Module 1.

1: Definition and Scope of Counselling

Related Concepts – Casework, Anecdotal Method, Cumulative Records,

Guidance

Counselling is a professional helping process in which a trained counsellor assists an

individual in understanding themselves, their emotions, behaviour, and problems so that they
can make appropriate decisions and adjust effectively to life situations. It is not merely giving
advice but facilitating self-understanding, problem-solving, personal growth, and psychological
well-being through a confidential and supportive relationship.

Definition of Counselling

Counselling is:

●​ A professional helping relationship between a counsellor and a client.

●​ A process that promotes self-understanding and personal growth.
●​ A means of helping individuals solve personal, educational, vocational, emotional, and
social problems.
●​ A scientific and systematic process based on psychological principles.
●​ A confidential and client-centred interaction that encourages independent
decision-making.

Nature of Counselling

Counselling has the following characteristics:

1. Helping Relationship

Counselling is based on trust, empathy, acceptance, and respect. The counsellor facilitates
rather than directs the client towards solutions.

2. Scientific and Systematic Process

It follows psychological theories, principles, and structured techniques to understand and

resolve problems.

3. Client-Centred

The counselling process focuses on the client's needs, experiences, emotions, and goals rather
than the counsellor's opinions.
4. Confidential

Information shared by the client is kept private except in situations involving legal or ethical
obligations.

5. Developmental and Remedial

Counselling not only resolves existing problems but also promotes emotional maturity,
self-awareness, coping skills, and personality development.

6. Communication-Based

Effective counselling depends on active listening, empathy, rapport, trust, and clear
communication.

7. Promotes Self-Direction

The ultimate aim is to help individuals become capable of making independent and responsible
decisions.

Scope of Counselling

The scope of counselling is broad because individuals experience different challenges

throughout life.

1. Educational Counselling

Helps students with:

●​ Study habits
●​ Examination stress
●​ Learning difficulties
●​ Subject selection
●​ Educational planning
●​ Adjustment to school or college

2. Vocational and Career Counselling

Assists individuals in:

●​ Career selection
●​ Understanding interests and abilities
●​ Career planning
●​ Career transition
 ●​ Occupational adjustment
●​ Job satisfaction

3. Personal Counselling

Focuses on:

●​ Emotional problems
●​ Anxiety and stress
●​ Low self-esteem
●​ Relationship conflicts
●​ Behavioural issues
●​ Adjustment difficulties

4. Family and Marital Counselling

Deals with:

●​ Marital conflicts
●​ Communication problems
●​ Parenting issues
●​ Family adjustment
●​ Separation and relationship problems

5. Mental Health Counselling

Provides support for:

●​ Depression
●​ Anxiety
●​ Trauma
●​ Addiction
●​ Grief
●​ Emotional disturbances

6. Rehabilitation Counselling

Helps individuals with:

●​ Physical disabilities
●​ Chronic illness
●​ Psychological impairment
●​ Substance abuse
●​ Social and occupational adjustment
7. Crisis Counselling

Provides immediate support during:

●​ Suicide risk
●​ Accidents
●​ Natural disasters
●​ Trauma
●​ Abuse
●​ Violence
●​ Bereavement

8. Community Counselling

Focuses on:

●​ Mental health promotion

●​ Community awareness programmes
●​ Preventive interventions
●​ Social support services
●​ Well-being of communities

Related Concepts in Counselling

Several concepts closely support counselling practice, especially in educational and helping
settings.

Casework

Casework is a method of studying and helping an individual by understanding their personal,

social, educational, emotional, and environmental background. It focuses on the individual as a
unique person rather than treating everyone with the same approach.

Characteristics of Casework

●​ Individualized approach
●​ Relationship-based
●​ Scientific and systematic
●​ Problem-oriented and growth-oriented
●​ Considers environmental influences such as family, school, peers, and society

Steps in Casework
1. Intake

Initial contact with the client and collection of preliminary information.

2. Study/Investigation

Collection of detailed information through interviews, observations, records, and psychological

tests.

3. Diagnosis

Analysis of information to identify the nature and causes of the problem.

4. Treatment/Intervention

Implementation of appropriate counselling techniques, referrals, or environmental modifications.

5. Follow-up

Monitoring the client's progress and evaluating the effectiveness of intervention.

Importance of Casework

●​ Provides a holistic understanding of the client.

