Professional Values and Personal Morals in Decision-Making

Introduction
As a counsellor, the occupation is characterized by making decisions that require ethical
decision-making ability. At times, as in our case, determining the appropriate course of action in
a situation that is a difficult ethical dilemma is challenging. In the United States however
counselors are guided by the American Counselling Association (ACA) practices and guidelines
on how to navigate through such challenges. Nevertheless, just like in any profession, new
dilemmas requires an effective decision making of the counselor at that moment since the
situation is a new dilemma not covered by ACA guidelines or there is need to change the rules
due to other factors. In our case Ms. Jackson is faced by the challenge of whether to report Mr.
Anderson’s cousin who is a drug dealer or not.
The choice of a specific ethical decision-making model and why it would be beneficial to the
scenario.
In my opinion, Ms. Jackson should not report Mr. Anderson’s cousin to the authorities,
but rather recommended it to Mr. Anderson to do so himself. Counselling is guided by six ethical
principles that the counsellor is expected to uphold for them to make the best ethical decision
when faced with such a challenge. According to Pope, & Vasquez, (2016), the counselor’s
immediate duty is to her client as such, Ms. Jackson has to consider the situation in which Mr.
Anderson would be for his recovery aspect and more so other factors such as his safety. Drug
cases are complicated and they are operated by ruthless people with disregard of life. As such,
reporting the cousin can have a blowback effect of Mr. Anderson whose life then would be in
danger. In addition, to ensure effective counselling, Ms. Jackson has to ensure that a relationship
characterized by trust is built between them. As such everything they discuss has to remain

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confidential. However, Ms. Jackson has also to consider justice where requesting Mr. Anderson
to report his cousin convincingly would help both her and Mr. Anderson. This would ensure that
Ms. Jackson avoid violating the trust aspect as well as confidentiality clause while also ensuring
that justice is served. Mr. Anderson on the other hand will also ensure his security such as
requesting a custody from the authorities in the event of retaliatory measures.
Ethical principles applicable in this scenario. 
There are six principles of ethical guiding principles for an ethical decision-making
model. They include Autonomy, Justice, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, fidelity and
utilitarianism. In this case all the six principles are applicable (Bond, 2015).
Autonomy
This is the principle that addresses self-determination and independence of the counsellor
(Robson, et al, 2000). As such as a counsellor, Ms. Jackson is entitled to the freedom of choice
and action. In addition, the principle also provides the counsellor with the responsibility of
encouraging their clients to practice such independence and self-determination. In this scenario,
autonomy is applicable in the essence that, as a counsellor asking her client to report the cousin,
she is bound to make him understand that his decisions have values and will have consequences
both good and bad. As such, Ms. Jackson will be giving Mr. Anderson the chance to make a
choice.
Justice
This is the principle of justifying a counselor’s decision to treat some people differently.
In this case, Ms. Jackson has a decision to make based through considering the principle of
justice. As such by not reporting the cousin to the authorities is justifiable on the notion that, Mr.
Anderson is a client with a drug abuse problem, and since he is in his early stage of recovery,

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small issues can trigger drug abuse again. To ensure the client remains in a steady path to
recovery, protecting him from emotional triggers such as reporting his cousin without his
knowledge is justifiable.
Beneficence
The counselor’s first duty is to his client. . The Beneficence principle asserts this notion
by ensuring that every decision or action taken by the counselor contributes to the welfare of the
client (Finlay, 2019). As such upon evaluation of the situation, reporting Mr. Anderson’s cousin
was not in the best interest of the client since would act as a trigger or endanger the client.
However, convincing him to turn in his cousin would ensure that his conscience is clear and
more so he would arrange security measures which would benefit the client. In doing so, Ms.
Jackson would have done good and deemed proactive as well as prevented harm to the client.
Nonmaleficence
This is the principle that upholds the aspect of preventing harm to others (Finlay, 2019).
In the practice of counselling, this is the most critical principle. As a counselor, an individual
should not inflict any harm or engage in actions that would risk harming others. In this scenario,
Ms. Jackson’s decision to convince Mr. Anderson to report his cousin would ensure that he
prevents harm to his client as well as the community. By anonymously reporting Mr. Anderson’s
cousin would definitely cause harm to Mr. Anderson in the event if retaliatory measures, and
failure to report him also would continue causing harm to the community since he would
continue supplying drugs in the community.
Fidelity
To ensure effective counseling, creating a trustworthy relationship is vital especially for
drug addiction counselling (Finlay, 2019). Fidelity is the principles that upholds the notion of

