Topic: Ethics

According to Clinton & Ohlschlager (2002), ethics are differentiated from values in that they are a code established by an individual or group which constitutes right conduct. As you begin your journey in counseling, ethics will be one of the vital cornerstones you practice to ensure that you do not harm your clients in any way. It is critical that you as a counselor have a detailed understanding and firm grasp on what is ethical and unethical in the field of Christian counseling. Failure to do so may result in an unintentional breach of ethics and, in turn, may possibly harm your client.

Use the AACC code of ethics found in Clinton and Ohlschlager (2002) to answer the following questions.

What are some ethical red flags in the chosen scenario?

Has the counselor already acted in any way that is unethical?

Was there anything that should have been done differently to avoid the ethical breaches?

Ethically speaking, what should be the counselor’s next steps?

Provide the code of ethics section number (ex: 1-122) where applicable. Also, share your personal definition of ethics.

· A lay counselor is employed by a church in the city to conduct lay counseling for the church members and the public. Jerry, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, comes to see the counselor because he is struggling with gambling. The counselor respectfully tells him that he cannot see him because he is a Christian counselor and the client is not a Christian. Jerry pleads with the counselor, explaining that he really needs help with gambling and his religion will not be a part of the counseling process. Reluctantly, the counselor agrees to see him. Jerry’s marriage is doing well, his two children are also doing well, and his household has little conflict. He admits that he gambles as a way of release because he often gets anxious. Upon further inquiry, the counselor learns that Jerry tends to gamble on Saturdays after witnessing door-to-door. Jerry notes that, while witnessing, he gets rejected often and sometimes people are very rude. He says that, when he finishes witnessing, he feels very anxious, so he goes out and gambles. Also, Jerry tells the counselor that he has not felt very close to God lately and the he feels it has exacerbated his gambling problem.

Caution: Do not merely give your opinion. In order to correctly complete this Case Study, you must use the AACC code of ethics as your guideline

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