●​ Identifies underlying causes of problems.
●​ Facilitates individualized intervention.
●​ Improves professional decision-making.
●​ Promotes better adjustment and personality development.
●​ Useful in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, child guidance clinics, and
correctional settings.

Anecdotal Method

The anecdotal method involves the systematic recording of significant incidents or

behaviours observed in an individual. These records provide objective information about
personality, emotional adjustment, interests, attitudes, and social behaviour.

Nature of Anecdotal Records

●​ Descriptive rather than interpretative.

●​ Focuses on significant behaviours.
●​ Records behaviour in natural settings.
●​ Helps identify behavioural patterns over time.
Characteristics

A good anecdotal record should be:

●​ Objective
●​ Accurate and factual
●​ Limited to significant incidents
●​ Include time, place, and circumstances
●​ Written immediately after observation
●​ Maintained confidentially

Procedure

1.​ Observe behaviour in natural settings.

2.​ Record significant incidents objectively.
3.​ Analyse multiple records.
4.​ Identify behavioural patterns and personality traits.

Importance

●​ Provides real-life behavioural information.

●​ Helps identify emotional and behavioural problems early.
●​ Assists in understanding social adjustment.
●​ Supports diagnosis and counselling.
●​ Particularly useful with children.
●​ Identifies both strengths and problem behaviours.

Limitations

●​ Observer bias may affect accuracy.

●​ Important behaviours may be missed.
●​ Different observers may interpret behaviour differently.
●​ Requires time and continuous observation.
●​ Delayed recording may reduce accuracy.

Cumulative Records

A cumulative record is a comprehensive and continuous record of an individual's

educational, psychological, physical, social, and personal development collected over a long
period.

Contents
A cumulative record generally includes:

●​ Personal information
●​ Family background
●​ Academic performance
●​ Attendance
●​ Health records
●​ Intelligence and aptitude test results
●​ Personality characteristics
●​ Interests and hobbies
●​ Co-curricular activities
●​ Disciplinary records
●​ Teacher remarks
●​ Counselling reports
●​ Social adjustment

Characteristics

●​ Comprehensive
●​ Continuous and regularly updated
●​ Longitudinal in nature
●​ Confidential
●​ Useful for educational and vocational planning

Importance

●​ Provides a holistic understanding of the individual.

●​ Identifies academic, emotional, behavioural, and adjustment problems.
●​ Tracks development over time.
●​ Assists educational and career guidance.
●​ Facilitates communication among teachers, counsellors, parents, and administrators.
●​ Useful for referrals and psychological assessment.

Limitations

●​ Information may become outdated.

●​ Some entries may be subjective.
●​ Requires regular maintenance.
●​ Confidentiality must be protected.

Guidance
Guidance is a continuous process of helping individuals understand themselves and their
environment, enabling them to make appropriate decisions and achieve personal, educational,
vocational, and social adjustment.

Guidance is broader than counselling, and counselling is one of its important services.

Nature of Guidance

●​ Lifelong process
●​ Preventive and developmental
●​ Promotes self-understanding and self-direction
●​ Focuses on educational, vocational, personal, and social adjustment
●​ Broader than counselling
●​ Can be provided individually or in groups

Types of Guidance

1. Educational Guidance

Helps students with academic planning, learning difficulties, and educational decisions.

2. Vocational Guidance

Assists in career selection, career planning, and occupational adjustment.

3. Personal Guidance

Addresses emotional, moral, social, and interpersonal issues.

4. Health Guidance

Promotes physical and mental well-being.

5. Social Guidance

Develops healthy interpersonal relationships and social adjustment.

1.2: Counselling and Psychotherapy, Goals of Counselling, Counsellor and

Counselee Characteristics, Values in Counselling, Types of Counselling

Individuals face emotional, social, educational, vocational, and behavioural challenges

throughout life. Professional helping services such as counselling and psychotherapy assist
individuals in overcoming these difficulties, promoting mental well-being, and facilitating
personal growth. While both aim to improve psychological functioning, they differ in their focus,
duration, and methods.

Counselling Psychotherapy

Focuses on everyday life problems and Focuses on severe psychological disorders

adjustment issues and deep emotional conflicts

Short-term and problem-oriented Long-term and personality-oriented

Deals mainly with present concerns Explores past experiences and unconscious
conflicts

Promotes self-understanding, coping, and Aims at personality restructuring and

decision-making emotional healing

Common in schools, colleges, workplaces, Mainly practiced in mental health clinics,

hospitals, and community settings psychiatric hospitals, and private practice

Conducted by counsellors, psychologists, Conducted by clinical psychologists,

educators, or social workers psychiatrists, and psychotherapists

Suitable for relatively healthy individuals Suitable for individuals with chronic emotional
facing life challenges or mental health problems

Goals of Counselling

The goals of counselling refer to the outcomes that counselling aims to achieve. These goals
may be immediate, long-term, developmental, preventive, remedial, or therapeutic.