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trust, since it requires upholding loyalty, horning commitments and faithfulness. Ms. Jackson
had to ensure that she preserves trust and reporting Mr. Anderson’s cousin would contradict the
trust factor in the relationship which would ruin the recovery process. As such, convincing Mr.
Anderson that turning in his cousin is the right decision would uphold trust, faithfulness and
loyalty and more so Ms. Jackson would remain committed to the counselor –client
confidentiality agreement.
Utilitarianism
This is the principle of producing the greatest good for the greatest number which is also
considered as the moral thing to do (Bosede, 2010). Ms. Jackson is faced with a difficult
situation where choosing the greater good is vital. In choosing to convince Mr. Anderson to turn
his cousin to the authorities is the greater good since it will help her to adhere to the counselling
principles, it would help Mr. Anderson to have a clear conscience and more so prevent any
retaliatory measures since he will ensure security measures are addressed, help the community
by eradicating a drug distributor and also help with the investigation.
Three potential positive outcomes and three potential negative outcomes that might result
from Ms. Jackson making an anonymous tip to the police.
Positive
Upon Ms. Jackson making an anonymous tip to the police, Mr. Anderson’s cousin would
be most likely be detained hence helping to eradicate the supply of drugs in the community. The
capture of Mr. Anderson’s cousin would also serve as justice to Mr. Anderson’s friend who had
overdosed due the drugs sold to him and also Mr. Anderson would lose his drug supply which
would be helpful in his recovery.
Negative

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Making an anonymous tip to the police would help the police to detain Mr. Anderson’s
cousin which would most likely have retaliatory consequences to Mr. Anderson who would be
considered as the provider of the tip by his cousin endangering his life. In addition, Ms. Jackson
would have violated the client-counselor confidentiality agreement which would be unethical
and most likely can lead to the loss of license. In the event Mr. Anderson realizes that Ms.
Jackson was responsible for making the tip would ruin their relationship rendering the process
impossible since trust between them would have been broken which is considered the bedrock of
counseling especially in drug addiction cases.
How my professional values and personal morals influence my decision-making if I were in
Ms. Jackson’s position.
In this scenario, making such a decision is difficult. However, my professional values
would ensure that I warrant the decision I am making does no harm to my client (Finlay, 2019).
In addition, ensuring that I abide by my legal entitlement is also vital. As such I would ensure
that the decision I make observes the legality of the matter and more so protects my client from
any harm.
Ethical decision-making process related to the ethical principles if Mr. Anderson’s friend
had died. 
Regardless of the outcome of Mr. Anderson’s health condition, I would have made the
same decision. This is because, I am bound by my duty to my client regardless of Mr.
Anderson’s friend health status. More so, convincing Mr. Anderson to report his cousin is part of
counselling on how to make decisions in difficult situations and more so teaching him how to
take some responsibilities.

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References

Bond, T. (2015). Standards and ethics for counselling in action. Sage.
Bosede, A. F. (2010). Ethical principles of guidance and counselling. International Journal of
Tropical Medicine, 5(2), 50-53.
Finlay, L. (2019). Practical ethics in counselling and psychotherapy: A relational approach.
Sage.
Pope, K. S., & Vasquez, M. J. (2016). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical
guide. John Wiley & Sons.
Robson, M., Cook, P., Hunt, K., Alred, G., & Robson, D. (2000). Towards ethical decision-
making in counselling research. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 28(4), 533-
547.