Why Is Ethical And Safety Important In Counselling

Ethical and Safety Considerations As counsellors begin to embrace new methods of service provision, we must be prepared to handle ethical, safety, and professional issues that may arise. It is always incumbent on the counsellor to ensure that all practices maintain the rights and safety of the client and fall within the realm of ethical practice (CCPA, 2007). Further, embracing the use of technology in counselling introduces practical considerations that face to face counselling does not. Many jurisdictions across Canada have composed guidelines for the ethical use of technology in counselling and psychology (e.g., BCCPA, 2011; CCPA, 2007; CPA, 2007). It is important that counsellors refer to these guidelines before undertaking the provision of services
via TAC. The following outlines some of the pertinent ethical and safety considerations, but this list is not exhaustive.
Professional considerations.
Jurisdiction and certification.
Online therapy pushes the boundaries of current regulation standards. Harris and Youngren (2011) point out that current regulatory standards are based on the assumption of a face to face service delivery model. In Canada, regulatory qualifications for practice vary from province to province. Until standardised regulations are adopted on a national level, counsellors must be cautious about providing service outside of their jurisdiction. The responsibility must lie with the counsellor to ensure that they are qualified to meet the regulatory qualifications for practice for the province in which the client resides. It may be wise for ocunsellorss to refrain from providing service outside of the province in which they are licensed to practice.
Further to this, evideance indicates that specialised services best meet the needs of sexual assault victims. Based on findings by Starzynski & Ullman (2014), counsellor competence in working specifically with survivors of sexual assault results in higher satisfaction and a better experience with post-assault counselling. Knowledge of the key factors that mitigate the impact of sexual assault is vital no matter what delivery model is being
used.
Professional liability and insurance. Liability insurance must be in place to protect the well-being of both counsellor and client. Counsellors are responsible to ensure that they have adequate professional liability insurance for the practice that they are undertaking (CCPA, 2007). Remote services via TAC may not be covered by standard liability insurance policies. Thus, it is important that insurers be notified of TAC practices so that policies can be expanded to meet the need.
Informed consent. The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Code of Ethics (2007) states that informed consent is the duty of the counsellor and the right of the client. Clients must be informed about the qualifications of the counsellor. Clients must also understand their right to confidentiality and the limits of confidentiality. In an online environment, there are increased risks to the maintenance of confidentiality. A third party may intervene information without the counsellor or the client’s knowledge. Counsellors are responsible to ensure that they have taken the best possible measures to safeguard client confidentiality.
Maintaining client safety. Ethical guidelines also state that the counsellor must take measures to maintain the safety of the client to the best of their ability. Counsellors who are providing remote services will need to be aware of the resources in the client’s community in case of a crisis. Further, it is important to fully state protocol and procedures that will be followed in cases where a breach of confidentiality is necessary to prevent harm. Due diligence. Further, counsellors should complete a full assessment of the client’s physical and mental health prior to agreeing to providing online services. Situations that present a serious safety risk to the client should be referred to the appropriate agency in the client’s jurisdiction. Further, in counselling victims of sexual assault, counsellors must be knowledgeable about the medical, legal, and safety resources in the clients community including safe shelters and child protection agencies.