Professional Orientation and Ethics

EPSY 6308--3 Hours


Faculty

Terry D. Hargrave, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Office: OM 215C

Office Phone: 651-3620   Fax: 651-2601

E-Mail: thargrave@mail.wtamu.edu



Text

Required

Corey, G., Corey, M.S., & Callanan, P. (2003).  Issues and ethics in the helping professions (6th Ed.).  Pacific Grove, CA:  Brooks/Cole.


Course Description

This course focuses on the three aspects of professional identity of the counselor, the professional practices and ethics of counseling organizations, and the legal aspects of clinical practice.  Students will learn about the counselor as a person, professional conduct, and values of the counseling relationship.  In addition, counselors will learn how to manage themselves and clinical practice so as to be both legal and ethical. 

Course Objectives

Demonstrate knowledge of good professional practice.

Understand the basic elements of the ethical codes of at least two professional organizations.

Demonstrate detailed knowledge of licensing laws.

Understand the most important elements of the Texas Family Code.

Identify a process by which ethical dilemmas may be solved.


Course Schedule (Tentative)

                             Topic                                                            Chapter 

1.  Orientation, Objectives, Assignments                                 1,2                                                       

2.  Practice as Professional, Values                                            2,3                                          

3.  Client Rights, Confidentiality                                                 4,5                                   

4.  Boundaries and Competence                                                  7,8                                      

5.  Supervision and Working in the System                             9,11                                  

6.  Ethics in Practice                                                                     12                                     

7.  Ethics in Practice                                                                     13                                      

8.  Mid-Term on Book                                                                                                             

9.  Licensing Acts                                                                                                                  

10.  Professional Ethical Codes                                                                                              

11.  Texas Family Code                                                                                                         

12.  Texas Family Code                                                                                                                         

13.  Texas Family Code                                                                                                                     

15.  Process and Integration/Final Exam                                                                                


Class Assignments

Understanding Yourself As A Counselor Paper

Think about some of the issues that brought you to the conclusion that you should become a counselor.  Consider some of the aspects of your personality, your background, issues that you have worked through in the past, and some of the issues that you will want to work through in the future.  Write a two to four page paper that summarizes these issues and how they affect (or will affect) your work as a counselor.  Be prepared to share these with a small group of students.


Journal Article Report

Students will be expected to prepare two short report on a current journal article (last 5 years).  This report should be approximately two pages in length and include a complete article reference, the purpose or question of the article, findings of the research, and implications of the research.  Students will give a short presentation of the report in class (about 5 minutes) and should have a copy of the complete article to hand in with the report.

Mid-term Test & Final Exam

The mid-term test is over  Issues and Ethics.  It will consist of approximately 60 multiple choice and one essay.  The final exam will be over the Texas Family Code.


Presentation

Each student will be responsible for a 15 minute presentation on a licensing act, code of ethics, or section of the family law.  The presentation should be designed to educate your colleagues concerning the specificities of the law or code, what is of particular importance to counselors and therapists, and a summary handout for the class.  You will be graded on thoroughness, handouts, presentation, and creativity.  (This is not intended to be difficult, but I do want you to work hard at understanding your presentation and making the subject interesting.)

Grading

EXAMS                                                                 40%

PERSON AS A COUSELOR PAPER                  10%

JOURNAL REPORT                                              10%

PRESENTATION                                                  25%

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION                    15%

TOTAL                                                              100%

90% or Above = “A”, 80% to 89% = “B”, 70% to 79% = “C”, 60% to 69% = “D”


Attendance

Your attendance is expected and required for this class.  If you are or will be absent for any reason, please make contact with the professor.


A Reminder

A zero tolerance for cheating has been adopted by the department of counselor education.  It is our belief that students in this program should conduct themselves in an ethical manner while preparing to become professional counselors.  If you are caught cheating, you will be dismissed from this program.

West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities.  This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity.  It is the student's responsibility to register with Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations.