Forensic populations response | COUN 6511 – Treatment of Forensic Populations | Walden University

 In response to the below I need to:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting
• This does not require a page lengths response, but must be substantial in the posting below.

Ethical Dilemmas

            The first ethical dilemma I may face is 1.02 Impartiality and Fairness as a counselor in a forensic setting I would need to remain impartial to my clients and be fair (University, 2022). For example, if I had a client that raped or murdered a child and was in prison for life. I may need to refer the client to another counselor because, I am not sure I could remain impartial and fair to them. If I kept the client on and attempted to treat them my bias may get in the way and hinder treatment rather than help it.

            By referring this client to another counselor I am giving them the best chance to get impartial and fair treatment as I could not give it to them. I am not saying I couldn’t give this client fair treatment this is just an example. My next ethical dilemma is 4.02 Multiple Relationships this would be like treating family, friends, people you know in your community (University, 2022). This would create a dual relationship, and these are forbidden by the ethics codes for counselors.

            For example, if my mother was in need of counseling services and she wanted me to be her counselor. It would be unethical of me to take her on as a client because, she is family to me. I could however, refer her to another great counselor and assure her she would be in good hands. If I took her as a client, it would create a dual relationship and that would be an ethical failure on my part. To keep the best interest of all my clients and my mother I would need to refer her to a colleague of mine for treatment.

Reference:

University, C. (2022). Ohio admin. code 4723-9-13 – medication-assisted treatment. Legal Information Institute. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/ohio/Ohio-Admin-Code-4723-9-13

Resources:

• Bonner, R., & Vandecreek, L. D. (2006). Ethical decision making for correctional mental health providersLinks to an external site.. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33(4), 542–5 64.
• Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. T. (2007). Steps in ethical decision-making. Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical GuideLinks to an external site. (3rd ed., pp. 110–117). Retrieved from http://kspope.com/memory/ethics.php
• American Psychology-Law SocietyLinks to an external site., Division 41 of APA
  http://ap-ls.org/
• Specialty Guidelines for Forensic PsychologistsLinks to an external site. (1991)
  https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/forensic-psychology
• APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of ConductLinks to an external site.
  http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
• The Association for the Treatment of Sexual AbusersLinks to an external site.
  http://www.atsa.com/
• com/pdfs/COE.pdf”>ATSA Professional Code of EthicsLinks to an external site.
  http://www.atsa.com/pdfs/COE.pdf
• com/licensing/index.php”>Psychology Laws and Licensing Boards in Canada and the United StatesLinks to an external site.
  http://www.kspope.com/licensing/index.php