When Unchecked Biases Lead to Imposition of Values: The Case for Counseling Ethics

Counselors encounter complex ethical issues when working with clients within the context of the professional therapeutic relationship. A common ethical issue arises when a counselor's personal biases and values clash with those of their clients. This paper reviews an ethical brief that addresses the clash of religious and cultural values between a counselor and his client. Ultimately, this ethical case results in the counselor imposing his values onto the client. The authors of this paper write from the perspective of a consultant team who is required to make recommendations to a court of law while utilizing an ethical decision-making model to decide a course of action.