Ethics of Addiction Counseling

1
Ethics of Addiction Counseling

• Product of the
• Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center
• Prepared by
• Regina Ward, MA, LPC
• Vonshurii Wrighten, M. Div., CACII, CCS

2
Ethics and The Law

• Why do we have ethics
• Viewing Ethics from Three Perspectives
• General Guidelines for Ethical and Legal Practice
• Laws Governing Chemical Dependency Counseling

3
Confidentiality

• What is Confidentiality?
• Most Frequently Violated area of Confidentiality
• Confidentiality a Federal Law
• Counselor Client Privilege
• Confidentiality Subpoenas
• Confidentiality in Multi-Client Situations
• Discussing the limits of Confidentiality

4
Mandated Breaches of Confidentiality

• Client is a danger to self
• Client is a danger to others
• Child Abuse
• Court Order
• Confidentiality when treating the HIV positive
  client.

5
Dual Relationships

• What Constitutes A Dual Relationship
• Impact of Personal Relationships what are the
  pluses and the minuses?
• Professional Counselor Awareness
• Touching as a part of the Client/Counselor
  Relationship
• Erotic and Sexual Contact with current and former
  clients

6
Informed Consent

• Preserves the clients rights
• Promotes active cooperation of clients
• Provides information about the techniques
  utilized in treatment

7
Ethical Issues in Multi-Cultural Counseling

• Making Culturally Sound Ethical Decisions
• General Guidelines for Making Culturally
  Competent Ethical Decisions
• Key Values and Norms to Consider When Counseling
  Specific Cultural Groups

8
Ethical Decision Making

• Recognize that an ethical problem exist
• Define the problem
• Develop solutions to the problem
• Choosing the appropriate solution
• Review the process (steps 1-4)
• Implementing and evaluating the decision
• Continue to reflect on the problem and the chosen
  solution