1. Self-Understanding

●​ Helps clients understand their thoughts, feelings, behaviour, strengths, and weaknesses.
●​ Promotes insight into personal problems and conflicts.

2. Self-Acceptance

●​ Encourages acceptance of oneself, including strengths and limitations.

●​ Reduces feelings of inferiority, guilt, shame, and self-rejection.
●​ Improves confidence and emotional stability.

3. Problem Solving
 ●​ Helps identify, analyse, and solve personal, educational, vocational, and emotional
problems.
●​ Encourages independent thinking and informed decision-making.

4. Emotional Release (Catharsis)

●​ Provides a safe environment for expressing emotions.

●​ Reduces emotional tension, anxiety, grief, anger, and frustration.
●​ Promotes emotional balance.

5. Behavioural Change

●​ Modifies maladaptive or unhealthy behaviours.

●​ Encourages healthier coping strategies and communication.
●​ Reduces aggression, dependency, avoidance, addiction, and impulsive behaviour.

6. Improving Adjustment

●​ Enhances personal, emotional, social, educational, occupational, and family adjustment.

●​ Improves coping skills and adaptability.

7. Decision-Making

●​ Helps clients evaluate alternatives and make responsible life decisions.

●​ Assists with educational, career, relationship, and life planning.

8. Promoting Mental Health

●​ Strengthens emotional resilience.

●​ Enhances coping abilities and interpersonal skills.
●​ Prevents psychological disorders.

9. Personal Growth and Self-Actualization

●​ Encourages individuals to realise their full potential.

●​ Promotes creativity, purpose, maturity, and life satisfaction.
●​ Focuses on continuous growth rather than merely solving problems.

Characteristics of an Effective Counsellor

The success of counselling largely depends on the personal and professional qualities of the
counsellor.
1. Empathy

●​ Understands the client's feelings from their perspective.

●​ Helps clients feel accepted and understood.

2. Genuineness

●​ Honest, authentic, and sincere in interactions.

●​ Builds trust within the counselling relationship.

3. Unconditional Positive Regard

●​ Accepts clients without judgement.

●​ Respects the dignity and worth of every individual.

4. Emotional Stability

●​ Remains calm during emotionally difficult situations.

●​ Demonstrates maturity and self-control.

5. Patience

●​ Recognises that change is gradual.

●​ Supports clients throughout the counselling process.

6. Good Listening Skills

●​ Listens actively to verbal and non-verbal communication.

●​ Understands emotions as well as words.

7. Self-Awareness

●​ Recognises personal values, biases, and limitations.

●​ Avoids imposing personal beliefs on clients.

8. Communication Skills

●​ Communicates clearly and respectfully.

●​ Encourages open discussion.

9. Ethical Responsibility

●​ Maintains confidentiality.
 ●​ Respects professional boundaries.
●​ Protects clients' rights and welfare.

10. Cultural Sensitivity

●​ Respects diversity in culture, religion, language, gender, and social background.

●​ Avoids stereotyping and discrimination.

Characteristics of a Counselee (Client)

Successful counselling also depends on the participation and readiness of the client.

1. Willingness to Seek Help

●​ Actively participates in counselling.

●​ Demonstrates motivation for change.

2. Openness

●​ Willingly shares thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

●​ Encourages honest communication.

3. Readiness for Change

●​ Accepts the need for behavioural or emotional change.

●​ Shows willingness to learn and improve.

4. Trust

●​ Develops confidence in the counsellor.

●​ Believes that confidentiality will be maintained.

5. Self-Exploration

●​ Reflects on personal thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

●​ Gains insight into personal problems.

6. Responsibility

●​ Takes responsibility for decisions and actions.

●​ Actively participates in solving personal problems.
Values in Counselling

Values are beliefs and principles that guide professional behaviour. Counselling emphasises
respect for the client's dignity, autonomy, and well-being.

