Benchmark Ethical Vignette 1
Benchmark Ethical Vignette
Victoria Duncan
Liberty University
COUC501:Ethical and Legal Issues In Counseling
Dr. Evadne Ngazimbi
2/7/2025
This paper examines the ethical considerations presented in the To Self-Disclose or Not video, in
which John, a person in recovery from addiction, provides support to David, a client with a
history of addiction. John shares his personal recovery experience while interacting with David,
who is also in recovery and has professional training. The ACA Code of Ethics is applied to this
scenario to analyze relevant ethical standards related to competence, informed consent, and
personal values. The moral principles of nonmaleficence, autonomy, and veracity are outlined,
with a focus on nonmaleficence. The paper presents four possible approaches: referring David
to a qualified addiction counselor, expanding John’s professional competence, ensuring
transparency regarding his qualifications, and collaborating with a licensed addiction counselor.
Literature is reviewed to provide context for each approach, emphasizing ethical boundaries,
transparency, and competence in addiction counseling. The paper concludes with an emphasis
on prioritizing client welfare while maintaining ethical and professional standards.
Counselors are bound by ethical and professional standards that safeguard client
wellbeing while ensuring competent and effective care. The To Self-Disclose or Not video
Benchmark Ethical Vignette 2
presents an ethical dilemma in which John, a person in recovery from addiction, provides
support to David, a client with a similar background. While John’s lived experience allows him to
empathize with David’s struggles, concerns arise regarding whether John’s self-disclosure and
lack of formal addiction counseling credentials compromise professional ethics. The ethical
considerations surrounding counselor competence, transparency, and professional boundaries
must be examined to determine the appropriate course of action. This paper applies the ACA
Code of Ethics (2014) to analyze the ethical implications of John’s self-disclosure and his role in
David’s recovery. The discussion will focus on identifying the nature of the dilemma, applying
