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Ethical Philosophy Paper— The Standards and Principles to Guide My Practice
Jenelle K. Nicolajsen
City University of Seattle
CPC 510: Professional Ethics and Law
Vanessa McConnell
May 15th, 2023
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Ethical Philosophy Paper— The Standards and Principles to Guide My Practice
Understanding the importance of ethics and law in counselling, and how to implement them into
my practice, is an essential aspect of the job. Ensuring clients are thoroughly informed to make
appropriate decisions, possessing the knowledge and skills in my area of work and continuing
competence, understanding the limits and protections of confidentiality, and respecting diversity among
culture, values, and beliefs, are all vastly important ethical principles and standards to incorporate into
counselling. Holding myself ethically accountable by consulting with others and actively self reflecting
through journalling to learn from my experiences and better myself as a counsellor will also be methods I
employ in my practice. Social justice also plays an important role in counselling, and by advocating for
and with my clients, and actively working within my community, I plan to hold myself responsible for
looking out for the best interests of the individuals and community I work with. Lastly, while there are
grey areas between ethics and law that can be difficult to navigate, I understand that there are resources
including the principles, standards, and laws, to guide me as best as possible. I also acknowledge that
there are other professionals whom I can reach out to, to help me in those tough situations. Evidently,
there are a lot of important aspects to pursuing an ethical career in counselling, and resources are here
to guide me in the right direction, to ensure I am implementing them appropriately into my practice.
Provincial Laws and Policies in the Counselling Profession and Application to my Practice
The College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP, 2022) developed a standard of practice for all
psychologists in Alberta to adhere to. All the policies are essential to the counselling profession and
will be crucial to my practice. As a counsellor, I need to be knowledgeable about the ethical and legal
standards that guide my profession (Koocher & Keith-Spiegel, 2008, as cited in Sivis-Cetinkaya, 2019).
Informed consent, competency, confidentiality, and respect for diversity (CAP, 2022), are some of
the vastly important standards that I will apply to my practice as a counsellor.
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Informed Consent
Blease et al. (2020) suggested that the importance of informed consent in counselling
psychology is well-established in the current day. Informed consent will be an important aspect of
my practice, to ensure I am always protecting both myself and the client. I need to ensure that all
information regarding treatment is thoroughly given and understood to ensure the client knows the
expectations and that I as the counsellor am respecting and integrating the clients wishes into
treatment (CAP, 2022, CPA, 2017). The informed consent process will ensure that I am seeking the
active participation of the individuals I am working with and ensure that they are provided with
sufficient information associated to their treatment, including the nature, effectiveness, timing and
duration, side effects and potential risks and benefits are (CPA, 2017, Blease et al., 2020).
Because I intend to work with children, understanding the informed consent process for
working with minors will be critical (CAP, 2017). In working with children, it will be required for me to
obtain consent from the guardian of the child before providing services (CAP, 2022). It will be my
responsibility to ensure the guardian understands the nature of the treatment, mutual
responsibilities, confidentiality protections and limits, how to take back consent, and how
communication will work between client and/or the guardian and counsellor (myself) (CAP, 2022).
Sarkar et al. (2010) mentioned the importance of informed consent in ethical medicine, both in
clinical and research environments, and ensuring the individuals involved understand the all the
information required to make informed decisions. I will need to ensure the guardian understands all
the information to give educated consent for their child and will provide the child with as much
information as I can to help them understand also.
Competency
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Competency is another standard that will be essential to my role as a counsellor. CAP (2022)
developed the standard for all generally and provisionally registered psychologists to participate in the
continuing competence program to ensure psychologists are up to date on current knowledge, skills, and
judgement in the field, to serve the best interest of the public. Whether or not I choose to become
registered, it will be an obligation of mine to maintain competence in my area of work. Truscott et al.
(2021) mentioned that it is necessary for helping professionals to obtain knowledge and skills that are
essential to their practice, to ensure they can respond to unique challenges. With the intent to work with
children, it will be my responsibility to remain competent in many children related counselling topics,
including areas of child development, behaviours, impacts of experience on development, etc.
