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In the film and television drama " Consultation ", Paul is a very experienced psychological counselor.
Despite this, he inevitably encountered challenges in the process of psychological counseling and almost ended his career.
The young and beautiful female client Laura fell in love with him during the psychological counseling process and frequently released her love to him.
Paul, who had problems with his marriage, was gradually attracted by Laura.
Under strong countertransference, Paul almost fell in love with Laura at all costs.
Fortunately, in the end, he had a panic attack, preventing himself from falling into the ethical dilemma of a dual relationship.
It seems that if you want to become a qualified psychological counselor, it is far from enough to have solid professional skills, and you also need to follow professional ethics.
2
What professional ethics should psychological counselors follow?
In the "Ethics Code of Clinical and Counseling Psychology Work in Chinese Psychological Society (Second Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Code"), psychological counselors should follow the following general rules:
Good deeds : The job of a psychological counselor is to enable those seeking professional services to benefit from their professional services.
Psychological counselors should protect the rights of those seeking professional services, strive to get them appropriately served and avoid harm.
Responsibility : Psychological counselors should maintain their professional level of service at work, recognize their professional, ethical and legal responsibilities, maintain their professional reputation, and assume corresponding social responsibilities.
Integrity : Psychological counselors should be honest and trustworthy in their work, and maintain authenticity in clinical practice, research and publication, teaching work, and publicity and promotion of various media.
Just : Psychological counselors should treat work and personnel related to their profession fairly and impartially, and take a cautious attitude to prevent inappropriate behavior caused by their potential biases, ability limitations, technical limitations, etc.
Respect : Psychological counselors should respect every person seeking professional services and respect their right to privacy, confidentiality and self-decision.
3
In addition to the general rules, the code also points out that psychological counselors should focus on following professional ethics:
1. Professional relations
Psychological counselors should establish a good professional working relationship with professional service providers in accordance with professional ethical norms.
This working relationship should aim to promote the growth and development of professional service providers, thereby enhancing their interests and well-being.
For example, psychological counselors should treat professional service seeking fairly and should not discriminate against each other because of age, gender, sexual orientation, cultural level, economic status, etc.
Psychological counselors should try their best to avoid multiple relationships with professional service seekers, which will affect the interests of professional service seekers.
Psychological counselors are not allowed to interrupt psychological counseling and treatment work at will. During vacation, they should inform those seeking professional services in advance and make relevant arrangements.
When a psychological counselor believes that his professional ability is not competent for providing professional services to those seeking professional services, he should refer it to the appropriate professional in a responsible manner, etc.
2. Informed consent
Seeking professional service providers can freely choose whether to start or maintain a professional relationship, and have the right to fully understand the process of professional work and the professional qualifications and theoretical orientation of psychological counselors.
For example, psychological counselors should ensure that professional service seekers understand their rights and responsibilities and those seeking professional service seekers, clearly introduce the charging settings, and inform them of the confidentiality rights, confidentiality exceptions and confidentiality boundaries enjoyed by professional service seekers.
Seeking professional service providers have the right to understand the qualifications, work experience, theoretical orientations, etc. of psychological counselors.
Only when the written consent of a professional service provider is obtained, can the psychological counselor record, video or teach demonstration of the psychological counseling or treatment process.
3. Privacy and Confidentiality
Psychological counselors have the responsibility to protect the privacy rights of those seeking professional services, and at the same time clearly recognize that privacy rights are protected and bound by national laws and professional ethical norms in terms of content and scope.
For example, at the beginning of professional services, the psychological counselor has the responsibility to explain to the professional service seeking professional services the principles of confidentiality and their application limits, confidentiality exceptions, and sign an informed consent form.
Psychological counselors should clearly understand that the application of the principle of confidentiality has its limits. The following situations are exceptions to the principle of confidentiality:
(1) Psychological counselors find that seeking professional services is in serious danger of harming themselves or others;
(2) Minors who do not have full civil capacity for are sexually assaulted or abused;
(3) Other circumstances that need to be disclosed as stipulated by law.
Psychological counselors need to use psychological counseling or treatment cases in case discussion or teaching, scientific research, and writing. They should conceal the relevant information that may be identified by those seeking professional services.
4. Professional competence and professional responsibility
Psychological counselors should abide by laws and regulations and professional ethical norms, based on scientific research, and carry out assessment, consultation, treatment, referral, peer supervision, intern guidance and research work with a responsible attitude within professional boundaries and personal abilities.
Psychological counselors should constantly update their professional knowledge, improve their professional competence, and promote personal physical and mental health to better meet the needs of professional work.
For example, psychological counselors should provide scientific and effective professional services to suitable groups within their professional abilities based on their experience in education, training and supervision and work experience.
Psychological counselors should pay attention to maintaining their professional competence, fully understand the significance of continuing education, participate in professional training, understand new knowledge and new progress in the professional work field, and seek professional supervision if necessary. When there is a lack of professional supervision, you should try to seek professional help from your peers.
Psychological counselors should pay attention to self-care and beware of the possibility of harming the service recipients due to their physical and mental health problems. If necessary, they should seek help from supervision or other professionals, or restrict, interrupt or terminate clinical professional services.
When a psychological counselor introduces and promotes himself at work, he should explain his professional qualifications, education, degree, professional qualification certificate, professional work, etc. in a realistic manner. Psychological counselors shall not belittle other professionals, nor shall they promote themselves or their institutions, departments, etc. in false, misleading, or deceitful ways.
4
written at the end
In fact, the professional ethics of psychological counseling are not only protecting visitors, but also protecting psychological counselors.
It can not only protect the interests of the clients, but also protect the career development of psychological counselors.
