Ethical Decision Making for the 21st Century Counselor

The Role of Decision‐Making Models and Reflection in Navigating Ethical Dilemmas

“…Cottone () emphasized the importance of training clinicians in how to make an ethical decision. Sheperis et al () expressed concerns that clinicians who made decisions based on their intuition were doing so based on their own personal values, not the values of the counseling profession. Ametrano () found that students early in their ethics training tended to rely on one decision‐making component.…”

“…Sheperis et al () noted the tendency for counselors to take decision‐making shortcuts and act on the basis of what seems to be common sense or what feels right. As a result, counselors frequently end up making decisions that are based on their own personal values, not the values of the profession or the laws that govern clinical practice (Sheperis et al, ). Sheperis et al emphasized that counselors must follow an EDM to ensure that their values are consistent with those of the counseling profession.…”

“…T he ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014, Purpose section, p. 3) directs counselors to use a reliable model for making ethical decisions. Many models are available to counselors (Cottone & Claus, ; Levitt, Farry, & Mazzarella, ; Remley & Herlihy, ; Sheperis, Henning, & Kocet, ), and counselors are expected to be familiar with the process and leverage a model effectively on a case‐by‐case basis that best serves the client (Kaplan & Martz, ). Daily, counselors face complex situations that require a sound decision‐making process for navigating those dilemmas (Forester‐Miller & Davis, ).…”

“…She identified the most important principles—autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and fidelity. These principles are the “foundation for ethical behavior and decision making” ( ACA Code of Ethics , Preamble section, p. 3; ACA, ) and are infused in the ethical decision‐making models (EDMs) most widely used in the counseling profession (Sheperis et al, ).…”

Faith as a Cultural Variable: Implications for Counselor Training

“…Other researchers have focused on the need to work within the faith needs of the client (Balkin, Schlosser, & Levitt, ). It can be argued that as a cultural variable, faith should be included in ethical decision‐making models, such as Garcia, Cartwright, Winston, and Borzuchowska's () Transcultural Integrative Model; Sheperis, Henning, and Kocet's () Relational Ethical Decision‐Making Model; and Tarvydas's () Integrative Decision Making Model of Ethical Behavior. In addition, a review of counseling program accreditation standards finds spirituality (CACREP, ) or spiritual beliefs (CACREP, ) listed as one of the factors related to culture.…”