ETHICS

1
ETHICS

• Principles
• We all live by them
• Standards of human behavior
• Cultural Variations
• Morals
• Developed/Agreed upon by group of people as guide
  for living
• Codes of conduct
• Help us to be responsible act with integrity

2
ABOVE ALL DO NO HARM

• Maybe the most important areas for us are
• Confidentiality
• Counselors in recovery
• Relapse
• Disclosure
• SEX

3
Ethical and Legal Issues in Group Counseling

• Informed consent
• Provide members with adequate information that
  will allow them to decide if they want to join a
  group
• Some information to give prospective members
• The nature of the group
• The goals of the group
• The general structure of the sessions
• What is expected of them if they join
• What they can expect from you as a leader

4
Guidelines for Using Techniques Ethically

• Your techniques should have a rationale
• Introduce techniques in a sensitive and timely
  manner
• Dont stick to a technique if it is not working
  effectively
• Give members a choice invite them to experiment
  with some behavior
• Use techniques that are appropriate to the
  members cultural values
• Techniques are best developed in response to what
  is happening in the here-and-now

5
Involuntary Group Membership

• Many groups are composed of involuntary members
• The challenge is to demonstrate the value of a
  group for members
• Basic information about the group is essential
• Avoid assuming that involuntary members will not
  want to change

6
Becoming A Diversity-Sensitive Group Counselor

• Diversity competence
• Involves a deep understanding of ones own
  culture
• Culturally competent group workers need to
• Be aware of their biases, stereotypes, and
  prejudices
• Know something about the members of the group
• Be able to apply skills and interventions that
  are congruent with the worldviews of the members
• Ethical practice entails diversity competence

7
Guidelines for Competence Diversity Issues in
Groups

• Group workers need to
• Consider the impact of adverse environmental
  factors in assessing problems of group members
• Be aware of how their values and beliefs
  influence their facilitation of a group
• Respect the roles of family and community
  hierarchies within a members culture
• Respect members religious and spiritual beliefs
  and values
• Acknowledge that ethnicity and culture influence
  behavior

8
A Few Questions to Keep in Mind When Thinking
About Ethics

• How well do you know yourself your values,
  attitudes, beliefs and behaviors?
• How are you handling the power you are given as a
  group leader?
• What are you doing to work on your issues that
  might be coming up for you as a group leader
  around ethics?
• Are you getting supervision? If not, you need to
  be.

9
Some Other Good Questions That May Indicate
Possible Ethical Trouble

• Am I begin careless?
• Am I being malicious?
• Am I being honest?
• Am I being responsible?

10
It Comes Down to A Few Basics

• What is in the best interest of the client?
• Am I thinking of the client first?
• What is my professional, ethical responsibility
  to this client?
• What would I want for myself or for someone
  important to me, if I were in this persons
  place?
• Am I representing myself truthfully?