Counselling Ethics, The Law, And Best-Practice (CO2007Z)

Content

As members of a profession counsellors abide by a set of ethical standards so as to enhance their ability to work for the betterment of their clients while opposing self-interest, third-party interference, and/or risky behaviour. Although our ethical obligations are set out in the ACA Code of Ethics and Practice this document cannot hope to encapsulate the nuances of day-to-day therapeutic work. Therefore in this problem-based unit you will be asked to consider the law, morality, ethics, and virtuous behaviour; comparing and contrasting minimal acceptable professional standards vs. best-practice.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 2, semester 2 (term 3).
Prerequisites: CO1002Z Self, Profession, And Society Prohibited combinations: CO1006Z Engaging Diversity

Pedagogy

Problem-based learning. Tutorial and Intensive format over 8 weeks. The compulsory intensive will be 29 hours in duration over four consecutive days held in week 6. Mornings will use synchronous on-line learning and afternoons will use activity-based face-to-face learning. The remaining 7 weeks will utilise weekly asynchronous on-line learning and 1 hour of synchronous on-line learning (i.e., non-compulsory tutorial).

Indicative Bibliography

1. Australian Counselling Association. (2022). Code of Ethics and Practice. Australian Counselling Association.
2. Australian Psychological Society. (2018). APS code of ethics. Australian Psychological Society.
3. Cottone, R., Tarvydas, V., & Hartley, M. (2021). Ethics and decision making in counseling and psychotherapy (5th edition). Springer Publishing Ltd. [TEXTBOOK]
4. Gentilin, D. (2022). The origins of ethical failures: Lessons for leaders. Routledge.
5. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. (2017). A brief guide to the final report. C’wealth of Australia.
6. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. (2017). A brief guide to the final report – Children and young people. C’wealth of Australia.
7. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. (2017). A brief guide to the final report – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. C’wealth of Australia.
8. Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. (2017). A brief guide to the final report - Disability. C’wealth of Australia.

Assessment