To Prepare:
- Visit your state clinical or school counseling board website and locate the record of disciplined licensees (there is typically a link on the website to the public record of counselors who have been disciplined due to ethical and legal violations). (VIRGINIA- UNITED STATES)
- If your state does not publicly share this information, consider reviewing the website of a different state board that aligns with the ACA Code of Ethics and personally interests you.
Post the following:
- A summary of the ethical complaint demonstrating a boundary violation (e.g., what boundary violation the licensee was accused of and why), evidence, findings, decision, and disciplinary action taken/sanctions (e.g., license revoked, license suspended, license surrendered, consent agreement, supervision designation revoked, mandated supervision, mandated continuing education). Note: This information is often contained in the consent agreement made between the state counseling board and the licensee.
- Then identify the ethical codes and laws that were violated and offer an explanation to support selection of these codes/laws.
- Lastly, put yourself in the situation of the counselor in the ethical complaint you selected, and discuss how you would have avoided this boundary violation if you were in a similar situation.
RESOURCES
https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/
- Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2020). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
- Chapter 9, “Boundary Issues”