REGIS UNIVERSITY MASTERS IN LIBERAL STUDIES Licensed Professional Counselor Program PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION AND ETHICAL ISSUES MLPC 625 (3 credits) SYLLABUS Course Description: This course exposes the student to the relevant professional organizations, ethical codes, practice standards, legal statutes, and clinical best practice guidelines. Ethical decision-making skills will be presented along with contemporary ethical issues. Learners will complete an overview of several clinical orientations and be guided in choosing and describing an orientation to counseling that they find relevant. Professional and public responsibility and the meaning of the professional counselor s role will be discussed. Course Outcomes: By the end of this course, the learner will be able to: 1. Identify the history and philosophy of the counseling profession, including significant factors, events, and theories. 2. Apply a method of ethical decision-making when considering a clinical ethical dilemma, being cognizant of issues of power, roles, and personal and professional boundaries. 3. Make a commitment to maintain professional ethical standards and practice social responsibility in all aspects of their training and work as counselors and in relationships with other human service providers. 4. Understand the importance of related professional organizations, emphasizing the ACA, developing a strong sense of professional identity and appreciate the importance of membership and ongoing professional development and advocacy on the behalf of the profession. 5. Be aware of the requirements for certification, licensure, and ethical practices and standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues. Textbooks and Materials: ACA. (1997). Code of ethics and standards of practice (April 1997, effective July 1, 1997). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. soft. (See Appendix K in the LPC Manual.) Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2002). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole (Thomson).
Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. T. (1998). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical guide (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass. Recommended/Optional Readings: Bersoff, D. N. (1999). Ethical conflicts in psychology (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association (APA). Colorado State Statutes: Mental Health Act, Children s Code: C.S.R. 27-10, C.S.R. 13-21-117, C.S.R. 43-10 Colorado Regulatory Agency. (1999). Your options as a psychotherapy client. Denver, Co.: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Also List of Prohibited Activities, Model Disclosure Form Epstein, R. and Simon, R. (1990). The exploitation index: an early warning indicator of boundary violations in psychotherapy. The Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 54:450-465. Freeman, Stephen. (2000). Ethics: An introduction to philosophy & practice. Belmont, Ca.: Wadsworth. Gutheil & Gabbard. (1993). The concept of boundaries in clinical practice: theoretical and risk management dimensions. In Ethical conflicts in psychotherapy, p. 218. Handelsman, M. (1994). Ethical decision-making model. Colorado Psychological Association Bulletin, 26(2). Herlihy, Barbara & Corey, Gerald (1996). ACA ethical standards casebook. American Counseling Asoociation: Alexandria, VA. Kitchener, Karen. (1984). Intuition, critical evaluation and ethical principles. The Counseling Psychologist,12(3): 43-55 Peterson, Marilyn. (1992). At personal risk: boundary violations in professional-client relationships. Singer, P. (1996). Practical ethics. London: Cambridge University Press. Learning Activities: Professional orientation and ethics includes three domains of learning: knowledge, skills and attitudes or values. Knowledge includes awareness of professional codes, practice standards, guidelines, state stautes, required legal forms, clinical documentation, types of ethical theories, professional relationships, and contemporary ethical issues. Skills include the capacity for introspection and reflection, awareness of personal intentions and issues, moral behavior, ability to use various types of clinical and ethical models in counseling, familiarity with resources, ability to identify with the role of professional counselor. Attitudes and Values include tolerance of ethical ambiguity, a spirit of inquiry about ethics, a commitment to social and ethical practices, and a commitment professional leadership, responsibility and service.
