Canadian Counselling Ethical Standards for Mental Health Service Providers

Assume that you intend to practice in a private practice setting in Canada. Please provide a clear and exhaustive list of the limits of confidentiality (in simple language that could easily be understood by a client irrespective of level of education). Please also discuss the ethics and laws related to record keeping. Finally, discuss the extent to which the treatment of children can be kept confidential from their parents and at what age they are deemed capable of consenting to treatment. There are a number of distinct issues that emerge when working with individuals whose racial and/or cultural background is different from one’s own. Define “multicultural competence.” Describe the sort of multicultural training that the literature suggests best promotes the ethical treatment of diverse populations. Consider the limits of confidentiality that you delineated in Question I. Had those limits been discussed and an informed consent been signed at the onset of treatment, please discuss how you would respond to your client disclosing his intention to have unprotected sex, despite positive HIV status, with an identified other. A complete answer should make reference to cases in the past that have set precedence with respect to a clinician’s duty to warn. A complete response should also indicate what conflicting ethical considerations were weighted in coming to your conclusion. A 40-year old therapist becomes attracted to a 38-year-old client and soon realizes that the feelings are mutual. They discuss the situation and mutually agree to terminate therapy and to begin dating. They eventually get married. In applying the professional code of ethics and practice standards for counsellors to this case, is the therapist’s decision unethical? Please discuss. What is the rationale behind prohibiting or severely limiting dual relationships?    

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