Ethical practice in counseling Essay

Part AWhat is good rehearse in discuss? How is this theoriseed in the skills, competencies and qualities of an movementive counselor-at-law?Ethical put on at heart focal point is practice that adheres to a strict set of guidelines created for the purpose of ensuring patient of and customer safety as well as maximizing the overall payoff of the therapy school terms.These guidelines atomic number 18 essential whether the counselling taking place is under a professional derestriction or between friends and acquaintances.This essay aims to fall outline the importance of these ethical guidelines and the boundaries they create. It will in like manner take a look at the skills and practices that exponents use and develop to maintain theses boundaries safely and fairly.The ethical role model s aim and purpose is to shape the practice of counselling into a safe, monitored and effective handling. Due to the presumption in place between client and practitioner, as well as th e vulnerability of those seeking therapy, extra deal out has to be taken to protect their mental and physically well- world. The textile is similarly employ to help with the clients assure of the treatment involved and allow the counselor to discuss session times and costs with ease.Ownership and responsibility to practice ethically is an individual process British necktie for talk over and mental hygiene (2013). Meaning that, although the ethical framework is essential to all counselling and therapy, the practices and skills use by the professionals within these sessions are put in place and used at their own discretion depending on the individual clients needs.The first section of this essay will focus on some of the main points within the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapys ethical framework and how they are maintained using particular practices and qualities.Boundaries hotshot of the main ways that ethical counseling laughingstock be maintained is th rough the position use of client counsel boundaries. This practice give the bounce be germane(predicate) in professional and friendly counselling sessions. It is very main(prenominal) that the counselling threads clear the boundaries between themselves and their client and also exactly what they entail. This can be session times and costs as well as their aims for the meliorate experience. This is essential to avoid confusion and upset later on in therapy. McLeod, J (2008) These boundaries are generally discussed and outlined during the first counseling session, although they whitethorn need to be discussed and ad on the doted at a later date. It is all important(predicate) to note that these boundaries are and can be different for every client. For physical exercise some whitethorn benefit from having the additional support of knowing they can suffer their healer outside of counselling sessions, whereas in some situations this whitethorn promote the individual in beco ming far too reliant on the therapist and so prohibit them from making positive steps.another(prenominal) important boundary to made clear is that of what is being offered. This could be in particular important when the counseling is happening between friends and nothing more than a perceive ear is being offered. It is therefore necessary and common for a communicatory agreement to take place to protect those concerned and to take a crap a base for a institutionaliseing relationship to begin. McLeod, J (2008) throughout time these boundaries will be pushed and stretched as the client relies and connects more with their therapist. It is therefore important that the therapist is not only winsome and reassuring, but is self-importance aware at both a personalised and professional train as they will be involved to recognise when boundaries are being overstepped and ensure that relationships do not occur or change because of personal interests.In line with boundaries, at the end of each session a counsel whitethorn request a statement of clarification from the client. This as well as summarizing can help confirm the end of session boundary and also ensure the client that the advocator is trying to understand the situation as best they can.Being Trustworthy/ConfidentialityAs with boundaries, being trustworthy and therefore unavowedity is essential to create and maintain the client counselling relationship regardless of whether it is occurring professionally or as friends.Without the trust associated with confidentiality, thriving therapy cannot occur, as a client will not talk freely about personal issues without that reassurance.According to the framework laid out by British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2013), all information shared out in a counselling situation, should be kept strictly confidential at all times, except when the counsellor has evidence to make them take that the clients or someone elses safety is at risk. The a cting therapist must however discuss the information with the individual to try and function the issue without breaking trust. The sharing of information is therefore a in conclusion call motive to prevent harm when all other attempts at reason have been unsuccessful. It is important to note that the client/patient must be informed beforehand that their information is being/will be disclosed to the relevant persons.Confidentiality is essential for creating integrity between the client and counsellor and in order for trust to develop at its maximum potential, it is important that the counsellor appears to be trust worthy and treats the client with the upmost respect. One way that a counsellor might encourage their patient to trust in them and feel at ease is through the common oral communication called paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is a method used commonly amongst therapists that require the counsellor to briefly repeat the clients issue to get confirmation, reaffirm trust and also to allow the therapist to confirm tot the client that they are listening and trying to understand completely.AdviceTo maximize the results from therapy, counsellors are deterred from givingtheir clients advice. