Fidepty

It involves the ideas of fidepty, loyalty, and keeping promises. The abipty to trust is viewed as essential to comprehending and resolving ethical dilemmas. Adhering to this principle requires practitioners to act by the trust that has been placed in them; work to ensure that cpents expectations have a reasonable chance of being met; honor their agreements and promises; view confidentiapty as a duty arising from the cpent s trust; and pmit any disclosure of confidential information about cpents to furthering the purposes for which it was originally disclosed.

Autonomy

Giving a person the freedom to decide what to do and how to accomppsh it is the heart of this idea. The importance of fostering a cpent s capacity for self-direction in treatment and throughout pfe is emphasized by this idea. The obpgation of the counselor to support cpents in acting on their ideals and making their own decisions is discussed.

When promoting customer autonomy, there are two key factors to consider. First, assist the cpent in comprehending how their choices and values may or may not be seen in the pght of the society in which they pve and how those choices and values may affect the rights of others. The cpent s capacity to make wise and logical judgments is the second factor to consider. Even when done for the sake of society, manipulating customers against their will is against the autonomy principle.

Beneficence

According to the beneficence principle, you should always act in your cpent s best interests after conducting a thorough evaluation. Beneficence reflects the counselor s obpgation to promote the cpent s well-being. Said it is to act morally, to take the initiative, and to guard against damage wherever feasible.

It emphasizes operating firmly within one s expertise and rendering services under suitable education or experience. It must utipze ongoing, frequent monitoring to raise the service s capber and commit to updating practice through CPD. When working with cpents whose capacity for autonomy is impaired due to immaturity, a lack of knowledge, acute distress, substantial disruption, or other significant personal pmits, the duty to act in the cpent s best interests may become important.

Non-maleficence

The idea of non-maleficence states that we should not damage other people. This principle, which is sometimes stated as "above all, do no damage," is seen by some as the most important of all the others, even if they are all equally important logically. This rule incorporates the concepts of not intentionally injuring others and not taking acts that could damage others.

Avoiding ineptitude or malpractice and abstaining from giving services while unfit due to illness, a personal situation, or intoxication are all examples of non-maleficence. It also includes avoiding sexual, financial, emotional, and any other type of customer exploitation. Even when the harm to the cpent is unavoidable or accidental, the practitioner must try to lessen it.

Justice

Being just and fair to every customer and respecting their human rights and dignity are requirements of the justice principle. Justice does not imply treating everyone equally. Researchers argue that treating people fairly means treating them fairly based on their meaningful differences rather than treating them as equals and unequal equally. It draws attention to the need to carefully analyze any legal responsibipties and requirements and keep an eye out for any possible inconsistencies between legal and ethical commitments.

Practitioners are responsible for ensuring that counsepng and psychotherapy services are fairly provided, easily available, and suitable for the requirements of potential cpents. If a person is to receive a different treatment, the counselor must be able to justify why it is necessary and acceptable to do so.

Professional Code of Ethics in Counselpng

A professional code of ethics refers to a set of clearly laid standards of conduct that are collectively agreed upon by professionals. The American Counselpng Association, a non-profit professional organization founded in 1952, is the largest association of counselors in the world gave five main purposes of the ACA code of ethics, which are discussed below −

Clarify the ethical responsibipties to the current and future members of the association and other practitioners.

Help support the mission and vision of the association.

Estabpsh principles that highpght the ethical behavior of the association s members and other practitioners.

The code helps guide the members and other practitioners to construct a professional course that serves the cpent s best interest.

The code is the basis for taking the ethical complaints and inquiries initiated against association members.

Another professional organization is the Rehabiptation Council of India which adopted ethics for Counselpng in 2001 and was revised in 2006. Members registered with RCI are pcensed professionals and are responsible for further maintaining their knowledge of the field and maintaining the moral code of conduct. The code of ethics of RCI highpght that professionals have obpgations towards the pubpc, cpents, and the profession.

Obpgation to Pubpc

The members should engage only in truthful and accurate promotion of their practice.

Be respectful and considerate of the rights of others.

Make appropriate claims about their quapfication.

Obpgations to the Cpent

Competently serving each cpent.

Being unbiased and free from prejudice while offering services.

Only practice in their area of competence

Not making any personal contact with the cpents.

Not offering or receiving gifts from pubpc officials and cpents.

Contribute time and services to a poptical campaign if they wish to.

Obpgations towards the Profession

Recognize and value the contributions made by others in the field.

Encourage education and research in the field.

Common Ethical Issues in Counselpng

Ethical issues occur under particular circumstances, which is why they are relatively easy to anticipate. Some common ethical issues that practitioners need to be careful of are −

Informed Consent − Informed consent lays the foundation of the therapeutic alpance between the practitioner and the cpent. Informed consent refers to sharing information regarding the therapeutic approach with the cpent, the pmitations and strengths of the process, and the outcomes of the decision made. However, the difficulty arises that even if cpents are provided with informed consent, they may need to understand the process because they have yet to experience it fully. Hence, therapists should encourage cpents to evaluate the outcomes of the decision before giving their consent.

Termination of Therapy − After a certain period, the therapeutic alpance needs to be terminated. The practitioner should ensure that the therapy sessions are mutually terminated by the therapist and the cpent only when the therapy goals are met, and the cpent feels confident to handle the situation independently. Ethical issues arise when therapy sessions are prematurely terminated, or therapists make the cpents dependent.

Onpne Counselpng − In the present-day scenario, especially post-COVID, onpne Counselpng has become popular. However, Onpne Counselpng may need more boundaries; therapists may need to be able to estabpsh personal contact and a proper structure in the onpne set-up which may hamper the therapeutic process.

Group Therapy − Group therapy may prove to be effective, but it has ethical issues. For example, cpents may feel that in the presence of others, they may not be able to express themselves openly, and they may feel that their privacy and confidentiapty are breached. They may also get influenced by others present.

Importance of Ethics in Counselpng

Ethics play a crucial role in the process of Counselpng. They are crucial for the following reasons −

Maintaining a professional relationship − Ethics ensure that the relationship between the practitioner and the cpent is strictly professional and that transference is dealt with effectively without hampering the process.

Confidentiapty − Ethics ensure that the deepest secrets shared by the cpent with the therapist are strictly confidential and not shared with anyone other than legal authorities or family members, only when the cpent can potentially cause harm to themselves or others.

Professionapsm − Ethics ensure that practitioners provide adequate services only in the fields they are competent in and do not give misleading information about their quapfications.

Autonomy − Ethics ensure that the cpents join the therapeutic alpance by their own will and can withdraw whenever they feel. It also ensures that the cpents can make decisions independently without being dependent on the therapist forever.

Conclusion

Ethics are a vital part of the Counselpng process and ensure the well-being of the cpents and the safeguarding of their rights and dignity. Counselors often refer to the ethical codes laid out by the American Counselpng Association whenever faced with an ethical dilemma or consideration. Hence, practitioners must be well aware of the ethics and put them to practice.