EDF5532 · Ethics for counsellors

Overview

This unit develops advanced understanding of the ethical, legal, and regulatory dimensions of professional counselling practice. You will examine the ethical foundations of the profession and gain an awareness of the critical issues and dilemmas faced by counsellors. You will learn how to resolve ethical dilemmas which are not addressed by professional codes of conduct. Themes addressed include implementing ethical principles and codes of practice, legal responsibilities, personal, social, and professional values, diversity, sensitive issues and practice, duty of care, confidentiality and privacy, referrals, dual relationships and managing boundaries, and professional relationships. You will also consider the ethical issues of working in various contexts such as online counselling, schools, private practice, and community agencies.

Areas of study: Counselling

Offerings

Assessment

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

Requisites

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

Learning outcomes

1. describe and apply the professional, ethical, social, and legal obligations of counsellors
2. describe and apply the ethical requirements of the societies and professional organisations in the locations in which you plan to practice
3. describe the functions and processes of professional and legal bodies in dealing with ethical matters
4. utilise a formal structure to demonstrate ethical decision making and argue a defensible, well informed ethical position on ethical dilemmas arising in counselling
5. reflect upon one's own professional competencies and limits of proficiency in a range of situations

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 288 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: A. Clayton enrolment • 20 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of directed learning activities delivered synchronously online and 4 hours of directed learning activities delivered asynchronous online and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study OR • 12 hours of directed learning activities delivered synchronously online and 24 hours of directed learning activities delivered asynchronous online 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, 24 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.