Compare and Contrast the Aca’s 5 Moral Principles (Autonomy, Nonmaleficence, Beneficence, Justice, Fidelity) with Clinton & Ohlschlager’s 7 Virtues on Co P. 248-249.
The American Counseling Association has identified several moral principles to assist in guiding their members and others interested in the helping professions. Of these the following five will be compared and contrasted with various biblical ethics identified by Clinton & Oblschalager (2002) as being seven virtues (pp. 248-249): autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity. The seven virtues are composed of the following: accountability and truth-telling, responsibility to love one another, fidelity to integrity, trustworthiness in keeping confidentiality, competent beneficence, humility in justice, and sufferability (ibid).
Autonomy is defined as “the freedom of clients to choose their own direction” (Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan. 2007, p.17). Nonmaleficence is the avoidance of actions which may hurt clients (ibid). Beneficence is promotion of the welfare of others (p.18). Justice refers to being fair in equal distribution of resources and care without biases of any type (ibid). Fidelity refers to one keeping their word as a professional (ibid)
The virtue of accountability and truth-telling shares the similarity with the moral principle of fidelity in that both mandate being truthful in our words and promises. Above that this virtue also requires that one be held accountable to another counselor or one’s pastor (Clinton & Oblschalager, p. 248). The virtue of the responsibility to love one another shares with the principle of nonmaleficence the characteristic of doing others no harm, yet goes beyond that to include the Spirit given gift of demonstrating love for one another (ibid). The virtue of humility in justice basically mirrors the principle of justice. Both these traits should mean the counselor will never judge the individual seeking help and to never discriminate in the allocation of resources. The virtue of humility in justice also entails remembering to be humble in emulation of the Messiah who only
Autonomy is defined as “the freedom of clients to choose their own direction” (Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan. 2007, p.17). Nonmaleficence is the avoidance of actions which may hurt clients (ibid). Beneficence is promotion of the welfare of others (p.18). Justice refers to being fair in equal distribution of resources and care without biases of any type (ibid). Fidelity refers to one keeping their word as a professional (ibid)
The virtue of accountability and truth-telling shares the similarity with the moral principle of fidelity in that both mandate being truthful in our words and promises. Above that this virtue also requires that one be held accountable to another counselor or one’s pastor (Clinton & Oblschalager, p. 248). The virtue of the responsibility to love one another shares with the principle of nonmaleficence the characteristic of doing others no harm, yet goes beyond that to include the Spirit given gift of demonstrating love for one another (ibid). The virtue of humility in justice basically mirrors the principle of justice. Both these traits should mean the counselor will never judge the individual seeking help and to never discriminate in the allocation of resources. The virtue of humility in justice also entails remembering to be humble in emulation of the Messiah who only
References: Clinton, T., & Ohlschlager, G. (Eds.). (2002). Competent Christian Counseling: Foundations and Practice of Compassionate Soul Care. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press. Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2007). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole