Ethical Practice in the Human Services

Richard D. Parsons, Ph.D. is a Full Professor in the Counselor Education Department at West Chester University. Dr. Parsons has over 45 years of university teaching in counselor preparation programs. Prior to his University teaching Dr. Parsons spent 9 years as a school counselor in an inner-city high school.

Part One: Helping: The Role and Influence of the Helper Chapter 1: Ethics - Core to Professional Helping The Helping Process: A Blending of Art and Science The Helping Process: The Meeting of Client and Helper The Role of the Client in the Process of Change The Role of the Helper in the Process of Change Chapter 2: Helper Variables: What the Helper Brings to the Helping Relationship Helper Values Helper Competence: Beyond Knowledge and Skill The Ethics of Therapeutic Choice Professionalization, Professional Ethics, and Personal Response Chapter 3: Ethical Standards: Guidelines for Helping Others Formal Ethical Standards: The Evolution of a Profession Across the Professions: A Review of Ethical Standards of Practice Common Concerns and Shared Values Across the Professions Beyond Knowing - A Call to BEING Ethical Chapter 4: Ethical Practice in an Increasingly Diverse World Prejudice - Pervasive In and Throughout the Helping Profession Responding to the Challenge Part Two: Ethics and Standards of Practice: The Professions' Chapter 5: Ethics and the Law The Helping Process as a Legal Contract The Legal Foundation of Ethical Practice When Ethics and Legalities Collide Chapter 6: Conflict: The Reality of 'Being' Ethical within the Real World Serving the Individual within a System Ethical Culture of Social Systems Who Is the Client? Chapter 7: Ethical Decision Making Codes of Ethics - Guides not Prescriptions Ethical Decision Making: A Range of Models Common Elements: An Integrated Approach to Ethical Decision Making Part Three: Applying Ethical Standards Chapter 8: Informed Consent The Rationale for Informed Consent Informed Consent across the Profession Special Challenges to Informing for Consent Chapter 9: Confidentiality Confidentiality: What and When Warranted? Legal Decisions: Confidentiality and Privileged Communications Chapter 10: Boundaries and the Use of Power Setting and Maintaining Professional Boundaries Professional Objectivity: Essential to Professional Boundaries Legal Decisions Chapter 11: Efficacy of Treatment Practicing Within the Realm of Competence Professional Development: Knowing the State of the Profession The Standard of Care: Appropriate Treatment Employing an Action Research Approach to Practice The Use of Referral Recent Legal Decisions Chapter 12: Evaluation and Accountability Monitoring and Evaluating Intervention Effects Recent Legal Decisions Chapter 13: Ethical Challenges Working with Groups, Couples and Families Competency to Practice Identifying the "Client" Informed Consent Confidentiality Boundaries Responsibility: Client Welfare Chapter 14: Competence and the Ethics of Self-Care Competency: More than Knowledge and Skill Burnout Compassion Fatigue The Ethical Challenge Ethical Response

"An invaluable resource for all professors who train human service majors at the undergraduate level. The text provides information about multiple forms of professional helping starting with ethics codes and moving forward." -- Ginger Welch "This text will provide a resource for instructors and students to consider professional ethics and personal/professional identity development as inextricably intertwined." -- Steven Farmer