Part 2

Introduction

Ethics are crucial in counselling because they protect the client's and counsellor’s
welfare by clearly articulating what is appropriate. Counselors and therapists frequently
encounter challenging and sensitive issues. As a result, the client is in a vulnerable situation.
A counsellor is supposed to operate ethically, which means conforming to an ethical
framework. Counsellor has a duty of care to their clients, and by definition, they must act in
the best interests of their clients, advancing client goals, preserving client privileges,
maximizing good and limiting harm. Following an ethical code entail working honestly as a
businessperson as well as a counsellor. Even though ethics are vital to the practice of
professional treatment, they are not enough to address the lack of values in counselling. The
formulation of values is not the purpose of ethical inquiry. Even though values are essential,
and we stand resolutely behind them, they serve a very different purpose.

In your opinion about ethical principles, describe some possible outcomes if a counsellor
conducts his or her counselling session according to the code of ethics

It is the responsibility of the counsellor to always keep the client's best interests in mind as
well as to define the boundaries of their client-to-counsellor relationships clearly always. The
counsellor can ensure that his or her clients have a clear understanding of the counselling
process and that their counselling goals have been clearly outlined by adhering to the code of
ethics and conducting their practise in accordance with it. These practices of ethics during the
session will build a professional boundary between the counsellors and clients that separates
their personal lives from their professional ones and will prevent never them engaging in
romantic or sexual relationships of any kind that separate their personal lives from their
professional ones. 

In addition, a healthy relationship between the counsellor and the client will result in a
modification of behavior on the part of the client, which will make it possible for the client's
life to be lived in a manner that is more meaningful. Targets that can be measured provide the
client with the ability to assess the success of the program. Although specific actions receive
very little to no emphasis during the counselling process, Rogers (1951) asserts that a change
in behavior is an essential requirement for the process to be successful. (Roger, 1951)
 It is widely acknowledged that having a trustworthy character is essential to
comprehending and addressing ethical dilemmas. Counselors who adhere to this principle are
expected to: act in a manner that is consistent with the trust placed in them regard
confidentiality as an obligation that arises from the client's trust restrict any disclosure of
personal information about clients to furthering the objectives for which it was originally
disclosed.

Clients place a high value on the practitioner's own moral traits. Many of the personal
attributes deemed crucial in the delivery of services have an ethical or moral component and
are thus seen as virtues or desirable personal qualities. Counselors who ignore their own
mental, physical, and spiritual self-care eventually run out of energy and are unable to treat
their clients efficiently since all of their energy goes out to the clients and nothing comes
back in to replace the counselor energy. Counsellor who practiced ethical codes can ensure
their mental health and make a clear decision that benefits their client.

The goal of counselling is to equip individuals with the knowledge and confidence necessary
to make significant decisions about alternative courses of action free from the influence of
others. Individuals will benefit from counselling by increasing their knowledge and gaining
clarity regarding their emotional concerns, which may either be connected to the decision at
hand or interfere with it. These individuals will develop a profound comprehension of their
own capabilities and areas of interest. They will also learn to identify emotional responses
that may have an effect on the decisions and alternatives that they select.

Describe the state of confidentiality that needs to be broken.

It is impossible to place an adequate amount of emphasis on the significance of

maintaining strict confidentiality in therapeutic treatment. It gives clients who are seeking
counseling the knowledge and comfort of knowing that they can be entirely honest with their
counselor without fear that the therapist will disclose what they say to others, which is
something that they can benefit from knowing. In order to provide a safe and fear atmosphere
in the counselling session, maintaining strict confidentiality is essential. However,
confidentiality is not the same thing as secrecy, and it will always have its own exceptions
and limits. These exceptions and limits are likely to differ from country to country due to the
different legal systems in each country.

In the context of this discussion, "breaking confidentiality" refers to disclosing

specific, personally identifiable information on a client's legal matter without first obtaining
the client's permission to do so. The circumstances under which a therapist is required to
break patient confidentiality are often outlined in state legislation, which means that these
requirements might vary significantly from one state to the next. It is essential that you verify
the laws of your state to determine whether or not a particular requirement applies to you, and
if it does, what the particulars of that need are supposed to be. The following individuals are
the only ones who have the authority to demand the release of client notes:

 a judge (with a court order)

 a medical examiner
 the customer themselves

When entering into a contract, it is essential to be explicit about the boundaries of

confidentiality, preferably in the form of a written agreement that is signed by both the client
and the counsellor. In several states, a therapist may be required to break patient
confidentiality in certain circumstances, including the following examples:

 When the client poses a clear threat to themselves or to other people, and if it is
necessary to break confidentially to eliminate the risk
 When the therapist has reason to think that a youngster, an elderly person, or an
adult who is dependent has been abused.
 When the client has given the therapist permission to discuss the client's
situation with another party.
 When a court order that meets, certain criteria is presented to the therapist.

If a client poses an imminent threat to themselves, the counselor, or a third party, the
therapist is compelled to breach confidentiality. For an example based on a real incident, Dr.
Lawrence Moore, a psychologist, treated Poddar at Cowell Memorial Hospital of UC
Berkeley in 1969. Moore informed campus police that Poddar needed to be hospitalized and
was a risk to himself and others after he told his therapist he planned to kill an individual.
 One instance where confidentiality must be compromised is when you suspect a child
is being abused. If the child has unexplained injuries and appears to be afraid of their parent
or primary caregiver, there may be reason to suspect abuse. In this instance, depending on
where you live, you have a legal obligation to disclose this suspicion to authorities.

Counsellor also can break the confidentially when an information sharing will
improve client’s care across numerous providers. For example, if you've only had training in
cognitive behavioral therapy, you might not be the best specialist to help someone suffering
from borderline personality disorder (BPD). You might want to share the client’s information
to a counsellor who uses dialectical behavioral therapy, which is often a more effective
treatment for BPD.

A counsellor is required to violate client confidentiality if their client is the focus of a

national security investigation. This requirement is in addition to the conditions that are listed
at the state level. In this scenario, not only is the therapist required by federal law to violate
client confidentiality, but they are also prohibited from disclosing to the client the fact that
they have done so. In other words, the therapist cannot tell the client that they have violated
client confidentiality.

Conclusion
In conclusion, a counsellor must follow the Codes of Ethics and the Board of
Counselors (Malaysia). Professionals cannot ignore the regulations and practice in their own
way as counselors and professionals. Ethical violations can affect the customer and put a
third party in danger (Tarasoff Regents, 1976). One of the counselor's responsibilities is to
look out for the client's best interests. As responsible counselors, they must register as
registered counselors in order to legally practice counselling services and gain protection
from the Board of Counselors (Malaysia). This assignment serves as a reminder to counselors
of their primary responsibility, which is to rely on ethical principles and a code of ethics
when applying for a counselling service in the society as well as while carrying out their
professional duties in organizations. Even though concerns regarding confidentiality can be
complicated, it is usually possible to steer clear of problems if counselors are aware of what
the laws of your state say regarding confidentiality, if they take thorough session notes, and if
they use your professional judgement. These kinds of circumstances are almost always
difficult, but counselors can rest assured that they are well-prepared. Working ethically poses
the challenge of encountering situations that necessitate responses to unexpected issues,
dilemma resolution, and problem resolution. A firm grasp of the ethics that undergirds our
work is a precious asset that can be used to make important decisions. Good practice requires
the use of an ethical problem-solving framework as well as ethical discussion.