Minor Clients Assignment

Counselors often work with children and adolescents; people who have cognitive, emotional, and/or physical disabilities; and people in prison or on probation. It is important to keep in mind the issues of informed consent and assent for treatment with all clients, but especially for those clients from vulnerable populations.

There are other ethical issues that may require special attention when working with vulnerable populations such as confidentiality (e.g., exclusions to confidentiality), parameters to disclosure (e.g., HIPPA and working with minors in school and non-school settings), and the legal status of relationships within a family (e.g., legal dependents, legal guardianship, marriage, and custodial/noncustodial parents).

For this Discussion, review the ethical and legal requirements related to counseling minors. Reflect on potential courses of action.

Post by Day 2 two ethical and legal challenges related to counseling minors. Then, explain the potential course of action you may take to address them. Use the codes of ethics to support this action.

Be sure to use the Learning Resources and the current literature to support your response.

Required Resources

Readings

• Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). ACA ethical standards casebook (7th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Chapter 6, “Counseling Minor Clients” (pp. 205–207)
  • Chapter 8, “Working With Clients Who May Harm Themselves” (pp. 231–237)
• Remley, T. P., Jr., & Herlihy, B. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
  • Chapter 11, “Counseling Children and Vulnerable Adults” (pp. 264-288)
  • Chapter 12, “Counseling Families and Groups” (pp. 289-310)
• Diaz, A., Neal, W. P., Nucci, A. T., Ludmer, P., Bitterman, J., & Edwards, S. (2004). Legal and ethical issues facing adolescent health care professionals. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 71(3), 181–185. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Duba, J. D., & Magenta, M. (2008). End-of-life decision making: A preliminary outline for preparing counselors to work with terminally ill individuals. The Family Journal, 16(4), 384–390. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Lawrence, G., & Robinson Kirpius, S. E. (2000). Legal and ethical issues involved when counseling minors in nonschool settings. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78(2), 130–136. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Document: Case Study Analysis Worksheet (Word Document)

Case Studies

• Herlihy, B., & Corey, G. (2015). ACA ethical standards casebook (7th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • “Case Study 11: A Legal Guardian Presses for Confidential Information” (pp. 207)
  • “Case Study 12: A Pregnant Teenager: A School Counselor’s Quandary” (pp. 211)
  • “Case Study 15: Suicide or a Well-Reasoned End-of-Life Decision?” (pp. 237)

Optional Resources

• Crespi, T. D. (2009). Group counseling in the schools: Legal, ethical, and treatment issues in school practice. Psychology in the Schools, 46(3), 273–280. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• McCurdy, K. G., & Murray, K. C. (2003). Confidentiality issues when minor children disclose family secrets in family counseling. The Family Journal, 11(4), 393–398. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Miller, C. P., & Forrest, A. W. (2009). Ethics of family narrative therapy. The Family Journal, 17(2), 156–159. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2007). Ethical considerations in crisis and humanitarian interventions. Ethics & Behavior, 17(2), 187–202. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Waggoner, E. A., Howard, R., & Markos, P. A. (2004). Ethical considerations for people who are homeless and mentally ill. Guidance & Counseling, 19(3), 132–138. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. Get Psychology homework help today