Ethical Principles in Counselling: A Case Study on Jessica and Edward

This essay delves into the realm of professional ethics within the context of counselling, focusing on a case study involving a clinician named Jessica and her former client, Edward. The essay begins by defining professional ethics and its importance in guiding behavior within a professional setting, particularly emphasizing the ethical principles that underpin the practice of counselling. It explores the ethical considerations that clinicians must adhere to, such as maintaining professional boundaries, avoiding conflicts of interest, and prioritizing the well-being of their clients. The core of the essay centers on a scenario where Jessica encounters Edward, a former client, and is faced with the ethical dilemma of whether to accept a date. The essay thoroughly analyzes this situation, examining the potential violations of ethical principles, such as the risk of harm to the client, the erosion of professional boundaries, and the impact on the therapeutic relationship. Drawing on research and ethical guidelines, the essay argues that it would be unethical for Jessica to pursue a romantic relationship with Edward, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a professional distance and upholding the integrity of the counselling process. The essay also highlights the importance of self-awareness, ethical decision-making, and adherence to professional codes of conduct in the field of counselling.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Professional Ethics
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
Professional ethics is indicative of principles that governs behaviour of an individual
or group within the framework of business environment. The rules can be provided with the
help of the professional ethics which directs actions of the people in society. Principles of the
ethics underlie codes of conduct that depends on the occupation of a person. It proves to be
useful in prescribing certain standards of behaviour of the professionals who have a specific
occupation. The transparency along with certainty can be provided with the help of
professional ethics that can help the managers in handling of the affairs within an
organization. Supportive framework can be provided with the help of professional ethics
which can guide the people in the right path in a company (Lancaster & Stead, 2017). It can
resist pressure of the authorities and it helps in giving voice to the employees in company.
Ethical principles prove to be helpful in the area of decision making which can govern the
functioning of a company. It is instrumental in providing enduring framework which can help
a person in making progress in the professional domain. The ethics can help leadership in the
area of ethics that can facilitate dialogue within company pertaining to the issues of ethics.
The essay elaborates on the ethical principles of a clinician and whether it would prove to be
ethical for Jessica if she goes out on a date with an earlier client Edward G. This essay
elucidates on principles pertaining to ethics in the realm of counselling which can assist a
person in making the critical decision.
Discussion
Employment professionals have to stay away from any kind of the malpractice that
can adversely influence performance of the workers. The organizations which recruit the
employees are responsible for information that is being provided by representatives. The
choices of the people can be determined with the help of ethics. Ethics can come to be of

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great use for counselling which underpins nature along with course of actions which have
been taken by the counsellor. The individuals who work in the healthcare profession have to
behave on the ethical lines that can help in satisfying the need of the patients. Counsellors
serve the interest of the clients which can promote goals of client. The clients can be
protected with the help of ethics which can reduce harm which is being inflicted on society.
The codes of the ethics can balance the power and it can help the counsellor in carrying on
the operation in a transparent manner that can work for welfare of clients (Geldard, Geldard
& Foo, 2017). The main duty of counsellor is to lay focus on particular demands of clients.
Counsellors have to think about themselves when they make ethical choices which can serve
in the truest sense interest of company. Counsellors have to acknowledge all aspects in
relation to practice and they have to perceive ethics from the holistic point of view that can
serve greater community. Counsellor have to take into account policies, societal norms and
moral codes which assists in working of society (Van Deurzen & Adams, 2016).
The licensed clinician called Jessica P. meets a person called Edward at a party who
had been a client of her at an earlier time. On the basis of case study, client had been seen ten
years earlier during a counselling session which was Employee Assistance Program for the
client. Jessica was working for the company of that of client. The party was of the public
nature that made it obligatory for Jessica to hide the prior relationship in between client and
counsellor. Edward had to suffer on account of grief issues that took place owing to death of
father. It was divulged by the client during single session that at the point of time when he
had been fifteen years old he had good relationship with counsellor. The other kinds of the
emotional issues that was being faced by the client had been resolved by the counsellor.
Jessica was approached by Edward who asked her regarding whether she would like to go on
a date with that of client.

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Edward and Jessica should not go out for the date as it can be said to be unethical for
the clinician. It would mean relinquishing of the professional duties and it would amount to
violation of ethical principles. There are certain principles which should be obeyed by the
counsellors that can help them in working on the basis of the ethical grounds. It can hence be
stated that the maintaining of romantic relationship of Jessica with the client amounts to
violation of ethical duties. The forming of the personal relationship can be said to violate
fundamental principles pertaining to professional ethical behaviour. Counsellors have to
avoid harm to clients which can prove to be successful in the maintaining of healthy
relationship. Research have been testimony to the fact that having intimate relationships with
mental health providers can be damaging for health of clients (Geldard, Geldard & Foo,
2017). The future of the counsellors would be badly affected by adopting any kind of
unethical practice and it can lead to loss of license. The counsellor have to lose professional
identity in the event of maintaining the relationship with the client. Counsellor have to lose
licence in case they maintain relationship with former clients.
Situational factors in life of person can instill the desire in clients of taking recourse to
improper methods which can provide them with satisfaction. The inability of managing the
problems pertaining to mental health can make the clients cross the boundaries that can harm
the professional relationship in between counsellor and the client. The vulnerability of client
can make him take the drastic steps that can gravely harm the relationship (Flanagan et al.,
2017). Counsellors should realize the fact that the clients are weak that have caused them to
take the action in the wrong direction. The power differential are minimized by the counsellor
so that the clients can be cured of their desperate state (Wosket, 2016). The clients have to
confide about the important aspects of their lives so that the counsellor can find the remedy to
the problems. The traumatic events taking place in lives of counsellor that can have a bad
effect on their professional relationship. The self-awareness of the counsellor can help them