Throughout my undergrad, I was educated in many adolescent related psychology courses, but
understanding that I need to continue my education and maintain competence by educating myself on
the current knowledge in the field, will be essential to my practice. For instance, understanding that
traumatic experiences can impact child development physically and mentally (Health Resources and
Services Administration, as cited in Mendoza & Bradley, 2021), is vastly important, especially considering
the increase in rates of child abuse (Bray, 2019, as cited in Mendoza & Bradley, 2021). Being prepared to
counsel children who have experienced or are continuing to experience child abuse and trauma, will be
important in ensuring competence (Mendoza & Bradley, 2021), or referring them to other professionals
if I am not competent in the area of best interest to the child, will be necessary (CAP, 2022). Familiarizing
myself with diverse techniques and therapeutic techniques may be helpful to enhance the therapeutic
alliance between myself and the child and family (Gil, 2006, as cited in Mendoza & Bradley, 2021). Lastly,
acquiring knowledge and skills specific to the culture of my client will be essential to ensuring
competency (Truscott et al., 2021).
Confidentiality
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Confidentiality is important in any psychology practice and is something I will need to remain
aware of with all my clients. Sivis-Centinkaya (2020) explained that confidentiality is the foundation of an
ethical counselling relationship. Obtaining a therapeutic alliance based on trust and respect, will involve
confidentiality of information that my clients provide. This means that all information will be kept private
unless there is consent given to share that information, or unless I have probable reason to believe that
disclosing any information will prevent imminent harm to the client, or others (CAP, 2022).
If I choose to pursue work with children, understanding how confidentiality works with the child
and their guardian, will be important to remain an ethical practice. The standards of practice inform that
providing services to a minor involves informing both the minor and guardian of the limit of the child’s
right to confidentiality (CAP, 2022). Providing this information to the family, before providing services,
will be critical. Awareness of the children’s first act will also assist me in understanding laws around
confidentiality and working with children. The children’s first act falls under Alberta legislation, stating
that a service provider may share information on the child or guardian with another provider, if it is in
the best interests of the child (CAP, 2022). If the child I am working with needs additional services, I may
be required to share information with another service provider, to serve the psychological, physical and
mental well being of the child, and understanding the legal and ethical rules around this will be helpful
(CAP, 2022, CPA, 2017).Additionally, the Supreme Court of Canada has implemented mandatory
reporting obligations for suspected abuse or neglect of children, which could be something I encounter
in my practice (CAP, 2022). If I have probable reason to believe that the child, I am working with is being
abused or neglected, I must report it (CAP, 2022). Ultimately, my greatest concern is the well-being of my
client and if they are at imminent risk of harm being done to them, or causing harm, I need to take the
appropriate steps to navigate the legal and ethical steps to maximize benefit of all the people involved
(CPA, 2017).
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Respecting Cultural Diversity
As a counsellor, it will be immensely significant to consistently ensure I am respecting the rights
and dignity of the people I am working with (CPA, 2017). This includes respecting culture, beliefs, race,
religion, gender, etc., of all people, and understanding that values and perspectives may differ from my
own, but still demonstrating respect for them (CPA, 2017; CAP, 2022). Athanasiadou & Kasimis (2022)
suggested that diversity is significant in counselling and counsellors must understand and accept the
unique individuality of each person and treat them with dignity and respect. I plan to demonstrate
appropriate respect for my clients through educating myself on diverse topics and culture and
maintaining awareness of cultural diversity; and although this awareness will be important, so will the
acknowledgement that every individual is different and will also have their own specific beliefs and
values.
