societal values.
The beneficence principle reminds the professionals on the moral
obligations they purposely act for the benefit they undertake on other
people, acts of kindness, and promoting goodness. Beneficence reflects on
the responsibilities to contribute meaningfully to the welfare of the client
where possible (Pope & Vasquez, 2016). On the other hand, nonmaleficence

COUNSELLING 7
involves refraining from what causes injury to other people and also
furthering their welfare through the elimination of threats and removing
those which causes them harm. Both concepts of nonmaleficence and
beneficence concepts have thus been used extensively by helping
professionals to weigh probable risks of the care solutions against the
benefits which are possible before they are settled for different plans of
action (Hugman, 2013).
Fidelity is another principle that informs the professional identity in helping
professionals and involves the concepts of loyalty, commitments, and
faithfulness. It includes promoting the goals of moral autonomy and the
advocacy of the clients which includes care and responsibility instead of the
profession itself. As a helping professional, honoring the contracts made with
the clients, keeping up the promises within and telling the truth in all the
situations in the attempt to provide best care solutions (O'Brien, 2011). Fidelity
in the helping professional always needs to come first when addressing the
client before undertaking on the personal interests, the services which are
offered should be prioritized by the client and given solutions which are
developed should be customized as per the needs required by the clients.
Fidelity thus ensures the clients trusts the counsellor and also have faith in
the application of therapeutic solutions which have been offered. This way
ensures it is possible to get the optimum outcomes with each of the clients
they encounter and implies that the practice as a professional is marked with

COUNSELLING 8
lots of success and enhances the growth of the professional identity,
reputation, and growth (Rowland & Goss, 2013).
The principle of justice as a form of professional identity involves
fairness and the respect for the rights of individuals in helping professions.
The principle necessitates the observing fairness and providing each client
with equal opportunities for the quality of services and services outcome
(Hegarty, O’Doherty, Gunn, Pierce & Taft, 2008). Client’s discrimination is not
recommended pertaining their gender, race, age, social class, or religion.
The application of this principle ensures that the rights of the clients are
curtailed in order to improve the society. The principle also enables one
understand the situations where there is the need for the redistributive or
the distributive interests. As helping professionals understanding of the
social controls imposed to individuals with certain problems is necessary in
order to give out the perfect remedies of the situations.
Section 3 - Counselling scenario.
Brian is a 36-year-old man who works as an accountant for a family business. He has
been working as an accountant for the small business for the past ten years. In the last six years,
he had been working in another business which forced him to shut it down. The family business
has faced some shortcomings in the last few days and has made him begin the process of
winding it up in the coming days. His commitments to his business, friends, and the business

COUNSELLING 9
owners have intensified his level of stress and feels that it is as a result of the collapse of the
business. Brian has decided to take a week off on a sick leave since he feels so stressed to return
to his work. Mary, his wife, is worried for Brian has been deeply depressed and refused to go to
work.
Brian has described his experience to be really distressful. He feels that the process has
encompassed the loss of loyalty from the organizations which were associated with his business
that he saw it as a personal attack against him. He also feels that he has been exposed to the
individuals who do everything in their power to gain as much as they can in his company that has
been crumbling. Brian has claimed a lessened motivation to carry on his work effectively,
anxiety when he thinks about his work or when he gets to attend to his duties in the workplace.
He has also faced difficulty in getting sleep as a result of the stress he has been through. The
symptoms of his predicament began when he had realized the business he is undertaking is
starting to fold and have increased to the point where he finds it difficult in completing his usual
tasks and doesn't require to go on with his usual duties. Brian also has been working for at least
seventy hours every week and the whole of his life has revolved around the work.
From the professional perspective, it would be necessary to reality-check on the feelings
of failure that Brian has been feeling and the high levels of concern for letting himself, friends,
family, and other business stakeholders down. In order to manage the levels of stress that Brian
has been undergoing, he should take a temporary break from his current work for he had stated
he was not able to cope up with the situations of returning to work and he should focus on the
implementation of relaxation strategies. Different relaxation strategies he should apply includes,
carrying out regular exercises, doing the things which he enjoys and finds relaxing (Noordman,

COUNSELLING 10
Koopmans, Korevaar, van der Weijden & van Dulmen, 2012). He should also view some
relaxation tapes every evening which may be offered by the professional.
Brian was also concerned about what he should do about his return to performing his
work, he had stated he did not have the morale of return to work due to the stress he was
involved into. From the professional perspective, Brian should try and not think about his return
to work next three weeks where he should concentrate on the self-relaxation strategies and self-
care in performing his duties. Brian should also keep any of his return to his workplace to brief
periods over the next few days and use the relaxation tape before and at that time if it is possible.
He should also come up with a written plan where he will be able to manage and balance all his
aspects of life such as enjoyment, family relationships, relaxation, and also work which can be
reviewed regularly.
References
Bemak, F. (2000). Transforming the role of the counselor to provide leadership in education
reform through collaboration. Professional School Counseling, 3(5), 323.

COUNSELLING 11
Blustein, D. (2013). The psychology of working: A new perspective for career development,
counseling, and public policy. Routledge.
Corey, G. (2015). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Nelson Education.
Hegarty, K. L., O’Doherty, L. J., Gunn, J., Pierce, D., & Taft, A. J. (2008). A brief counselling
intervention by health professionals utilising the ‘readiness to change’concept for women
experiencing intimate partner abuse: the weave project. Journal of Family Studies, 14(2-
3), 376-388.
Hugman, R. (2013). AZ of Professional Ethics: Essential Ideas for the Caring Professions.
Palgrave Macmillan.
Martin, N. (2009). Art therapy and autism: Overview and recommendations. Art Therapy, 26(4),
187-190.
McLeod, J., & McLeod, J. (2011). Counselling Skills: A Practical Guide For Counsellors And
Helping Professionals: A practical guide for counsellors and helping professionals.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Noordman, J., Koopmans, B., Korevaar, J. C., van der Weijden, T., & van Dulmen, S. (2012).
Exploring lifestyle counselling in routine primary care consultations: the professionals’
role. Family practice, 30(3), 332-340.
O'Brien, M. (2011). Equality and fairness: Linking social justice and social work practice.
Journal of Social Work, 11(2), 143-158.
Okun, B., & Kantrowitz, R. (2014). Effective Helping: Interviewing and counseling techniques.
Nelson Education.
Patterson, C. L., Uhlin, B., & Anderson, T. (2008). Clients' pretreatment counseling expectations
as predictors of the working alliance. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 55(4), 528.

COUNSELLING 12
Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. (2016). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical
guide. John Wiley & Sons.
Prilleltensky, I., & Prilleltensky, O. (2007). Promoting well-being: Linking personal,
organizational, and community change. John Wiley & Sons.
Rowland, N., & Goss, S. (Eds.). (2013). Evidence based counselling and psychological
therapies: Research and applications. Routledge.
Schiersmann, C., Ertelt, B. J., Katsarov, J., Mulvey, H., & Weber, P. (2012). NICE Handbook
for the Academic Training of Career Guidance and Counselling Professionals–Common
Points of Reference. Im Internet zugänglich: ue-career. org/download. php.
Sharf, R. S. (2016). Applying career development theory to counseling. Nelson Education.
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2012). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John
Wiley & Sons.
Truax, C. B., & Carkhuff, R. (2007). Toward effective counseling and psychotherapy: Training
and practice. Transaction Publishers.
Worden, J. W. (2018). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health
practitioner. springer publishing Company.