I began this chapter by discussing how many professional fields have adopted ethical codes of conduct. Virtually all the helping professions have such ethical codes man- dating how practitioners must conduct themselves professionally. There are significant similarities among the various counseling professional organizations,
such as the NOHS, the APA, the ACA, and the NASW, but a review of each discipline’s ethical standards reveals how the disciplines focusing on the human services (NOHS and NASW) tend to focus as much on macro responsibilities (communities and the broader society) as much as on the individual client. For instance, neither counselors, family therapists, clinical psychologists, nor licensed social workers can have a romantic relationship with clients, but one significant dif- ference that sets the human services and social work fields apart from the other helping professions is the added responsibility to advocate for social justice—both on behalf of clients and on behavior of society
as a whole, whereas the APA (2002), for instance, refers to justice in individual terms as it relates to every individual’s right to benefit from the contributions of psychology.
The NOHS human service ethical standards can be summed up in large part with Statement 28: “Human service professionals act with integrity, honesty, genuineness, and objectivity” (NOHS, 2009, para 31).
The focus on social justice in a broader context is important because it highlights the macro focus of the human services field, with the recognition that society and its social structures play a significant role in the relative mental and physical health of its members.
The focus on social justice in a broader context is important be- cause it highlights the macro focus of the human services field, with the recognition that society and its social structures play a signifi- cant role in the relative mental and physical health of its members.
Human service professionals may have a greater likelihood of confronting complex ethical dilemmas than professionals working in other helping professions due to the broad range of human ser- vice practice settings and the broad range of clients with whom they work (many of whom may have quite complex individual and social problems). Thus it is imperative that anyone considering a career in human services become familiar with relevant laws and professional ethical standards of not only their specific discipline (pertaining to their academic degree and their licensing bodies) but of related fields as well.
Human Services Delivery Systems
Understanding and Mastery of Human Services Delivery Systems: Political and ideological aspects of human services
Critical Thinking Question: The macro- level, social justice orientation of the human services profession sets it apart from other helping professions such as psychology. How might a human service professional’s personal values support his work for social justice? In what ways might such personal values impede his work?
1. Most people will find themselves caught in a tug- of-war between their ethical standards and their ______.
a. religious beliefs b. emotional desires c. professional ethics d. personal experiences
2. Many times individuals act in ways that are later per- ceived to be unethical, when at the time they were committing the act they may have believed that they were acting in a very ethical manner, but were forced to choose among:
a. competing values
b. their emotions and their ethics c. being accepted or standing in isolation d. their friends and their job
3. According to Kohlberg, it is important to consider someone's ______ ability to apply moral reasoning to their behavior before judging them able to make moral decisions.
a. cognitive b. cultural c. structural d. social
4. Numerous professions espouse basic ethical prin- ciples, which serve as a foundation for their business ______.
a. negotiations
b. practices and standards c. marketing strategies d. intervention and strategies
5. Violations of legally enforced ethical standards can result in
a. professional sanctions, including license suspensions
b. financial sanctions c. criminal penalties d. All of the above
6. Human service professionals face the increased likeli- hood of confronting ethical dilemmas of greater com- plexity because
a. they work in settings lacking a formal set of pro- fessional standards
b. education levels for human service professionals have declined in the past decade
c. they work in a broad range of practice settings with a broad range of clients
d. of emotional regulation
The following questions will test your knowledge of the content found within this chapter.
7. Describe Kitchener's model of ethical decision making and explore how it can help human service professionals successfully manage common ethical dilemmas.
8. Cite an NOHS ethical standard that you may have difficulty abiding by, and explain why.
Suggested Readings
Dolgoff, R., Lowenberg, F. M., & Harrington, D. (2004). Ethi- cal decisions for social work practice. Belmont, CA: Wad- sworth Publishing.
Kenyon, P. (1998). What would you do? An ethical case work- book for human service professionals. Belmont, CA: Wad- sworth Publishing.
Nash, R. J. (1996). “Real world” ethics: Frameworks for educa- tors and human service professionals. New York: Teacher's College Press.
Reamer, F. G. (1998). Ethical standards in social work: A criti- cal review of the NASW code of ethics. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Internet Resources
Josephson Institute of Ethics: http://www.josephsoninstitute.org National Organization for Human Services Ethical Standards:
http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/mc/page.do?sitePageI d=89927&orgId=nohs
National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics: http:// www.naswdc.org/pubs/code/code.asp
References
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Washington, DC: Author. Garcia, J. G., Cartwright, B., Winston, S. M., & Borzuchowska, B.
(2003). A transcultural integrative model for ethical decision making in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 81(3), 268–277.
Gibbs, J. (2003). Moral development and reality: Beyond the theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Kitchener, K. S. (1984). Intuition, critical evaluation, and ethical
principles: The foundation for ethical decisions in counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 12, 43–55.
National Association of Social Workers. (1999). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Washington, DC: Author. National Organization for Human Services. (1999). Ethical
standards of human service professionals. Washington, DC: Author. Available online at: http://www.nationalhumanservices. org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals
ten Boom, C., Sherrill, J., & Sherrill, S. (1974). The hiding place. New York: Bantam Books.
West, W. (2002). Some ethical dilemmas in counseling and counsel- ing research. British Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 30(3), 261–268.
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Learning Objectives
S Understand the nature and im- portance of informed consent and confidentiality, including the limits of confidentiality in the counseling relationship S Recognize skills and competen-
cies within oneself, such as em- pathy and active listening skills, which are important in human service generalist practice S Develop an understanding of
the concept of psychological boundaries and recognize situa- tions when boundary setting is important
S Develop an understanding of the importance of client empower- ment and self-determination germane to human services practice
S Understand the basic elements of a psychosocial assessment and common intervention