Importance of Values

Values influence:

●​ Counselling goals
●​ Ethical decision-making
●​ Therapeutic relationship
●​ Professional conduct
●​ Cultural understanding
●​ Choice of interventions

Core Values in Counselling

1. Respect for Human Dignity

●​ Every client deserves equal respect regardless of gender, religion, culture, caste,
socioeconomic status, or behaviour.

2. Acceptance

●​ Accepts clients without judgement.

●​ Recognises the worth of every individual.

3. Confidentiality

●​ Protects information shared by clients.

●​ Builds trust and emotional safety.

4. Autonomy

●​ Respects the client's right to make independent decisions.

●​ Encourages self-direction rather than imposing solutions.

5. Non-Maleficence

●​ Means "Do no harm."

●​ Avoids actions that may physically, emotionally, or psychologically harm clients.
6. Beneficence

●​ Promotes the welfare and well-being of clients.

●​ Encourages positive growth and adjustment.

7. Justice

●​ Ensures fairness and equal treatment.

●​ Avoids discrimination or bias.

8. Integrity

●​ Demonstrates honesty, professionalism, and consistency.

●​ Builds credibility and trust.

Types of Counselling

Counselling may be classified according to its purpose and the needs of the client.

1. Crisis Counselling

Meaning

Provides immediate psychological support during emergencies or situations where normal

coping mechanisms fail.

Examples

●​ Suicide attempts
●​ Trauma
●​ Accidents
●​ Natural disasters
●​ Abuse
●​ Violence
●​ Bereavement
●​ Sudden loss
●​ Severe stress

Goals

●​ Stabilise emotions
●​ Ensure safety
●​ Reduce panic
 ●​ Restore coping ability
●​ Provide immediate support

Characteristics

●​ Short-term
●​ Immediate
●​ Supportive
●​ Problem-focused
●​ Action-oriented

2. Facilitative Counselling

Meaning

A client-centred approach that creates a supportive environment for personal growth and
self-directed change.

Principles

●​ Empathy
●​ Genuineness
●​ Acceptance
●​ Respect
●​ Self-exploration

Goals

●​ Increase self-awareness
●​ Promote emotional expression
●​ Develop self-acceptance
●​ Encourage personal responsibility

Applications

●​ Educational counselling
●​ Personal counselling
●​ Marital counselling
●​ Mental health counselling

3. Preventive Counselling

Meaning
Focuses on preventing emotional, behavioural, and psychological problems before they become
severe.

Objectives

●​ Promote resilience
●​ Strengthen coping skills
●​ Increase mental health awareness
●​ Encourage healthy adjustment

Examples

●​ Stress management programmes

●​ Life skills training
●​ Substance abuse prevention
●​ Suicide prevention
●​ Parenting education
●​ Mental health awareness campaigns

Settings

●​ Schools
●​ Colleges
●​ Workplaces
●​ Community programmes

4. Developmental Counselling

Meaning

Helps individuals manage developmental tasks and life transitions successfully throughout the
lifespan.

Focus Areas

●​ Identity development
●​ Self-esteem
●​ Social skills
●​ Career development
●​ Interpersonal relationships
●​ Adaptation to life transitions

Objectives
 ●​ Promote lifelong growth
●​ Enhance adjustment
●​ Develop personal potential
●​ Improve quality of life

Applications

●​ Schools
●​ Colleges
●​ Career guidance centres
●​ Community mental health settings

1.3: Ethics and Legal Aspects in Counselling

Counselling is a professional helping relationship that involves discussing sensitive personal

issues such as emotions, relationships, trauma, and mental health concerns. Therefore,
counsellors have a responsibility to protect the rights, dignity, privacy, and welfare of their
clients. Ethical principles and legal regulations guide professional practice, ensure client safety,
and maintain public trust in the counselling profession.

Ethics and Law in Counselling

Ethics

Ethics refers to the moral principles and professional standards that guide the behaviour
and decision-making of counsellors.

Law

Law refers to the rules and legal responsibilities that govern counselling practice and protect
the rights of clients.

Difference: Ethics focuses on what is morally right and professionally appropriate,

whereas law focuses on what is legally required or permitted. A counsellor must
follow both.

Meaning of Ethics in Counselling

Ethics in counselling helps counsellors to:

●​ Protect clients from harm.

●​ Maintain professionalism.
●​ Respect client rights and dignity.
 ●​ Promote client welfare.
●​ Maintain confidentiality.
●​ Avoid exploitation and discrimination.
●​ Ensure fairness and justice.