Complete the following activities: 1. Take and pass the State of Colorado Jurisprudence exam. (15% of your grade) A list of resources for the exam study course and information on registering for and taking the exam is attached. A copy of the confirmation of successful completion of the exam must be submitted to the instructor for inclusion in your student file. Workshop providers must be contacted directly for specific information. A list of providers is located at http://www.dora.state.co.us/mental-health/jurisprudenceworkshops.htm. 2. Group Activity (35% of your grade) You will be given a case description in class. With other students, you will plan and give a group presentation based on the outcome of a group resolution to an ethical dilemma using a decision-making model discussed in class. The group will address potential legal and ethical problems, list ethical violations in the case description as they are outlined in the ACA Code of Ethics, discuss legal ramifications, professional obligations, potential outcomes for both the counselor and client(s), and make recommendations for remediation. The group will share their experience in reaching a determination about the case. An outline (2-3 pages) containing brief information from each student stating her/his role in this project and his/her opinions is required. 3. Choose and complete two of the following activities (50% of your grade-25% each) Using a sample case from a book, film, grievance board, or court discuss the ethical violations that would be under consideration in the sample case. Explain why these are significant clinical as well as ethical concerns. Discuss how you will address these issues in your own practice. Include a brief description of the case in your paper (6-8 pages). Write a 10-12 page paper in APA format describing your orientation to counseling. Reference supplemental materials or books. Describe how you plan to integrate your approach into your counseling practice. What types of clients will your approach be most useful with? How does your orientation fit with your personal and professional values and goals? Tape a mock clinical interview with another student. Provide your instructor with the tape and your written analysis (4-6 pages) of transference/countertransference issues and/or other issues that were present in the interview. Cite specific interchanges. Why are they of ethical concern? Include appropriate releases. Write a 6-8 page personal process paper on an ethical issue that you believe might surface for you as a counselor. Discuss from a personal standpoint your feelings and thoughts that might potentially lead to an ethical and/or legal dilemma, how you would handle the situation and what outcome you might predict. Develop, with your instructor, another integrative learning activity. Suggestion include an oral presentation that you tape, service learning, a community project that you develop or become involved in, professional activity on a relevant issue, etc. Write up what you have done. The emphasis is on integration and action flowing out of your ethical considerations.
Course Calendar, Readings and Assignments: Week 1: Introduction to counseling orientations and professional ethics Completion of Self-Inventory Ethical decision making models Models of counseling orientation Readings: ACA Code of Ethics Corey, Corey & Callanan, Chapter 1, pp. 2-34 Pope & Vasquez, Chapters 1, 2 & 3, pp. 1-48 Week 2: The Counselor as person and professional Self-awareness, boundaries, power and trust Common misperceptions and ethical dilemmas Readings: Corey, et al., Chapter 2, pp. 34-69 Pope & Vasquez, Chapters 4 & 5, pp. 49-68 Week 3: Values in Counseling Counselor responsibilities Clients rights Readings: Corey, et. al., Chapters 3, 4 & 5, pp. 70-193 Pope & Vasquez, Chapters 6 & 7, pp. 69-125 Week 4: Ethical and legal responsibilities: confidentiality, duty to warn, informed consent, and other issues Boundaries and dual relationships Professional competence Readings: Corey, et.al., Chapters 6, 7 & 8 pp. 194-317 Pope & Vasquez, Chapters 8, 10 & 11 pp. 126-142 & 190-209 Week 5: Supervision and consultation Establishing and defining the role of counselor: orientation to practice, use of techniques in counseling, continuing education Assessment, testing and diagnosis Readings: Corey, et.al., Chapters 9 & 10 pp. 318-393 Pope & Vasquez, Chapter 9 pp. 143-159 Week 6: Ethical issues in family and couples counseling Ethical issues in group counseling Cultural values and diversity issues in counseling Readings: Corey, et.al., Chapter 11 & 12, pp. 394-443 Pope & Vasquez, Chapter 12, pp. 210-222 DUE: Learning Activity 3 first activity completed Week 7: Ethical issues in community counseling Review of jurisprudence exam Review of ethics cases (small group activity) DUE: Jurisprudence Exam (Learning Activity 1) Readings: Corey, et.al., Chapter 13, pp. 444-474 Pope & Vasquez, Chapter 13, pp. 223-243
Week 8: Special issues in counseling: suicidal clients, violent clients, child abuse and other concerns DUE: Group Activity Presentations (Learning Activity 2) DUE: Learning Activity 3 second activity completed Readings: Pope & Vasquez, Chapter 14, pp. 244-261