Ethical Standard
Please no plagiarism and make sure you are able to access all resource on your own before you bid. Main references come from Balkin, R. S., & Kleist, D. M. (2017) and/or American Psychological Association (2014). You need to have scholarly support for any claim of fact or recommendation regarding treatment. I have also attached my discussion rubric so you can see how to make full points. Please respond to all 3 of my classmates separately with separate references for each response. You need to have scholarly support for any claim of fact or recommendation like peer-reviewed, professional scholarly journals. I need this completed by 09/13/19 at 3pm.
Expectation:
Responses to peers. Note that this is measured by both the quantity and quality of your posts. Does your post contribute to continuing the discussion? Are your ideas supported with citations from the learning resources and other scholarly sources? Note that citations are expected for both your main post and your response posts. Note also, that, although it is often helpful and important to provide one or two sentence responses thanking somebody or supporting them or commiserating with them, those types of responses do not always further the discussion as much as they check in with the author. Such responses are appropriate and encouraged; however, they should be considered supplemental to more substantive responses, not sufficient by themselves.
Read your colleagues’ postings. Respond to your colleagues’ postings by explaining whether you agree with your peer’s choices to use the intervention they reviewed based on your understanding of the research.
1. Classmate (A. Bra)
Ethical Standard
Within section C: Professional Responsibility and under the Continued Education sub-section, counselors understand their need for continued education in current scientific and professional information (American Counseling Association, 2014, C.2.f.). This is imperative because counselors may have received their education several or more years ago as new and different research and findings continue to develop and are published. This is especially important for researchers as they need to take into consideration the latest research for their study as well as be able to reference current research in their plan for conducting their research protocol to a review board (Balkin & Kleist, 2017).
Implications for Practice
As someone who plans on conducting holistic counseling for Veterans in the future, I will need to not only know about the latest research in issues that many Veterans face ie. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and problematic anger, but also I will need to keep up with the latest research in holistic and functional medicine as well. There is so much research constantly coming out in the ever-growing field of counseling and not only do we have a professional obligation to try to keep up with it but we should also want to know more (ACA, 2014, C.2.f.).
The other aspect of this sub-section is to not only try to keep up with the latest research, but also our continued education units (CEUs) as well. Most if not all counselors/professionals must maintain a certain amount of CEU’s annually, which will be taught using the latest research on each topic. This would be a part of our responsibility to remain informed on the best practices for working in diverse populations (ACA, 2014, C.2.f.).
Summary
The importance of evidence-based practice is all throughout the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics. However, this professional obligation does not only apply to counselors, but to many practicing professionals including researchers. Counselors will need to frequently work with current professional literature and research to maintain a competence and effectiveness (ACA, 2014, C.2.f.).
References
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.counseling.org/docs/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf?sfvr
Balkin, R. S., & Kleist, D. M. (2017). Counseling research: A practitioner-scholar approach. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
2. Classmate (L. McC)
Ethical Standard
The ACA Code of Ethics (ACA, 2014) expands on the Common Rule by emphasizing protections and treatments for all individuals involved in the research process, not just the participants (Balkin, & Kleist, 2017). Furthermore, ACA (2014) expands on responsibilities throughout the research process, including behaviors for reviewing research, publishing, and presenting (Balkin, & Kleist, 2017). Counselors should take care to consider how to integrate the ACA Code of Ethics with IRB processes explicated by the Common Rule and appropriate subsections (Balkin, & Kleist, 2017). The section that I chose to discuss is Section F.7.h. from the ACA Code of Ethics. This section of the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) Section F.7.h., suggest that Counselor educators promote the use of techniques, procedures, and modalities that are grounded in theory and/or have an empirical or scientific foundation (pg. 14). When counselor educators discuss developing or innovative techniques/procedures/modalities, they explain the potential risks, benefits, and ethical considerations of using such techniques/procedures/modalities (ACA, 2014).
Implications
I would say that the implications for me as a counselor in my chosen discipline would be that I encourage the use of such techniques, procedures, and modalities that have been researched and proven based on solid evidence. It also implies that the suggested treatments are effective based on actual facts. Lastly, it suggests that any future development and possible risks are thoroughly explained based on ethical considerations of the ACA Code of Ethics (p.g 14).
Summary
It is essential that counselors adhere to the standards of the ACA Code of Ethics, by using evidenced based practices in their work. As a therapist, I have a moral obligation that I must uphold as a professional in the field of counseling. I also have an ethical and legal obligation to present research that is accurate, honest, and true. Counselors who conduct research are obliged to follow federal, state, and institutional regulations, even if they practice independently (Balkin, & Kleist, 2017).
References
Balkin, R. S., & Kleist, D. M. (2017). Counseling research: A practitioner-scholar approach. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf.
3. Classmate (K. Fos)
Ethical Standards
The role of the counselor can be stressful as well as demanding. Counselor can be on call depending on the area of practice. The American Counseling Association appears to understand that the role of a counselor and its demands. Section C.2.g focuses exclusively on Impairment and the level of functionality that a counselor should have. This section shares that a counselor monitors themselves for signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems and refrain from offering or providing professional services when impaired (American Counseling Association, 2014). Counselor are responsible for monitoring their co-workers to assist with preventing or causing harm to clients.
Implication for Practice
This section focuses on the self-care of a professional, in order to assist other, you have to first take care of yourself. I believe that it’s important to take a mental health day. For instance, I had to call in to my supervisor to take day off when I felt overwhelmed. Impairment can go beyond taking a mental health personal day. For instance, experiencing a death or divorce can cause for a counselor to need more than one day from work or to be relieved from duties. The ACA code of ethics (2014) shares that counselor seek assistance for problems that reach the level of professional impairment, and if necessary, they limit, suspend, or terminate their professional responsibilities until it is determined that they may safely resume their work.
Summary
Counselors are much needed people but it’s imperative that they understand that they need to take care of themselves. Taking care of yourself will also allow a counselor to provide the best care for their clients. The goal of a counselor is to help and not hinder or harm. Self-care can take on many forms such as: taking a yoga class, spa days, or finding hobby that relaxes a person. I personally workout 3 times per week and visit the spa once a month or as needed to assist with decreasing my stress.
Resource
American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved
from https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf.
Required Resources
Balkin, R. S., & Kleist, D. M. (2017). Counseling research: A practitioner-scholar approach. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.