Nature of Ethics

Ethics in counselling is:

●​ Preventive and protective – prevents professional misconduct and safeguards clients.

●​ Relationship-centred – strengthens trust and therapeutic rapport.
●​ Dynamic – evolves with changes in society, culture, technology, and law.
●​ Based on professional judgement – ethical dilemmas often require careful
decision-making.
●​ Accountability-oriented – counsellors are responsible for their actions and decisions.

Importance of Ethics

Ethics is essential because it:

●​ Protects clients from emotional, psychological, financial, and social harm.

●​ Builds trust and confidence in the counselling relationship.
●​ Safeguards client rights and dignity.
●​ Promotes professional credibility.
●​ Guides ethical decision-making.
●​ Prevents professional misconduct.
●​ Reduces legal risks.

Fundamental Ethical Principles

1. Autonomy

Meaning: Respecting the client's right to make independent decisions.

Includes:

●​ Informed consent
●​ Voluntary participation
●​ Freedom of choice
●​ Respect for individuality
●​ Client involvement in decision-making
2. Beneficence

Meaning: Promoting the welfare and well-being of the client.

Includes:

●​ Providing competent services

●​ Supporting personal growth
●​ Reducing distress
●​ Encouraging healthy adjustment
●​ Acting in the client's best interest

3. Non-Maleficence

Meaning: "Do no harm."

Counsellors should avoid:

●​ Negligence
●​ Incompetence
●​ Exploitation
●​ Inappropriate interventions
●​ Breach of confidentiality
●​ Abuse of professional authority

4. Justice

Meaning: Treating every client fairly and without discrimination.

Justice promotes:

●​ Equality
●​ Fair access to services
●​ Respect regardless of gender, religion, caste, ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic
status

5. Fidelity

Meaning: Maintaining trust, loyalty, and professional commitment.

Includes:

●​ Honouring promises
●​ Maintaining confidentiality
●​ Being dependable
 ●​ Upholding professional responsibilities

6. Veracity

Meaning: Being truthful and honest with clients.

Clients should receive accurate information regarding:

●​ Nature of counselling
●​ Procedures
●​ Risks and benefits
●​ Confidentiality
●​ Fees
●​ Counsellor's qualifications

Confidentiality

Meaning

Confidentiality is the ethical duty to keep all information shared during counselling private.

It encourages:

●​ Trust
●​ Emotional safety
●​ Open communication
●​ Effective counselling

Information Protected

Counsellors must protect:

●​ Verbal disclosures
●​ Written records
●​ Case notes
●​ Assessment results
●​ Reports
●​ Audio/video recordings
●​ Digital records

Limits of Confidentiality

Confidentiality is not absolute. Disclosure may be necessary when:

 ●​ There is a risk of suicide.
●​ The client poses a threat to others.
●​ Child abuse or neglect is suspected.
●​ Elder abuse is reported.
●​ A court orders disclosure.
●​ Required during legal investigations.
●​ There is serious danger to society.

Clients should be informed about these limits before counselling begins.

Informed Consent

Meaning

Informed consent is the voluntary agreement of a client to participate in counselling after

receiving complete information about the process.

Information Included

Clients should know:

●​ Purpose of counselling
●​ Procedures and techniques
●​ Possible benefits and risks
●​ Confidentiality and its limits
●​ Duration and fees
●​ Record keeping
●​ Rights and responsibilities
●​ Qualifications of the counsellor

For children or individuals lacking decision-making capacity, consent is generally obtained

from parents or legal guardians.

Professional Competence

Professional competence means practising only within one's education, training, and
experience.

A competent counsellor should possess:

●​ Psychological knowledge
●​ Counselling skills
●​ Ethical awareness
 ●​ Cultural competence
●​ Self-awareness
●​ Commitment to continuing education

When a case is beyond their expertise, counsellors should seek:

●​ Supervision
●​ Consultation
●​ Referral to another professional

Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries define the appropriate limits of the counsellor–client relationship.

Counsellors should avoid:

●​ Romantic or sexual relationships with clients

●​ Financial exploitation
●​ Emotional dependency
●​ Manipulation
●​ Misuse of authority
●​ Inappropriate self-disclosure

Maintaining boundaries protects both the client and the counsellor.

Dual Relationships

Meaning

A dual relationship occurs when a counsellor has another significant relationship with the client
outside counselling.

