EDF5002 · Introduction to ethics and professional issues in counselling

Overview

The aim of this unit is to develop your knowledge about what it means to practice ethically in a variety of counselling contexts. You will examine the ethical foundations of counselling and gain an awareness of the common issues and dilemmas faced in a range of counselling settings. Themes addressed include implementing ethical principles and codes of practice, legal responsibilities, personal, social, and professional values, diversity, informed consent, confidentiality and privacy, referrals and collaboration with other professionals, dual relationships and managing boundaries, and managing self-care. You will also be introduced to ethical decision-making models and gain experience in applying such structures to respond to applied ethical dilemmas.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. describe the professional, ethical, social and legal obligations of counsellors with awareness of insights from current academic literature
2. identify and describe the ethical requirements of the societies and professional organisations in the locations in which you plan to practice, across a range of counselling settings
3. describe the functions and processes of professional and legal bodies in dealing with ethical matters
4. generate sound ethical decisions using a formal structure for common types of ethical dilemmas arising in counselling
5. reflect upon your own beliefs and values and develop awareness of your limits of proficiency as a counsellor.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: A. Clayton enrolment • 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study OR • 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^ ^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode B. Kaplan enrolment • 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered synchronously on campus and/or online via regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via synchronous and/or asynchronous directed learning activities and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.