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Wk 6 Discussion - Career Case Vignette and Ethics

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to other students. Include a minimum of one scholarly citation with reference in all 3 responses.

Please read the following vignette and answer the discussion question below:

 Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

Randi is a new client of yours who has taken a break from his sophomore year of college to explore his career options and make plans for his next steps in life. He has expressed anxiety and hopelessness when it comes to returning to school, choosing a college major, and pursuing his career. His freshmen year was not his best academically, but he loves being involved in campus organizations. He has expressed pressure from his parents to pursue a major in an engineering field though he is not interested in this area. From your knowledge, Randi pays for his own sessions.

You receive a call from Randi’s mother inquiring about how he is progressing. She wants to know if you have encouraged Randi to return to school next semester and if he will be an engineer. Additionally, she stated that she has a right to know what you and Randi are discussing since he lives in her home and she is giving him the money to pay for the sessions.

Discussion Question:

What are the legal and ethical concerns about this case? Use the resources below to support your thoughts.

 Respond to your classmate in a minimum of 175 words:

Valerie Long

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The counselor should refer to the signed informed consent form from the first session. Which is covered under A.2.a. Informed Consent (American Counseling Association, 2014). Without written approval, the counselor should not discuss anything about the client. With that said, the counselor may also choose to bring up the conversation with the mother to the client during the next session. The client should have their privacy and confidentiality protected which are also covered under B.1.b. Respect for Privacy and B.1.c. Respect for Confidentiality in the American Counseling Association (2014) code of ethics. Even if the client’s family members may be paying for the therapy, a written release should be obtained and held in the client’s chart which is covered under the American Counseling Association (2014) B.3.d. Third-Party Payers. Release of information is also covered under B.5.b. Responsibility to Parents and Legal Guardians and B.2.c. Release of Confidential Information. In my opinion, since the client is in their sophomore year of college, a discussion with the client should be done before any information is released. According to the data provided the client is at no risk of self-harm, or harm to others. 

American Counseling Association, (2014). Code of Ethics.  https://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

The University of Phoenix. (2021). Randi Case File. CCMH540. Blackboard Ultra. https://vle.phoenix.edu/ultra

 

Respond to your classmate in a minimum of 175 words:

Mark Smith

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While the mothers inquiries are an understandable action from a worried parent, it would be unethical and illegal for the counselor to release any information about what was discussed during their sessions. Even if his parents are paying for the counseling, which in Randi’s case scenario is a matter of perspective, and any other treatment regiments, they are not privy to the session information unless the client has signed a release form. If no release of information document is found in his record that authorizes the sharing of information with mother, information can be given to his mother over the phone only if Randi is there on the phone and gives verbal authorization, if this is done the counselor should make an addendum in the clients record marking the date and time the verbal authorization was given and then a overview of what was discussed. The section A.2.a. Informed Consent (American Counseling Association, 2014) lays the foundation of the extent of informed consent. In my opinion informed consent should be updated on a regular basis or when cognitive dysfunction is starts to disrupt daily life decisions.  

American Counseling Association, (2014). Code of Ethics. https://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

The University of Phoenix. (2021). Randi Case File. CCMH540. Blackboard Ultra. https://vle.phoenix.edu/ultra

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