Shanmugarajah et al. (2022), mentioned that there are many different cultures within Canada,
and people from different countries who have immigrated here. Being aware of this and understanding
that different cultures have different beliefs, will be significant to my practice to ensure that I make no
assumptions about my clients’ values (CPA, 2017). For instance, if I continue to pursue a career working
with children, especially children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), being aware of how culture
might impact understanding of this diagnosis will be essential to remaining ethical. There are significant
differences in the way ASD is understood among different groups of people, and differences in the
symptom diagnosis for ASD among ethic and racial groups (CDC, 2018, as cited in Shanmugarajah et al.,
2022). If I was to decide to pursue counselling or behavioural work with individuals with autism or
choose to do developmental assessments for children, understanding that cultural conceptualization of
autism has potential to influence families will be an important acknowledgement (Ravindran & Myers,
2012, as cited in Truong et al., 2023). Despite my understanding of autism and the aspects that define
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the diagnosis, portrays a more westernized view, and I need to expand my understanding to incorporate
the values and understanding of diverse cultures, races, ethnicities, etc., to effectively pursue this career
and to work with families of autistic individuals. Truscott et al. (2021) explained that psychologists need
to be aware of the cultural differences in neurodiversity to ensure respect and responsible caring.
Furthermore, to exemplify this respect and awareness, I will be required to learn about the culture of the
people I am working with, be unbiased towards those cultural factors, and based my decisions/practices
on a population drawn from the culture of my client (Truscott et al., 2021).
Contributions to my Sense of Social Justice and Ethical Accountability
Social Justice in Counselling
In my counselling career, I intend to pursue social justice and ethical accountability.
Acknowledging that all people have that right to be treated with respect (CPA, 2017), I ensure that I
understand the need for social justice and intend to actively participate social justice. Olle (2018, as
cited in DeBlaere et al., 2019), suggested that working locally to support community activists by
doing research, inviting activists and organizers of the community to participate in meetings, and
providing services to the community are all ways for counsellors to partake in social justice. I intend
to work with my community to confirm I am meeting expectations and advocating for societal rights.
Giving marginalized populations the chance to speak out, in counselling sessions and in research is an
opportunity I aspire to achieve (DeBlaere et al., 2019). Additionally, advocating for areas of
marginalization and need for social justice on social media (DeBlaere et al., 2019), is a measure I have
already been pursuing and will continue to do throughout my career. I will use my voice as a
professional to encourage clients to advocate for themselves and I will also advocate with and for
them, to ensure their well-being is acknowledged and cared for (Crethar & Winterowd, 2012; CPA,
2017). Vera & Speight (2003, as cited in DeBlaere et al., 2019), explained the importance of embracing
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the work of social justice as part of a counsellor’s professional identity. Additionally, Crethar et al. (2008,
as cited in Crethar & Winterowd, 2012), suggested that social justice counselling involves working from a
framework that encourages equity, access, and participation. I acknowledge the importance of these
factors and intend to employ them in my role as a counsellor.
An example of how I can employ social justice in my practice is advocating for the child and the
family of the child I work with. For instance, there are many difficulties experienced by families with an
autistic child (especially for minority groups), including waiting periods for diagnosis, numerous visits to
health care providers, navigating services, and obtaining information on the diagnosis and interventions
(Hutton & Caron, 2005; Jegatheesan et al., 2010; Schall, 2000; Sritharan & Koola, 2019, as cited in
Shanmugarajah et al., 2019). Whether I am counselling with the family, or doing the assessment of the
child, I can advocate for them by reaching out to multiple health care systems and working to move
along the process, as well as provide them with information on resources and interventions and assist
them in navigating the difficulties. In my work with kids with autism, I have become very familiar with
resources available, navigating funding for intervention, and a lot of other information that can be
helpful to these families and working as a counsellor, I will ensure the families are supported and their
best interest is of my concern (CPA, 2017). The standards of practice explain that access to funding for
special education and services can be affected by their psychological assessment (CAP, 2022), and my
knowledge of this will also enable me to act in the appropriate manner to assist the families in the best
way possible. Advocating for services for individuals with autism, including the access to funding for
intervention and resources, is a social justice concern I am already taking part in, in my job with the non-
profit early intervention group I work for; and I intend to continue this throughout my career as a
counsellor.
