Codes of Ethics

Using the Taneka case scenario, apply two codes of ethics from our professional bodies (using the most current codes). One must come from the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the other may be of your choice from the suggested list in this unit’s studies. Modify the case as necessary to apply two ethical codes to the case. For example, you could say that the counselor is starting to have romantic feelings toward the client. State which code would apply (ACA, A.5.b) and how you would handle the situation. Make sure you use both codes (NCDA and, for example, ACA).

Use these websites as well https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx

https://www.nbcc.org/ethics

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors-members/legal-ethical

Scenario

Taneka, a 17-year-old African-American female, is a high school junior. She is the eldest of three siblings living with her single-parent mother. Her mother has worked for the past 15 years at a manufacturing plant. Her father has not been a part of Taneka’s life.

As the eldest, Taneka has held major responsibilities throughout her life to support her working mother, such as caring for her younger siblings—Derrick, age 14, and Kenya, age 12. These early duties reinforced the development of her natural leadership skills. Taneka has been recognized from an early age for being mature, responsible, and dependable. As her siblings have grown, she has been able to have part-time jobs, most recently as a salesperson at a teen fashion store in the local mall. It was here that she first realized she had a knack for dealing with people, and they responded well to her—employers, co-workers, and customers alike. She was recently approached by her supervisor to consider participating in the company’s employee-leadership training program.

This has caused Taneka to start thinking about post-secondary educational possibilities. Previously she had thought college was out of her reach, due to the limited financial resources of her family and no history of anyone in her family ever attending college. As such, she had not previously given much importance to her grades. Rather than participating in extracurricular school activities, she focused on working. She is on track for graduating with her class next year and has a current grade point average of 2.05.

Taneka is now questioning her previous assumption about college or other post-secondary educational possibilities, but she does not have a clear idea of what she would like to pursue as a career. Choosing a career and a post-secondary program to prepare for it, seeking financial support, and navigating the admissions procedure all remain mysteries to her.