Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Bohol
DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
FIRST QUARTER: WEEK 3
Competency :  Value rights, responsibilities, and accountabilities of counselors.
 Distinguish between ethical and unethical behaviors among counselors.
Reference : Discipline and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences by DIWA LEARNING
SYSTEMS INC
Copyright For classroom use only

VALUE RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES,

LESSON 1 AND ACCOUNTABILITIES OF
COUNSELORS
Rights of Individuals, Professional Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Professional counselor must not only adhere to the ethics of their profession but also manifest
their commitment. They commit to this by giving value to the rights of individuals and demonstrating
accountability to their clients. This could be done by the following:

1. Respecting the rights and responsibility of every human person - Professional counselors
must bear in mind that each individual is unique. No matter how unruly or how disruptive an
individual is, he/she deserves to be treated fairly.

2. Respecting the client’s rights as self-governing individual – Counselors feel responsible for
the welfare of their clients. However, counselors must remember that their clients are capable of
helping themselves and are capable of choosing.

3. Being committed to the client’s well-being - Professional counselors demonstrate dedication

for their work by showing concern to their client during counseling session and even after the
session.

4. Being fair to all clients by providing equal opportunities to all who availed the counseling
service- Counselors do not only provide counseling to a few and selected groups, but they
accommodate individuals from all walks of life: students, professionals and those coming from
high or low socio-economic conditions. The counselor must render services to whoever is willing
and interested to be professionally helped.

5. Enhancing the quality of their professional knowledge and application – Counselors provide
quality service by keeping themselves updated on issues and trends in their profession.
Counselors must continuously attend conferences, conventions. They must also join and
participate in professional organizations aimed to develop their competencies.
 6. Being responsive to the society- Counselors collaborate with other members of the community
to provide the best services for their clients. For example, they collaborate with the parents,
teachers, school administrators, and other stakeholders to further help the students.

Activity 1

Read the following situations and explain which responsibility of a counselor is applicable to
each. Explain your answer in 3 – 5 sentences.
1. Roy is a graduating college student. His girlfriend Michelle, a schoolmate is three months
pregnant. Both did not plan about it. Their parents do not know about Michelle’s pregnancy.
Michelle wants the baby aborted but Roy insists that he is willing to take responsibility even if it
means cutting his ties with his family. The two decided to seek help from the college counselor of
the school. In what way could the counselor help them? Explain your answer.

ETHICAL AND UNETHICAL BEHAVIORS

LESSON 2
AMONG COUNSELORS
Ethical Principle in Guidance and Counseling

1. Confidentiality – This principle states that counselees have the right to privacy in working with
his or her counselor ( Hutchinson, 2014). All information are shared by the counselee, including
his or her identity, must be kept secret. This means that the counselors should not divulge any
information and protect all documents (including the records found in his or her computer) about
the counselee. it must be noted, however, that there are important exceptions regarding
confidentiality.

2. Client Welfare- it is the counselor’s primary responsibility to protect the welfare of the clients.
Hence, if the identified needs of the counselee are beyond the expertise of the counselor, then the
community must refer the client to another professional.

3. Informed Consent- Professional counselors are required to provide their clients an overview of
what counseling is all about and what counseling process entails(for examples, information on
policies and goals).

4. Relationship with Clients - A professional counselor must establish and maintain boundaries in
his or her relationship with the clients. Within and outside the counseling session, the counselor
must be aware and be bound by ethics of professional relationship with the clients.

5. Professionalism – A professional counselor should clarify with the client the types of activities
other than counseling which will be utilized to address the presenting concerns, the techniques
and counseling procedures that will be employed , and the sort of payment that is expected to be
paid if working on a private setting.

Unethical Behavior of a Counselor

1. Incompetence. Inadequate knowledge and the absence of skills necessary for professional behavior.
2. Lack of integrity. Moral commitment and sound professional judgment to adhere to acceptable
standards of right and wrong action.

3.Violating confidences. Information presented in a counseling relationship is confidential.

4.Exceeding the level of professional competence. Counselors must recognize their strengths and
limitations in serving their clients in the most competent manner - or refer them to other experts.

5.Imposing values on clients. It is a responsibility of counselor to be aware of their values and of their
impact on others.

6. Creating dependence on the part of the clients to meet the counselor's own needs, e.g., sexual
relations and social interactions.

7.Improper advertising, especially advertising that presents the counselor as one who has the skills,
competence and/or credentials, that he, or she, does not actually possess.

Activity 2

Read the situations below and tell which unethical behavior of a counselor is being displayed.

1. A counselor giving his client advice far from his client’s needs.
2. Information of a client is being shared to another person.
3. Asking exorbitant professional fee from a poor client.

ASSESSMENT
1. What statement can support “to respect human rights and prevent discriminatory practices?”
A. Relative to clients B. Relative to colleagues C. Relative to self and the profession D. None of these

2. What is the main idea of Professional identity?

A. Act like professional C. Organized and exhibit integrity
B. Effectively use verbal and non-verbal communications D. Value the commitments they have made

3. What statement supports behavioral change?

A. The manner of solving a problem C. Cope with the realities of life
B. To make important life decision D. Strengthening of faith to God

4. This refers to the inadequate knowledge and the absence of skills necessary for professional behavior.
A. Imposing values on clients C. Incompetence
B. Improper advertising D. Violating confidences

5. The following are the rights of individuals, professional responsibilities and accountabilities of a
counselor EXCEPT ONE:
A. Being committed to the client’s well-being
B. Respecting the client’s rights as self-governing individual
C. Acknowledging the rights and responsibility of every chosen clients.
D. Being fair to all clients by providing equal opportunities to all who availed the counseling service
6. Which of the following situations best describe the unethical behavior of a counselor?
A. Due to kindness, Amari the municipal counselor, offer the victim to stay in her house.
B. Mr. Bong Go, as a counselor got mad to the police officer who intervene with the confidential case.
C. Counselor Dan, shouted at his staff who are listening to the on-going cross examination to the victim
D. None of these

7. The following are unethical behavior of the counselor EXCEPT for one. Which of these?
A. Sexual interaction with the client C. Deciding over matter in behalf of the client
B. Charging counselor’s fee D. Hugging and kissing the client in order to comfort

8. Which of the following statement best describes Ethical Code for counselor?
A. They protect members from practices that may result in public condemnation
B. They provide a measure of self-regulation, thus giving members a certain freedom and autonomy
C. They provide clients a degree of protection from cheats and the incompetent
D. All of these

9. It is important that you practice tolerance with your client, and unnecessary duress on the client is
totally unacceptable. Request for counseling is voluntary and therefore is improper to force the services
on a client. What kind of ethical behavior best describe the statement?
A. Acceptance B. Confidentiality C. Objectivity D. Tolerance

10. Breaking a client’s confidentiality is ________________.

A. necessary in some circumstances C. should be a last resort
B. could be the cause of the malpractice suit D. all are correct