Ethics in Counseling.

Catalog description

This course provides an in-depth exploration of ethical, legal, and professional issues in mental health and addiction counseling. Students will examine the complex relationships among moral reasoning, ethical principles, and legal mandates as they apply to clinical practice across diverse populations and settings. Students will review and apply ethical decision-making models using the ACA Code of Ethics, the NAADAC ethics code, and relevant NASW provisions for interdisciplinary collaboration. Through the analysis of professional dilemmas, students will explore legal decisions and policies that influence counseling ethics and practice. By applying multiple professional codes of ethics, students will strengthen their ability to navigate ethical challenges in both mental health and addiction treatment contexts, including confidentiality regulations under HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, telehealth considerations, relevant state laws, and professional boundaries.