Examples

●​ Teacher and counsellor

●​ Friend and counsellor
●​ Employer and counsellor
●​ Business partner and counsellor
●​ Relative and counsellor

Risks

Dual relationships may:

 ●​ Reduce objectivity
●​ Create conflicts of interest
●​ Increase the risk of exploitation
●​ Affect professional judgement

Whenever unavoidable, boundaries should be managed carefully.

Ethical Issues in Multicultural Counselling

Counsellors work with people from diverse cultural, religious, linguistic, and social backgrounds.

They should:

●​ Respect cultural diversity.

●​ Avoid prejudice and stereotyping.
●​ Use culturally appropriate interventions.
●​ Understand the influence of culture on:
○​ Emotions
○​ Communication
○​ Family relationships
○​ Mental health beliefs
○​ Coping styles
○​ Values

Cultural competence improves the effectiveness of counselling.

Record Keeping

Counsellors maintain records for professional, ethical, and legal purposes.

Records Include

●​ Intake information
●​ Assessment results
●​ Case notes
●​ Treatment plans
●​ Progress reports
●​ Referral details
●​ Consent forms

Good Records Should Be

●​ Accurate
●​ Objective
 ●​ Confidential
●​ Securely stored
●​ Accessible only to authorised persons

Ethical Issues in Online and Digital Counselling

With increasing use of teletherapy and online counselling, counsellors should address issues
related to:

●​ Privacy
●​ Data security
●​ Confidentiality
●​ Informed consent
●​ Identity verification
●​ Technological failures

Secure communication platforms and clear explanations of limitations are essential.

Legal Aspects in Counselling

Legal responsibilities include:

●​ Confidentiality
●​ Informed consent
●​ Record keeping
●​ Child protection
●​ Professional licensing
●​ Negligence
●​ Malpractice
●​ Duty to warn and protect

Failure to follow legal standards may result in lawsuits, disciplinary action, or criminal liability.

Malpractice and Negligence

Malpractice

Failure to provide professional services according to accepted standards, resulting in harm to

the client.

Negligence May Include

●​ Improper assessment
 ●​ Incompetent treatment
●​ Failure to identify suicide risk
●​ Breach of confidentiality
●​ Inadequate supervision
●​ Failure to refer serious cases

Elements Required to Prove Malpractice

●​ Professional duty existed.

●​ Duty was breached.
●​ Harm occurred.
●​ Harm resulted from the counsellor's negligence.

Duty to Warn and Protect

When a client presents a serious risk of harming themselves or others, counsellors may have a
legal duty to:

●​ Warn the potential victim.

●​ Inform relevant authorities.
●​ Take reasonable steps to prevent harm.

In such situations, protecting life takes priority over confidentiality.

Child Abuse Reporting

Counsellors are often legally required to report suspected:

●​ Physical abuse
●​ Sexual abuse
●​ Emotional abuse
●​ Severe neglect

The purpose is to protect children from further harm.

Legal Issues Related to Minors

Counselling minors involves balancing:

●​ Parental or guardian rights

●​ Consent for treatment
●​ Access to records
●​ The child's privacy and emotional well-being
Counsellors should maintain confidentiality while complying with legal requirements.

Licensing and Professional Regulation

Professional licensing ensures that counsellors meet required standards in:

●​ Education
●​ Supervised training
●​ Professional competence
●​ Ethical practice

Practising without appropriate qualifications or registration may be illegal in many jurisdictions.

Ethical Decision-Making

Ethical dilemmas arise when professional responsibilities conflict.

Common Ethical Dilemmas

●​ Confidentiality vs. safety

●​ Client autonomy vs. protection
●​ Cultural values vs. ethical standards
●​ Parental rights vs. adolescent confidentiality

Steps in Ethical Decision-Making

1.​ Identify the ethical problem.

2.​ Review relevant ethical principles and codes.
3.​ Consider legal responsibilities.
4.​ Consult supervisors or experienced professionals.
5.​ Evaluate possible consequences.
6.​ Choose the most ethical course of action.
7.​ Document the decision and actions taken.

Ethical Qualities of an Effective Counsellor

An ethical counsellor demonstrates:

●​ Honesty
●​ Integrity
●​ Empathy
●​ Responsibility
●​ Professionalism
 ●​ Fairness
●​ Respect
●​ Compassion
●​ Accountability
●​ Cultural sensitivity
●​ Self-awareness

Ethical counselling goes beyond following rules—it reflects a commitment to protecting the
dignity, rights, and well-being of every client.