Multicultural counselors often face a moral dilemma: should they follow the ethical guidelines of their professional counseling organization at the expense of a client or take the appropriate action while bending official standards?Ethics in a Multicultural Context provides strategies for critical decision making in multicultural settings. Utilizing extensive case studies, authors Sherlon P. Pack-Brown and Carmen Braun Williams present a comprehensive exploration of counseling ethics in a cultural context. Examining the implications and consequences of competent multicultural counseling, they present ethical dilemmas arising in face-to-face counseling interactions, supervisory relationships, and educational situations.By placing ethical issues in a cultural context, this inclusive volume provides readers with the practical tools to address complex questions such asAre dual relationships ethical?How do you handle unintentional cultural bias?Can you barter for counseling services?How do you manage a client’s welfare?Does counseling foster dependence?What are the boundaries of competence? Ethics in a Multicultural Context encourages critical thinking rather than passive acceptance. The authors identify culturally troublesome issues, encourage culturally appropriate interpretations of existing ethical guidelines, and promote ethical behavior in multicultural contexts.encourages critical thinking rather than passive acceptance. The authors identify culturally troublesome issues, encourage culturally appropriate interpretations of existing ethical guidelines, and promote ethical behavior in multicultural contexts. Designed for students and educators in counselor education and counseling psychology programs, this book is also an essential guide for social workers, psychologists, and health professionals who work in multicultural environments.

Dual Relationships

Dual relationships

ACA Code

Section A.6.a of the 1995 ACA code of ethics advises that, “Counselors make every effort to avoid dual relationships with clients that could impair professional judgment or increase the risk of harm to clients.” The code provides several examples of such relationships, including familial, social, business, and close personal relationships with clients.

APA Code

Section 3.06 of the 2002 APA code, “Conflict of Interest,” cautions psychologists about “taking on a professional role when personal, scientific, professional, legal, financial, or other interests or relationships could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence or effectiveness.”

NASW Code

The first section of the 1996 NASW code of ethics details the responsibilities of social workers to their clients. Subsection 1.06.C states that, “Social workers should not engage in ...

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