PYD 6010 – Professional Orientation and Ethics
Counseling roles, ethics in practice, legal issues and credentialing standards.
Format: Online
Duration: 16 weeks (Spring)
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Must be admitted to the Antioch Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program
Take a close look at professional organizations to help gain a better understanding of the practice of clinical mental health counseling. You’ll learn to address what practicing ethically means as it relates to work with clients, as well as the use of technology to in professional writing, and record keepingThe course clearly defines confidential and privileged communications and provides you with ethical decision making models to help practitioners set appropriate professional boundaries, make difficult decisions, and engage in self- care as an integral part of your professional development.
Course Description
This course focuses on professional orientation and ethical practice in counseling and therapy. Counseling, marriage and family therapy, and dance/movement therapy students will be introduced to their respective professional disciplines through the examination of licensure and credentialing standards, as well as the professional organizations under which they will practice. This course will cover professional writing using APA format. Additionally, counseling and therapy students will understand ethical practice through ethical codes for each professional discipline (ACA and AMHCA, AAMFT, and ADTA). Legal issues in counseling and therapy and the role of advocacy and social justice as they apply to ethics and the law will be understood.
For this section of the Professional Orientation and Ethics course, the focus will be solely on Clinical Mental Health Counseling using content appropriate to ACA and AMHCA. The other disciplines will not be covered in this course section.
What Kind of Work Will I Complete?
Professional Orientation and Ethics is meant to orient you to the profession of counseling and the the role of ethics and legal considerations in counseling practice.
Sample Project: Ethics Case Analysis
What would you do? This project allows you to examine and analyze a case study involving an ethical dilemma or violation from a counselor perspective. Your write up will include using an ethical decision making model to identify the key concerns and other potential issues involved. You’ll review and reference the relevant ethical codes specific to ACA and AMHCA, and reference applicable laws and regulations as appropriate. You may wish to consult professionals as you consider possible courses of action and consequences of various decisions before you present your choice for the BEST course of action and your rationale for this recommendation.
Sample Course Topics Include:
Throughout this course your studies will focus on a core set of topics that coincide with the course’s learning objectives. Sample topics are listed below:
- Ethical Decision Making Models
- Ethics, Diversity, and Special Populations
- Confidentiality and Privileged Communications
- Boundaries in Counseling Relationships
- Record Keeping, Confidentiality and Technology
- Counselor Competence
- Ethics in Evaluation, Assessment and Professional Writing
- Supervision, Counselor Education & Consultation
- Current Issues in Professional Practice
What You’ll Learn
At the end of the course you will be able to understand the nature and needs of persons at varying developmental levels and multicultural contexts. You’ll be able to:
- Address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, well-being, and
success for clients. - Ground your practice in critical analysis and research
- Adhere to the principles and standards of professional ethics in counseling
- Contribute to the professional community through written and verbal
communication, and appropriate and ethical use of technology
Licensing/Credentialing Paper
This paper is designed as a work plan. You’ll locate the licensing/credentialing requirements for the state where you’d like to practice as a counselor. In 2 — 3 pages you’ll summarize the educational, experiential and supervision requirements, noting and distinguishing clinical hour/clock hour and application requirements, the national exam information for your state, and an outline of a tentative plan for how you’ll meet those requirements.
For more information about this course, or other courses in the Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch Online, please call (855) 792-1049 or request more information.