Required Texts

American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6^th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. ISBN-13: 978-1433805615

Corey, G., Corey, M. S., Corey, C., & Callanan, P. (2015). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (9^th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage. ISBN-13: 978-1-305-38945-8

Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). ACA ethical standards casebook (7^th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. ISBN-13: 978-1-55620-321-3

Recommended Reading

Hartsell, T. L., & Bernstein, B. E. (2013). The portable lawyer for mental health professionals: An a-z guide to protecting your clients, your practice, and yourself (3^rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-1118341087

Wheeler, A. M., & Bertram, B. (2015). The counselor and the law: A guide to legal and ethical practice (7^th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. ISBN-13: 978-1-55620-350-3       

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the prospective counselor with the code of ethics, legal standards, licensing, role identity of counselors versus other helping professionals, fee structures, and the impact of fees on the counseling profession. No information in this course is a legal opinion. The instructor is not a lawyer. The information given in this course is intended solely to increase the counseling student’s awareness of some of the issues in the field. Core (CSR, I)

By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the following learning outcomes:

Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice (2016 CACREP 2.F.1)

1. Students will know ethical standards of professional counseling organizations and credentialing bodies, and applications of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
2. Students will know technology’s impact on the counseling profession

Counseling and Relationships (2016 CACREP 2.F.5)

1. Students will know ethical and culturally relevant strategies for establishing and maintaining in-person and technology-assisted relationships.
2. Students will know the impact of technology on the counseling process.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Contextual Dimensions (2016 CACREP 5.C.2)

1. Students will know legislation and government policy relevant to clinical mental health counseling.
2. Students will know legal and ethical considerations specific to clinical mental health counseling.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice (2016 CACREP 5.C.3)    

1. Students will know strategies for interfacing with the legal system regarding court-referred clients.
2. Students will know strategies for interfacing with integrated behavioral health care professionals.

Objectives not from the 2016 CACREP standards

1. Students will be able to internalize and personalize their professional ethics.

2. Students will have comprehension of the ambiguities and complexities of ethical issues.

3. Students will facilitate the use of professional principles in their decision making regarding situations not specifically covered by ethical and/or legal regulations.