Ethical Dilemma #6: February

You are a school counselor and a student tells you that she has been raped. You and the student decide to tell the parents together and you all have a conversation about the rape. The student and the parent do not wish to report the rape and they want her to continue counseling with you. 

Do you have a responsibility to report this?  If so to who?  What other ethical responsibilities do you have?

Ethical Dilemma #5:  January

I hope your new year is off to a great start!  The following is a question I received from someone last month:

I am a counselor in private practice and I also teach part time for a local university. One of my new current students this semester is a past client of mine. Is there an ethical dilemma here?  What do I do?

Ethical dilemma #4 - December:

Sorry that this is late!  With the holidays things get a little crazy:)

Here is your ethical dilemma:

You are a counselor in private practice and you also adjunct teach for a local university. You are looking at your class list and notice that one of your past clients is in your class.  Is there an ethical dilemma here?  What do you do? 

Go!

Ethical Dilemma #3: November - You are a counselor in a high school. A 15 year old student comes to you and after working together for a while he tells you that he has been cutting himself.  He does not want you to tell his parents as he doesn't want them to worry. What is your responsibility to the parents?  Do you have an obligation to report this to anyone else? If so...who?  How do you handle this? 

Ethical Dilemma #2:  You have been working as a couples counselor and have been seeing Mark and Angie for 6 months. They invite you to their wedding.  How do you handle this?  How about the option of gifts?

Ethical Dilemma #1: September

You are a counselor in private practice and you have a new intake scheduled for the day. The client, Sam Thomas, age 28, calls and makes an appointment for anxiety and a potential panic disorder. His name does not sound familiar.  He comes in for his appointment and he does not look familiar. After some talking about his history your realize that he went to the same High School as you and that he was friends with your younger sister in High School.  You are unsure how much contact they currently have.

What are the potential ethical dilemmas in this scenario if any?

If a dilemma exists, how do you handle it? 

Are there any ACA ethical codes being violated here?  Explain why or why not.

Hello fellow SDCA members!  I hope you are all having a great summer.  It seems like just yesterday when we were all in Spearfish and I can't help but count down the days until our next conference in Sioux Falls (it's always better when it's in your home town!:) 

As Ethics chair this year it is my duty to provide you with education and help in answering our burning ethical questions and dilemmas.  My plan is to post one dilemma a month and give you all a chance to respond and earn CEU's while doing it!  Posts will begin in September and run through May so you have the potential of earning 10 CEU's, or 1 CEU per dilemma.  You will be responsible for reading the dilemma and then emailing me a 1 page reaction paper that includes how you would handle the dilemma and cite the ACA code or codes of ethics that applies to that dilemma. Also, at the top of each paper please in include your name, address, email, and LPC number if applicable.  Email me your paper at estolsmark@gmail.com.  Then, I will email you your certificate.  It's that simple!  Also, please use me as a resource over the next year for questions regarding any ethical issue you may come across and I would be happy to help you with the answer!

Thanks and good luck!

Erin Stolsmark
SDCA Ethics Chair