Topic 7 DQ 2 (Obj. 7.5)

Assessment Description

Darla is a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling student working at her practicum site. Mike is a practicum student assigned to the same practicum site as Darla. Both Darla and Mike report directly to the same site supervisor. About halfway through the practicum, Darla realizes that many of the clients assigned to Mike for counseling are coming to see her. Comments from Mike’s clients have led Darla to believe that Mike is acting unethically. How should Darla handle this situation? What are the ethical and legal implications?

If Darla tells her supervisor, and her supervisor does not act on her concerns, what are the ethical and legal implications?

In your response, you must include the specific code(s) from the ACA Code of Ethics or the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors that address the concerns raised in the case. Be sure to provide the full text of the code followed by an in-text citation and a full reference at the end of your response.

To strengthen your response, you may also include citations and references from the Corey text or other assigned readings relevant to the topic.

This discussion question is informed by the following CACREP Standard:

2.F.1.m. The role of counseling supervision in the profession.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

This discussion question asks you to analyze an ethical dilemma involving possible misconduct by a fellow practicum student. Your response should demonstrate knowledge of professional ethics, supervision responsibilities, and appropriate reporting procedures. Follow the structured steps below to develop a clear and well-supported response.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Discussion Response

Step 1: Begin With a Short Introduction (1 Paragraph)

Start by introducing the importance of ethical responsibility and accountability in counseling practice.

Your introduction should:

Explain that counselors and counseling students must follow professional ethical standards.
Mention that unethical behavior can harm clients and the integrity of the profession.
Briefly introduce the dilemma involving Darla and Mike.

Example structure:

Sentence 1: Introduce the importance of ethical conduct in counseling.
Sentence 2: Explain that counselors have a responsibility to address unethical behavior.
Sentence 3: State that the situation raises ethical concerns about professional responsibility and supervision.

Section 1: Identify the Ethical Issues in the Scenario

Step 2: Analyze the Ethical Concerns

Explain why the situation is ethically concerning.

Possible issues include:

Mike may be engaging in unethical or incompetent counseling practices.
Clients feel uncomfortable or dissatisfied and are seeking help elsewhere.
Client welfare may be at risk.
Darla now has professional responsibility to respond appropriately.

You should also mention that ignoring unethical conduct may harm clients and violate professional ethical standards.

Section 2: Explain How Darla Should Handle the Situation

Step 3: Describe the Ethical Response

Discuss the appropriate steps Darla should take.

A recommended approach includes:

Step 1: Gather Information Carefully

Darla should avoid making assumptions and ensure that the information she has is accurate.

Step 2: Encourage Clients to Speak With Their Assigned Counselor

If appropriate, Darla could encourage clients to communicate concerns directly with Mike.

Step 3: Consult With the Site Supervisor

Darla should bring the issue to the site supervisor, since both students report to that supervisor.

Explain that supervisors are responsible for:

Monitoring supervisee performance
Protecting client welfare
Addressing ethical concerns

Section 3: Support Your Response With Ethical Codes

Your response must include relevant codes from the ACA Code of Ethics or ASCA Ethical Standards.

Here are commonly used examples from the ACA Code of Ethics (2014).

ACA Code of Ethics – Section C.2.g. Impairment

Example full text:

“Counselors monitor themselves for signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems and refrain from offering or providing professional services when impaired. They seek assistance for problems that reach the level of professional impairment.”

Explain how unethical or impaired counseling could negatively affect client care.

ACA Code of Ethics – Section I.2.a. Knowledge of Ethical Standards

Example full text:

“Counselors are expected to be knowledgeable about and act in accordance with the ACA Code of Ethics.”

Explain that counseling students must uphold ethical standards even during practicum.

ACA Code of Ethics – Section I.2.b. Ethical Decision Making

Example text:

“When counselors are faced with an ethical dilemma, they use and document, as appropriate, an ethical decision-making model.”

Discuss how Darla must follow an ethical decision-making process when responding to the situation.

Section 4: Ethical and Legal Implications

Step 4: Discuss Ethical Consequences

If Mike is acting unethically, possible consequences include:

Harm to clients
Loss of trust in the counseling relationship
Violations of professional ethical standards
Potential disciplinary action

Explain that counselors must prioritize client welfare above professional relationships.

Step 5: Discuss Legal Implications

In some cases, unethical behavior may also involve legal risks such as:

Negligence
Malpractice
Breaches of confidentiality
Failure to provide appropriate care

Even as students, counseling trainees must follow professional standards that protect clients.

Section 5: What If the Supervisor Does Not Act?

Step 6: Analyze This Situation

If Darla reports the issue and the supervisor fails to address it, additional ethical concerns arise.

These may include:

Failure of supervision
Continued risk to clients
Institutional accountability

Step 7: Possible Next Steps

Darla may need to:

Document the concern
Seek consultation from her faculty supervisor or practicum instructor
Follow institutional reporting procedures
Use ethical decision-making models recommended by the profession

Explain that these actions protect both clients and Darla’s professional integrity.

Section 6: Connect to CACREP Standard

Step 8: Address CACREP Standard 2.F.1.m

Briefly explain how the case relates to:

“The role of counseling supervision in the profession.”

Discuss that supervision is responsible for:

Monitoring counselor competence
Protecting clients
Addressing unethical behavior
Supporting counselor development

Effective supervision ensures ethical practice within training environments.

Step 9: Write a Short Conclusion

End your discussion post with a brief conclusion summarizing:

The ethical responsibility to address potential misconduct
The importance of reporting concerns to supervisors
The critical role supervision plays in protecting client welfare

Reinforce that ethical decision-making is essential for maintaining professional standards in counseling.

Recommended Academic Resources

Use these credible sources to support your response:

ACA Code of Ethics (2014)
https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

CACREP Standards for Counseling Programs
https://www.cacrep.org/for-programs/2016-cacrep-standards/

Corey, Corey, & Callanan – Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions
https://www.cengage.com/c/issues-and-ethics-in-the-helping-professions/

Ethical Decision-Making in Counseling
https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ethics/ethical-decision-making-model.pdf

Counseling Supervision Overview
https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements/supervision

Ethical Responsibilities When Addressing Unethical Conduct by Fellow Counseling Practicum Students