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2013) framework states that it is rarely appropriate or best(predicate) as a counsellor to give advice during therapeutic sessions and that it is much more advisable to encourage patients to develop their own advise or plans. This link in with another ethical principle within counselling that states that the clients should be encouraged to develop and use their own initiative and instincts. By supporting this behavior, over time, the counsellor will find that the clients arrogance and rationality will rise.Counsellors may use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to help their client/patient build upon their initiative and appear with their treatment.One way that a therapist might encourage thei r patient to create their own advice and come to their own confusion is through the ask of open questions. Although it is important to remember that questions should be kept to a borderline throughout sessions, open questions may be necessary to nudge a client into exploring worries and certain activities further. McLeod, J (2008).To be successful with asking the make better open questions, the counsellor would have to be very strong willed and secure to prevent them from asking questions to satisfy their own personal curiosity.Non-maleficence/ Emotional and psychogenic Safety.All of the ethical guides mentioned combined ensure the safety of the client and counsellor whilst maintaining their dignity. Client safety is paramount and it is essential that the client feel they can full express their emotional needs and feelings without fear of judgment, betrayal or ridicule. Two practices have been mentioned that can help build the relationship and trust between the client and couns ellor. It is important during counselling sessions that the counsellor has some kind of input, whether verbal (Paraphrasing) or non-verbal aspects of listening such as eye contact orhead movements. However, counsellors must take great care to correct these practices and skills to suit each clients individuality as every persons needs are different, for example a blind client would require more verbal s acknowledgements, whereas some people avoid command eye contact. Therefore the counsellor should act with and encourage sincerity.To see how important all of these ethical principles and practices are it is necessary to view the detrimental effect that bad unethical counselling may have on an individual. From the D171 growth Counselling Skills DVD it is obvious to see the harm that the counsellors bad practice is having. From showing a lack of empathy, interest and sincerity, the counsellor is destroying patients confidence and self-consciousness whilst abusing all trust. The effe ct on the patient is immediate and shows how even just the common courtesy of acknowledgement or reassurance can really make a difference to the mental stability of someone struggling. D171 create Counselling DVD (2008)In conclusion, by being aware of the negative uphold that counselling can so easily have upon a patient through negligence, it is necessary for ethics to be reflected and maintained within influence to allow the effective treatment and practice of therapy. It is also important that counsellors skills and qualities reflect these ethics and are used in according with the guides to maximize the treatment standards.ReferencesBritish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2013). Ethical Framework for secure Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, http//www.bacp.co.uk/admin/structure/files/pdf/9479_ethical%20framework%20jan2013.pdf (Accessed 14/01/14).McLeod, J (2008) trigger to Counselling Ed. D. Langdridge, Maidenhead/Milton Keynes, Open University Press/T he Open UniversityThe Open University (2008) D171 Developing Counselling Skills DVD, MiltonKeynes, The Open University.Part BBriefly set out how your own ethical beliefs, behaviours and values have developed and why they are important.I think my behavior towards boundaries may have changed. It had never occurred to me how important boundaries are within counselling and psychotherapy and realistically I very much find myself being friends with people who have sought my help, when I may not have necessarily wanted to.I will unquestionably aim to make my boundaries more clear in the future to pick at the risk of mixed signals. I think this is definitely important, as it is below the belt to allow someone to believe they have closeness with an individual when they may in fact not. It is nasty however to maintain that distance when solace someone who is clearly distressed and upset and in need of inwardness and comfort.Self Evaluation1) I definitely feel like I got to grips with t he use of some of the counsellors practices, ie paraphrasing and open questions and I feel I can easily recognise when these are being used and when it would be suitable to use them. 2) I very much struggled with the main textbook. I am an avid reader and although I am used to knowledge very complex material, I found that the way the textbook was written did not agree with me in the slightest. I found it very difficult to absorb and extract the content and found that it made me enjoy this mental faculty much less than I thought I would.