Counseling Minors
Running head: COUNSELING MINORS: ETHICAL AND LEGAL 1
Counseling Minors: Ethical and Legal Issues Involved
Alexandra Martin
Walden University
COUNSELING MINORS: ETHICAL AND LEGAL 2 Mental health counselors have many things to consider when working with clients. Providing services to clients comes with several expectations. Some of the factors which counselors must be aware of include: cultural differences, environmental influences, client expectations, and stages of development which can all play a part in the needs of that particular client. Also included in this group of factors that must be considered are the ethical and legal responsibilities which play a vital role in the appropriate service delivery of these professionals. The ethical and legal expectations can often be at opposing ends of the therapeutic spectrum and counselors may find themselves struggling with how to best satisfy each of them. When clients are minors, these factors can become even more at odds with each other, stirring an already muddy pool. Several ethical and legal issues can present themselves when working with this population as counselors share legal responsibility to parents with ethical responsibility to their minor client (Remley & Herlihy, 2010).
Parents demand for confidential information Counseling minors presents an added dimension to the therapeutic process. Due to the age of the client and the laws that not only allow but may require, parental involvement, counselors must consider how this can impact their relationship to the client and their obligation to the parent or legal guardian. Confidentiality is one of the most delicate issues when discussing ethical dilemma involved in the counseling process, and the demand for such information by a parent or legal guardian when the client is a minor can push this topic to the limit.
Possible ethical and legal conflicts COUNSELING MINORS: ETHICAL AND LEGAL
Counseling Minors: Ethical and Legal Issues Involved
Alexandra Martin
Walden University
COUNSELING MINORS: ETHICAL AND LEGAL 2 Mental health counselors have many things to consider when working with clients. Providing services to clients comes with several expectations. Some of the factors which counselors must be aware of include: cultural differences, environmental influences, client expectations, and stages of development which can all play a part in the needs of that particular client. Also included in this group of factors that must be considered are the ethical and legal responsibilities which play a vital role in the appropriate service delivery of these professionals. The ethical and legal expectations can often be at opposing ends of the therapeutic spectrum and counselors may find themselves struggling with how to best satisfy each of them. When clients are minors, these factors can become even more at odds with each other, stirring an already muddy pool. Several ethical and legal issues can present themselves when working with this population as counselors share legal responsibility to parents with ethical responsibility to their minor client (Remley & Herlihy, 2010).
Parents demand for confidential information Counseling minors presents an added dimension to the therapeutic process. Due to the age of the client and the laws that not only allow but may require, parental involvement, counselors must consider how this can impact their relationship to the client and their obligation to the parent or legal guardian. Confidentiality is one of the most delicate issues when discussing ethical dilemma involved in the counseling process, and the demand for such information by a parent or legal guardian when the client is a minor can push this topic to the limit.
Possible ethical and legal conflicts COUNSELING MINORS: ETHICAL AND LEGAL
References: American Counseling Association (ACA). (2005). 2005 ACA code of ethics [White Paper]. Lawrence, G., & Kurpius, S. E. R. (2000). Legal and ethical issues involved when counseling minors in nonschool settings Mitchell, C. W., Disque, J., & Robertson, P. (2002). When parents want to know: Responding to parental demands for confidential information Remley, T. P., Jr., & Herlihy, B. (2010). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (3rd ed.) Stone, C. (2002). Negligence in academic advising and abortion counseling: Courts rulings and implications Taylor, L., & Adelman, H. S. (1998). Confidentiality: Competing principles, inevitable dilemmas