ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/21 2ND SEMESTER

LEGAL & ETHICAL ISSUES OF COUSELLING

COURSE CONTENTS
Week Theme
(Bullet sub-themes)
Week 1 General Introductions
TUESDAY § Course Objectives
§ Expected Learning Outcomes
§ Course Assessment
§ Course Contents
Week 2 Ethical theories and Foundations of Guidelines for Ethical Practice of
TUESDAY Counselling
§ Deontology versus Teleology
§ Individualism versus Relativism
§ Rule versus Act Theories

Week 3 General and Catholic Christian Principles of Ethical Practice:

TUESDAY § General: Fidelity, Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, Justice, Self-
Respect
§ Catholic: Sanctity of Life, Human Dignity, Principle of Double Effect,
Informed Consent, Ordinary and Extraordinary Means, Subsidiarity
Week 4 Professional Ethical Guidelines for Counsellors and Psychotherapists:
TUESDAY § Quality of Care
§ Competence
§ Privacy, Confidentiality
§ Record Keeping
§ Dual Relationships and Counsellor Boundaries
§ Self-Disclosure, etc.
§ Critical issues - decisions of health and treatment, sexuality and early life,
couple relations, etc.
Week 5 Moral-Dilemmas and Ethical Decision Making Processes:
TUESDAY § Problem identification
§ Application of professional guidelines for analysis
§ Nature and Dimensions of the Dilemma
§ Identification of possible courses of Action, etc.
Week 6 Legal Systems and Legal Issues:
TUESDAY National and International laws regarding:
§ Privileged communication and Right to Silence
§ Mandatory Reporting of Abuse of Children and Elders
§ Abuse of the Physically and Mentally vulnerable
§ Mandatory Reporting of Physical and/or Psychological Harm, etc.
Week 7 Ethical Self-Experience – Counsellor Values and Virtues:
TUESDAY § Knowledge (Competence), Courtesy, Empathy, Honesty, Resilience,
Neutrality (Objectivity), Humility, Self-Control, Responsibility, etc.
 Easter Break
Week 8 Purpose and Codes of Professional Counselling/Psychological Associations:
TUESDAY
§ American Psychological Association (APA)
§ Kenyan Context
§ British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)
§ Psychology Society of South Africa (PSYSSA)
Week 9 § Group presentations
TUESDAY

Week 10 Ethics and Culture: Counselling in Multicultural Setting:

TUESDAY § Theories of cross-cultural counselling
§ Culture and ethical relativism
§ Western/Non-Western Models of Ethics in Counselling

Week 11 Special Issues:

§ Moral Development
§ Counsellor-Client Value Conflict

Week 12 § Some African-specific Ethical Issues in Counselling:

TUESDAY ü African family systems and generational boundaries
ü Family taboos – Individual rights and community sanctions
Witchcraft accusations and confidentiality
Week 13 § Some African-specific Ethical Issues in Counselling:
TUESDAY ü African family systems and generational boundaries
ü Family taboos – Individual rights and community sanctions
§ Witchcraft accusations and confidentiality
§ Prepare for Exams
§ End semester Exams