Cornerstone of Counseling Ethics

The foundation of Counselor Ethics

Cornerstone is defined as the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed (Dictionary.com).  Everything that is created must have a strong foundation or it has the potential to collapse and cause harm. The ethical principles that counseling should be built upon  according to Kitchchener  are autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and fidelity (cited in ).   This post will briefly explain what each of these principles are, while giving examples that will show why they are important foundational guidelines

Autonomy can be defined as the client’s ability to make their own decisions as well as  having a choice in determining the path the counseling will take. If this was not considered to be important a client could possibly become very dependent upon the counselor and might follow any advice given.  The informed consent is an example that places autonomy on the client’s shoulders. After reading it the client has the right from the very beginning to decide whether to move forward or not based upon what the clinician discloses.

Counselors are in the helping profession and should strive to do no harm to their client which is defined as nonmaleficence. Without this principle guiding the ethical decisions of a counselor they could choose to become inappropriately sexually involved with their client. Another example would be the counselor could charge whatever they desired and could financially exploit their clients.

Beneficence focuses on asking the question what is best for the client’s wellbeing. During the initial assessment a counselor can determine if they have the necessary expertise to fully benefit the client.  If not then making a referral that would be in the best interest of the client would be the guiding force. To accept a client just because the agreed fee would benefit the counselor would go against the very essence of this guiding ethic.

To treat all clients failry and impartially is what the principel of justice entails. Showing respect and dignity to all is key. Their must be a sensitivity to care for clients even when they are different then the counselor. To refuse to see a client because they are physically challenged or ethnically different would not serve the ethic of justice.

The last moral principle is called fidelity which in my opinion is the most important!  Trust is the foundation that must be poured first prior to any of the others. It is vital for a trust relationship to be formed between the counselor and client.  Without trust there could be no relationship.  From a clients perspective it is imperative to know that your counselor can be trusted with the soul wounds that are revealed. Confidentiality plays a major role in counseling and if it is broken so is trust which the moral of fidelity is. 

The Word of God is the foundation that a Christian counselor should dig deep into and build their practice upon this Rock. When the floods come they will be firmly planted and standing strong because the morals given by God are used as guideposts.

cornerstone. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved October 27, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cornerstone

 

Author's Note

Written for an Ethics class my second semester of Grad School at Liberty University.

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[Calypso]

I learned from this. I hope you did well!