Ethical Accountability
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Herlihy & Dufrene (2011, as cited in Wilkinson et al., 2019), explained that the ability to practice
ethically, follow the code of ethics, and effectively implement ethical decision making, are essential to
the practice as a counsellor. I will hold myself accountable to the decisions I am making and in the start
of my career I intend to work alongside a supervisor to ensure I am doing so appropriately. Working with
a supervisor, and consulting other professionals, is an important aspect of counselling, to ensure
competency and effective treatment is taking place (CAP, 2022). Truscott et al. (2021) mentioned that the
majority of harms accused of being done by psychologists to clients, are results of failing to meet the
standard required on us, by society. I will hold myself accountable to my actions and decisions as a
counsellor, ensuring that I am always looking out for the well-being of my clients and the rest of society.
This includes, remaining unbiased, not discriminating against those whose views are different than mine,
and also ensuring I am maximizing benefit and minimizing harm (CPA, 2017). By consulting with others, I
can ensure that these ethical guidelines are effectively being accomplished, as well as actively
participating in self reflection.
How I Plan to Develop an Ongoing Practice of Ethical Self-reflection
Moon (2004, as cited in Brammar & Lezova, 2018), explained that self reflection is a process
that we partake in cognitively to learn from our experiences. Self reflection is an important part of the
counselling profession, as it allows us to acknowledge our mistakes and experiences, and to better
ourselves from those. I am someone who always engages in self reflection, in everything I do. I have
always been someone who overthinks a lot and thinks about my words and actions over and over again,
to learn from them and be a better person. While I have always seen my overthinking and self reflection
as a negative characteristic, I have learned to accept and embrace it, as it will make me a better
counsellor. Upon the start of my education in the Master of Counselling program, I began to journal, with
the intent of purposefully self reflecting, instead of just doing so in my head where everything can get
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jumbled and misleading. Journalling has helped me to learn the importance of actively self reflecting and
is something I intend to continue in my counselling career to ensure I am remaining ethical and
intentional. The use of journalling is supported by research for initiating self reflection (Haberstroh et al.,
2006; Ziomek-Daigle, 2017, as cited in Sacco & Amende, 2021), and is a method I will implement into
my practice to better myself as a counsellor.
Effectively Negotiating the Grey Areas Between Ethics and Law
Navigating the more blurred areas in between ethics and law will be one of the most difficult
duties of mine as a counsellor. Gibson and Pope (1993, as cited in Sivis-Cetinkaya, 2019), suggested that
counsellors should be able to determine whether a variety of behaviours are ethical or not, despite some
being controversial and not being addressed under the standards and codes. I have a good sense of right
and wrong but when it comes to the grey area in between, I sometimes get overwhelmed by the idea of
making the wrong decision. I will, however, need to look to the codes of ethics, standards of practice,
and laws and policies that guide my profession, and used an informed decision-making process, when it
comes to making difficult ethical decisions, and maintain confidence in my decision regarding the
ethicality of my clients’ behaviours (Sivis-Cetinkaya, 2019). Because every situation is unique, I would
need to understand the specific situation at hand to ultimately make an informed decision. I do know
that the standards of practice, jurisprudence, and additional resources provided by CAP (2022), as well
as other professionals in the field, are available to assist me in negotiating difficult decisions, to
guarantee I am doing what is best for the client, and society as a whole (CPA, 2017).
Ultimately, being an ethical counsellor will require me to understand the laws, standards and
principles that guide my practice and work to actively implement those into my work. Informed consent,
competency, confidentiality and respect for diversity are all important aspects that I will use to ensure I
am promoting the well-being of the clients I work with, and holding myself accountable through
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supervision, consultation and self-reflection will help me to guarantee I am doing so. Advocating for my
clients and working with those in my community to promote social justice will also be an ethical
requirement that I hold myself accountable to. Holding the best interests of my clients and working with
them to ensure they are receiving the most beneficial treatment built on trust and respect, are the most
important goals of mine and using the ethical codes and standards to influence my decision making and
actions will be critical to ensure this.
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