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in staying honest in relation to their professional relationships (Slonim-Nevo, 2017). It can
help them in obeying their responsibilities that can help in the process of their professional
development. Sexual attraction which is felt by client should be addressed openly and by
taking the help of clinical supervision.
The counsellors have the power in their professional relationship and the clients are in
the vulnerable state because they are supposed to share difficult feelings. The clients are
supposed to talk about the bitter memories and the critical incidents that have an effect on the
mental state of the clients (Lamont-Mills, Christensen & Moses, 2018). The practice of the
counselling would fail if the counsellor and clients engage themselves in romantic
relationships and it is hence advisory that Jessica does not go out on date with that of former
client. The need for appreciation resides in human beings and the people want to be
applauded for their work. It makes the individuals conceive of themselves to be important
that is instrumental in increasing the self-esteem of a person (Reeves et al., 2018). The
relation of the counselling can be said to be unique and counsellor does not share much about
themselves to their clients. It helps in maintaining the confidentiality that can help the
counsellor in providing the proper treatment to the clients. Counsellors have to be attentive
towards the concerns along with the fear of clients. The active listening should be practised
by counsellor that can help themselves in the area of talk therapy with the clients. Clients feel
connected to counsellor as all the attention is devoted on them. The clients start to feel that
they are an integral part in the life of counsellor that often causes the clients to take the wrong
step. Clients feel that they have to know about every minute incident in the life of the
counsellor as they feel that they occupy an important position in the life of the counsellor.
The counsellor have to maintain proper boundaries that can help them in working on the basis
of ethical grounds (Cartwright, 2016). It can be helpful in containing relationship within the
boundaries of the counselling space. Counsellors should be wary of self-disclosures and they

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should not meet the clients outside of the counselling session. It can change the nature of the
relationship in between the two individuals that can be instrumental in endangering future of
clients. Relationship that is built in between the counselling and client have been found to be
skewed pertaining to power. The clients in the event of having sufficient amount of the
knowledge regarding the life of the counsellor can open possibilities of harm. Ethical
guidelines can protect the interests of the counsellor and it can set the new limits of the
counselling relationship. The safety risk towards the clients should be determined by
counsellor that can help them in taking the right precautions. Social, environmental and
environmental factors should be considered by counsellor that can protect interest of clients.
Ethical guidelines can protect the counsellor and it can aid them in the process of making
crucial decisions pertaining to the field of counselling (Durks et al., 2017). Professional
decisions should be made by counsellor based on ethical guidelines that can help them in
taking the steps in the right direction. It can provide support to counsellors that can strengthen
faculty of judgement.
There exist certain principles based on which decision have been made in relation to
relationship between Jessica and that of Edward. Principle of beneficence have to be abided
by counsellor which can help in the process of ensuring the well-being of clients. The
knowledge should be updated which can help counsellors in their professional development
and it can help them in providing the better quality of the service to clients. The counsellors
have to act on the basis of their duties and they have to take critical decision when the clients
are behaving in the improper manner (Wubbolding, 2017). The counsellor have to
understand the mental state of the client and whey they are acting in a manner which is
improper. The distress of the clients should be understood by the counsellor that can help
them in providing the proper remedy to clients (Mellor & Gregoric, 2016). Boundaries
pertaining to counselling relationship have to be maintained by counsellor that can greatly

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benefit clients and that of counsellor. The boundaries should be monitored by counsellor that
can help him in working in accordance to professional guidelines. Research have elicited the
fact that more than that of one type of the relationship can cause a strain in the professional
relationship. The relationship boundaries would be enmeshed in this case and pave the path
for the deterioration in professional relationship. It would cause misuse of power along with
impairing process of judgement that would have an adverse effect on the profession.
Precautions should be taken note of by counsellor which can solve major problems in relation
to professional practice. The sexual intimacy of counsellor with the clients can be said to be
unethical and it can create distrust in the relationship (Langs, 2019). Discretion should be
taken recourse to by counsellor that can help them in accepting superiors along with
subordinates in the role of clients.
Counsellors should bestow respect on clients which can help in the promotion of the
fundamental rights of an individual. Moral values should be regarded by counsellor that can
aid them in working in the unbiased manner. The privacy should be maintained at the time of
counselling the clients that can rightly honour dignity of clients (Wosket, 2016). The
maintaining of boundaries can help clients to express themselves freely that can provide the
right therapy to people. Ethical framework should be taken recourse to by counsellor that can
help the people in acting within the limits of their boundaries. The counselling contract can
be maintained in such a case which can support the clients to deal with the normal problems
in the life (Tu & Jin, 2016). Principle of beneficence espouses that Jessica should maintain
professional relationship with Edward that can serve the broader interest of both the
counsellor along with the client.
Conclusion

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The choices of the people can be determined with the help of ethics which can aid
them in taking right decision. It can thus prove to be helpful in the maintenance of order
within the framework of the society. The healthcare workers have to behave ethically which
can contribute to the creation of better society. The interests of the clients should be taken
heed of by counsellor that can help in the promotion of goals. The protection of rights of
clients can minimize the harm that is being inflicted on broader society. Jessica should deny
to venture on the date because this would be unethical for the professional position of
counsellor. It can spoil the professional relationship of counsellor as it causes the counsellor
to deviate from his professional responsibilities. The counsellors have to act honestly that can
save the reputation of the people within society. They should be aware about the activities
which are being undertaken by them that can propel them to work in right direction. It can
help in the area of preservation of the boundaries that can serve in the truest sense the welfare
of society. The principle of the beneficence can help the counsellor in lending the proper
support to client.

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