Palm Beach State College Counselors Career Responses
Description
Respond to your peers:
1) Heidi P-Main Post
Week 4 Discussion: Putting Ethics into Practice
The case study I chose for this week’s discussion is the case of a Willow Bay Elementary School counselor. The school counselor is planning career events for their 5th-grade students. These events include having professionals come to the school and give presentations and job shadow opportunities in the community. The school counselor wants to group the students according to their performance in various subjects like math and science. They believe that this will make the groups more meaningful for the students. This discussion will cover the ethics a counselor must consider in this situation and the National Career Development Association (NCDA) ethical codes that apply.
Ethical Considerations
In this case study, I can see how the counselor cares about their students’ futures and wants them to have a meaningful experience with the career activities. However, the counselor is imposing their values and beliefs about what the children should be interested in based on their academic performance. Counselors can unintentionally impose their value systems onto their clients verbally and non-verbally (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). Being aware of our value system and how it can make us biased is good ethical practice (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022).
Another important principle for counselors to follow is autonomy. Autonomy refers to fostering a client or student’s independence, allowing them to make their own decisions, choose their direction, and use their value and belief system to guide them (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). By grouping children based on their academic performance, the counselor imposes their beliefs about why people choose careers, taking away the children’s autonomy and not being sensitive to cultural differences. Many career counseling theories and interventions are Eurocentric and promote individualism (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). These theories lack cultural competence and do not consider collectivism and other cultural differences (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). The counselor in this study has failed to see that not everyone has their value and worth in how they perform academically.
Relevant NCDA Ethical Standards
The NCDA ethical standards most relevant to this case study are standards A.4.b., A.1.a, and the fundamental principle autonomy, on which the NCDA codes are based. Standard A.4.b. Personal Values (NCDA, 2015) states that a career counselor must understand their values and beliefs and avoid imposing them onto their clients/students. Standard A.1.a. Primary Responsibility (NCDA, 2015) says that career counselors must promote the welfare of their clients. To promote the welfare of the students, the counselor must understand the values that are important to each student in deciding on a career. A better way to categorize the students would be by letting them choose what they are interested in. If a person values academic performance over interest, they are fail to see the barriers some children may have in learning. Barriers could include a lack of resources, the inability to understand or communicate well in English, or a history of oppression. The career development activities in this case study are an excellent way to find out what students are interested in and help them overcome the barriers they may have in pursuing the career they want.
Conclusion
Helping Willow Bay Elementary School students develop their career interests is a great way to give them exposure to many job options. However, grouping them based on how they perform academically is limiting. To accomplish this task ethically, a counselor must allow the students to select which presentation or experience they want to attend based on their interests or preferences. This allows the student to be autonomous and keeps the counselor from imposing their values onto the students. Letting the students pick careers they are interested in exposes areas that need avocation. This will promote the welfare of all the students.
2)Main Post from Ariel Gonzalez
Juliette is a high school senior that is currently exploring postsecondary options, although she is still unsure about her transition. Juliette and her school counselor have completed career assessments to help her explore career options that would be a good fit. During that process, Juliette shared that she would like to join the military but divulged some apprehensions about the possible discrimination that she may face towards the LGBT community. Upon learning about Juliette’s LGBT identity, her school counselor would like to transfer Juliette to another school counselor as the school counselor has religious beliefs that are not compatible with LGBT lifestyles. The school counselor feels that her religious views may interfere with her capability to be non-judgmental towards Juliette. Providing ethical and non-judgmental services is vital for counselors. Further, counseling professionals must have a strong understanding of the ethical standards implemented in the profession. Ethical standards and multicultural considerations will be addressed in the discussion post.
Ethical Standards and Multicultural/Social Change Considerations Relevant to the Case
The National Career Development Association (NCDA) is a resource available for professionals in the counseling profession. Like similar codes of ethics, the NCDA Code of Ethics provides a foundational description of professional behaviors that individuals within the profession must adhere to in their practice (NCDA, 2015). Further, counseling professionals are encouraged to become well-versed in ethical values to ensure proper professional engagement (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2022). Implementing ethical codes can provide uniformity within a profession, holding professionals accountable for actions.
In Juliette’s case, the ethical standard that closely aligns with the case is Standard A.4.b Personal Values, which states that career professionals must be mindful about their values and beliefs and abstain from projecting their values to clients (NCDA, 2015, §A.4.b). Juliette’s school counselor has determined that her personal beliefs will negatively impact views towards her student, Juliette. The school counselor’s behaviors are inconsistent with the code standard. Another specific NCDA ethical standard relevant to the case is Standard A.10.c Appropriate Termination, which implies that career professionals must determine that termination considered by the counseling professional must determine that the client no longer needs support, is being harmed by services, or no longer benefitting from services (NCDA, 2015, §A.10.c). Juliette did not initiate the termination; therefore, the school counselor is not acting ethically when addressing the situation. Further, the school counselor did not resort to the ethical decision-making model before deciding on implementing her own beliefs in her practice and her decision to terminate a client because her values do not align with her student’s values.
NCDA (2015) emphasizes that codes of ethics are created to establish some uniformity in counseling practices, but it is also essential that the counseling professionals stay informed with current social practices and be advocates on behalf of their clients for social justice. Suppose a counselor is struggling with their own biases and beliefs. In that case, they must seek support via supervision or other forms of support to remain culturally competent and continue demonstrating cultural humility, which can also be addressed as a potential course of action.
Conclusion
Juliette’s school counselor did not approach the ethical decision-making model before deciding about termination. Further, the school counselor did not uphold the code of ethics in her practice and ultimately did not maintain ethical responsibility as a professional. If I were Juliette’s school counselor, I would not let my personal biases and beliefs affect the services that I provide to my students. If I find myself having difficulties maintaining and upholding ethical values, I must find support to continue demonstrating proper ethical behaviors and practices as a counseling professional.
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