ethical issues in career development interventions

Career Development InterventionsCareer Development Interventions5th Edition5th Edition

Spence G. Niles and JoAnn E. Harris-BowlsbeySpence G. Niles and JoAnn E. Harris-Bowlsbey

Copyright © 2017, 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Chapter 15Ethical Issues in Career

Development Interventions

Developed by:Jennifer Del Corso

Publisher to insertcover image here

Career Development Interventions, 5th EditionSpencer G. Niles and JoAnn E. Harris-Bowlsbey

Copyright © 2017, 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.

All Rights Reserved

Classifying Practitioner BehaviorClassifying Practitioner Behavior

• Ethical and Legal --------------------------

• Ethical and Illegal

• Unethical and Legal --------------------------

• Unethical and Illegal



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Relevant Ethical Codes for Career Relevant Ethical Codes for Career PractitionersPractitioners

• American Counseling Association (ACA)• National Career Development

Association (NCDA)• American Psychological Association

(APA)• International Association of Educational

and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG)• American School Counselor Association

(ASCA)



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Ethical “Rules of Thumb”Ethical “Rules of Thumb”• Dual relationships with the potential to

exploit client trust and vulnerability are unethical.

• Consult with professional colleagues who understand career interventions when unsure about how to resolve a dilemma.

• Be aware of client’s values and those imbedded in career intervention models.



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Ethical Dilemmas vs. Moral Ethical Dilemmas vs. Moral TemptationsTemptations

• Kidder (1995) contends that an ethical dilemma occurs only in instances when there are competing “rights” or there is a struggle to determine the “least bad” course of action.

• The struggle between right and wrong is seen as a moral temptation.

• A code of ethics cannot guarantee ethical behavior. Moreover, a code of ethics cannot resolve all ethical issues confronting career practitioners.



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Using Principles to Resolve Ethical Using Principles to Resolve Ethical DecisionsDecisions

• Van Hoose (1986) recommended that counselors use ACA’s five principles to guide their ethical practice: Autonomy Nonmaleficence Beneficence Justice Fidelity (Herlify & Corey, 1996, p. 4-5)



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Additional PrinciplesAdditional Principles• Beauchamp and Childress (2001) identified

additional relevant principles to guide professional-client relationships: Veracity: Tell the truth and do not lie or

deceive others. Privacy: Allow individuals to limit access to

information about themselves. Confidentiality: Allow individuals to control

access to information they have shared.



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Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics• Corey and Herily (2006) offer six virtue

ethics to consider: discernment or prudence, respectfulness, integrity, self-awareness, acknowledgement of emotions, connectedness with community.



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ASCA (2010) Ethical Dilemma ASCA (2010) Ethical Dilemma ProcessProcess

Consult confidentially with a professional colleague

Confront the colleague about the behavior in question

Document all action steps taken Utilize the established channels for

addressing ethical concerns If the matter remains unresolved, contact

the relevant state professional association or national association



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The Role of ValuesThe Role of Values• Values assumptions underlie all questions (and answers)

related to ethical behavior in career development interventions.

• Values are orienting beliefs about what is good for the clients and how that good should be achieved (Bergin, 1985, p. 99)

• The ACA Code of Ethics (2014) requires counselors to be aware of the client’s values and the values embedded in career development intervention models

• Herr and Niles (1988) stress that counselors need to be cognizant of the values being propagate at the national level



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Progress on Ethical Challenges Progress on Ethical Challenges Facing Career CounselorsFacing Career Counselors

• Standard counseling ethics: confidentiality, counseling relationships, professional responsibilities, and relationships with other professionals are clear; while other ethical requirements are not.

• The National Career Development Association has developed guidelines for using the Internet in career service delivery (1) to deliver occupational information, (2) to provide on-line job searches, and (3) to deliver interactive career counseling.

• The latest revision of the NCDA (2015) ethical standards recognizes career professionals’ responsibility for advocacy on behalf of their clients and for social justice



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NCDA Ethical Standards (2015)NCDA Ethical Standards (2015)• Section A: The Professional Relationship• Section B: Confidentiality, Privileged Communication, and

Privacy• Section C: Professional Responsibility• Section D: Relationships with other Professionals• Section E: Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation• Section F: Providing Career Services Online, Technology,

and Social Media• Section G: Supervision, Training, and Teaching• Section H: Research and Publication• Section J: Resolving Ethical Issues



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Ethical Standards and Ethical Ethical Standards and Ethical Practice for Career CounselorsPractice for Career Counselors

• Offer only services they are competent to offer.

• Respect and value individual differences among clients and potential clients.

• Treat information received from and about clients as owned by the client and held in trust by the counselor.



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Ethical Standards Ethical Standards continuedcontinued

• Do not engage in any professional relationship in which the counselor’s objectivity and ability to work for client’s welfare might be impaired.

• Assume professional responsibility for clients and, if unable to assist, help the client obtain alternative services.

• Recognize they have obligations to other members of the profession and to society to act in responsible ways and to consider the effects of their behavior on others.



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Using an Ethical Decision-Making Using an Ethical Decision-Making ModelModel

• Forester-Miller and Davis (1996) provide an ethical decision making model for professional counselors that can be applied to career counseling: Step 1: Identify the problem Step 2: Apply the NCDA Code of Ethics Step 3: Determine the nature and

dimensions of the dilemma



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Using an Ethical Decision-Making Using an Ethical Decision-Making Model Model (Continued)(Continued)

• Step 4: Generate possible courses of action

• Step 5: Consider the potential consequences of all options and choose a course of action

• Step 6: Evaluate the selected course of action

• Step 7: Implement the course of action selected

ethical issues in career development interventions

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