Professional ethics are a code of behavior that guides our actions at work. Ethical codes may also affect how we act when we are not actually working, but others see us as a representative of our employer or our work role. Each profession (psychologists, social workers, counselor, teacher, etc.) has a code specific to its particular client relationships. The context and setting in which we provide our services might also define what is ethical and unethical behavior. Professionalism is how we act in front of people, ethics is how we think and behave when nobody is looking.
Primary Purpose of Ethical Guidelines
To protect those we serve…..our clients.
Basic Ethical Guidelines “Promote the welfare of clients” “Do no harm” “Provide quality of service to clients” “Honor and respect the clients”
Professional Ethics vs. Law
Ethics offer a set of values, principles and standards to guide our work with clients.
Help clinician to decide how to respond and practice when issues arise in their professional environment.
Law provides minimum standards of practice, specific directions and speak to what clinicians can and cannot do.
Professional Ethics and Boundaries
What is professional boundaries?
The framework within which the clinicianclient, the clinician-each team member relationship occurs (e.g., teacher-clinician; parent-clinician; care coordinator-clinician, etc). Provides a system of limit setting.
Why Talk About Boundaries? Reduces risk of client exploitation. Reduces client anxiety as rules and roles are clear. Increases well-being of the worker. Provides role model for clients.
Who Negotiates Boundaries? Duty of the worker to act in the best interest of the client. The worker is ultimately responsible for managing boundary issues.
Why the Worker? Worker is the professional! Clients may not be aware of the need for boundaries or able to defend themselves against boundary violations. There is an inherent power imbalance between worker and client-worker is perceived as having power and control.
Clear Boundary Areas Having romantic relationship with clients. Having sex with clients. Having family members or friends as clients. Planning social activities with clients. Using strategies that are beyond the scope of clinician’s knowledge and training. Forming social relationship with other treatment team member.
Areas Where Boundaries May Blur: Self-Disclosure Dual or overlapping relationships Becoming friends Giving and/or receiving significant gifts Physical contact Bartering
A Client Should Not Be Your Lover Relative Employer or Employer Instructor/Student Supervisee/Supervisor Business Partner Friend
Danger Zones Over-identification with client’s issues Strong attraction to client’s personality Strong physical attraction to client Clients who can potentially reward you with their influence Transference and counter transference
Questions to Ask in Examining Potential Boundary Issues
Is this in my client’s best interest? Whose needs are being served? How would I feel telling a colleague about this? How would this be viewed by the client’s family or significant other? Does the client mean something ‘special” to me? Am I taking advantage of the client? Does this action benefit me rather than the client?
Appropriate Boundaries Reduce Risk of Client Exploitation
Exploitation Use of professional relationship to promote or advance our emotional, financial, sexual, religious, or personal needs. Stems from the inherent power differential and the ability we have to exert influence on client.
A Closer Look at Exploitation Client may actually initiate and be gratified by the exploitation-they may enjoy feeling “special” or being “helpful” Can be subtle and vary from promoting excessive dependency to avoiding confrontation because we enjoy the adoration of our clients. Using information learned professionally from the client for personal gain.
Risk of Client Exploitation Increases in “Dual Relationship” Situations
Multiple Relationships When you have more than one role with a client. Such relationship s can blur boundaries. This ‘blurring of boundaries’ increases the risk of exploitation as roles can become confused.
Not All Client Interactions are Dual Relationships: Running into a client at a social event Your client is your waiter at a restaurant
Some Dual Relationships are Unavoidable You and a client belong to the same church. A client lives in your neighborhood. Your agency hires clients as staff or utilizes clients a volunteers.
Dealing with Unavoidable Dual Relationships Open and honest discussion with client on the nature of your relationships. Separate functions by locations- work, home, etc. Be aware of threats to confidentiality. Understand your roles as professional
Minimizing Risk of Exploitation and Boundary Crossing
Be alert to potential or actual conflicts of interest. Maintain supervision or consultation relationship. Be aware that isolation is often a major factor in ethical violations. Meet your personal needs in other areas of your life. Relationship should focus on client at all times. A clear understanding of ethics and attention to professional boundaries.
CASE
You are providing services to a child in a school setting. You work well with the teacher as a team and the child is progressing. You feel that you develop a friendship connection with the teacher and both of you shared the same interests. Both of you like to hike, and one day the teacher asked you if you want to go hike with her friends. What would you do? Why?
CASE
One of your former client and his family invite you to come to his high school graduation ceremony and party. You worked with this client for 5 years providing intensive-in-home services. Eight months ago you discharged the case due to client meeting all of his goals. One of the primary goals in working with this client was for him to graduate from high school. Client expressed how much he wanted you to be there to celebrate his success with him and his family. What would you do and why?
CASE
You are providing intensive-in-home services. One of your treatment goals is to expand your client involvement in her community. While you were conducting your session in the community with your client, one of your client’s relatives approached you and your client. She does not know you and wants to know what you are doing with her niece. What do you do?
CASE
You worked as a paraprofessional in the school setting. You are working with a child who has challenging issues. You have a good relationship with the child and the child responded well to you. One day after an IEP meeting, your client’s mother approached you and asked you if you want to do a side job as her son’s baby sitter after school hour. Teacher and SCC encouraged you to considering taking the offer since you worked well with him. What do you do and Why?
CASE
You worked as an intensive-in-home therapist. You are taking your client in the community. Client’s father supposed to pick the client in the community after the session. During your session in the community, client’s father calls and informs you that he has an emergency at work and he won’t be able to pick-up his son in couple of hours. Nobody will be home either. He asked you if you can take his son to your home and he will pick his son at your home. What do you do and Why?
CASE
You are working as PP in the public school. Your client’s parents decided to enroll your client in the private school for children with special-needs. Subsequently, your service will be terminated. During your client’s last day of school, parent gave you $100 gift certificate. What do you do? Why?
