The Preamble of the ethics code states it “is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by psychologists” and “requires a personal commitment and lifelong effort to act ethically.” Describe three ways your personal beliefs or morals affect how you carry out the ethics code.
Class and professor
I think that there may be quite a bit of variables that will impact the way that I carry out the ethics code:
My faith in Jesus (personal belief). He comes first in my life. Without Him, I’m nothing… of that I am sure. As much as I would love to encourage each person I meet with to find Jesus, that is not my role. And, its unethical. Though that specific variable will be difficult for me, I am able to recognize it now, and work on it while I am working with individuals in my current job. Granted, my place of employment is a Christian organization, I am not one to “shove the bible down throats” as some residents have stated others do. I want to be a reflection of Christs love. To do that, I would need to follow these ethical codes and stay in my lane, that way I can be productive and effective in my role as a counselor.
Honesty is another variable for me (moral). Though I can encourage honesty in my sessions with an individual, I cannot force them to be honest with me… especially if the person does not want to be in the room with me (Some people that I have come alongside are forced into treatment by legal means such as probation, drug court and the like). Being that I try to be as honest and effective as I can, I have no shame going to a supervisor to ask for advice if I am struggling with trying to reach/help someone. In a training I have recently done, we call it a “warm-hand off”. It is basically saying that I am doing a dis-service to someone and want them to receive proper care, so I will do what it takes to get them that care, even if it means referring them to someone else. Though I would like to help everyone I come into contact with, I know that not every counseling relationship is going to work. I know that from personal experience.
Lastly is self-disclosure (for me, this is personal belief and moral). I am a person in long-term SUD recovery. I am also in recovery from many other things as well, and currently working on other areas of my life. In my place of employment, the residents/guests I work with are well aware of my recovery status. If anything, their knowledge of my recovery has helped to build stronger relationships and trust between them and myself. Now, that does not mean that I come out an tell everyone that I am in recovery. It just means that there were situations that occurred that enabled me to disclose that part of my life without detail or getting any benefit out of it for me. I disclosed to establish trust and to allow the person to know that they were not alone and that there is hope for people who feel as though there is none. That is my passion; to stand in the gap and to show people that there is hope after a battle of addiction (in any form) and that the individual is capable of being loved. Loved beyond measure. Being that some agencies/facilities frown upon self-disclosure, I am already very aware of what I should/should not disclose. When going to school for my credentialing for substance abuse counseling, we were made very aware of what could happen if we disclosed we were in recovery and relapsed. I am careful with what I share, and am also very careful with whom I share certain details with. I also wait a period of time before any personal details are discussed. There is a lot more that goes into this specific topic, but I will save it. I could go all day discussing self-disclosure!
Ashley
Following the code of ethics there are 3 things that I feel could impact my ability to follow it.
“Code provides a common set of principles and standards upon which psychologists build their professional and scientific work” American Psychological Association. (2017).
1) voicing my concern- Sometimes I share my opinion about things that I do not necessarily need to. I must remember that i have a specific task and/or goal to reach and sharing my own opinion about certain things is not helpful and can sometimes be hurtful. I focus on what information is relevant to the matter and discuss only things that apply and that are not so much my opinion unless it is asked for. However, I find if difficult morally to not say something that I feel could be a potential concern even inf it is stemming from a personal preference or experience.
2) Culture can get in the way of following the code of ethics because we all come form different cultures so what one person from one culture may find appropriate we may disagree with but it is important that we remain ethical and follow the code and not allow for out own personal ways to could our judgment.
3) Criticism. I sometimes and not very good with constructive criticism and need to work on acting better when being criticized because often times it is given as constructive. Sometimes I do the opposite of be constructive and work to do better at the task and I push it away and feel guilty that I didn’t do well the first time. I need to remember that I and dedicating myself to whatever I cam doing whole heartedly and it is unfair to everyone for me not to give best efforts even if I am feeling a little bad about how I preformed a task.
Paige Sours
