The purpose of this study was to investigate ethical dilemmas faced by certified rehabilitation counselors. Using a mixed-method survey approach, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes among responses including the ethically challenging incident, additional resources to clarify the situation or reach resolution, projecting future ethical issues, approach to resolution for current ethical issues, and additional issues to address or consider in the code of ethics. Results indicated that participants most frequently encountered ethical dilemmas related to Section B. Confidentiality, Privileged Communication and Privacy of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Certification Code of Professional Ethics, followed by Section A. The Counseling Relationship. When addressing recognized ethical dilemmas, participants also identified consideration of the counseling relationship and maintaining confidentiality, privileged communication and privacy as the most important sections of the code to consider. Implications include topics identifying current and projected ethical dilemmas faced by CRCs, as well as the need for a variety of topics to be addressed or considered in the new revisions of the CRC Code of Ethics.
AltheideD. L.JohnsonJ. M. (1994). Criteria for assessing interpretive validity in qualitative research. In DenzinN.LincolnY. (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 485–499). SAGE.
Barros-BaileyM.CarlisleJ.BlackwellT. (2010). Forensic ethics and indirect practice for the rehabilitation counselor. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 53(4), 237–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355210368728
5.
Barros-BaileyM.SaundersJ. (2010). Ethics and the use of technology in rehabilitation counseling. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 41(2), 60–64. https://doi.org/10.1891/0047-2220.41.2.60
CoreyG.CoreyM. S.CoreyC.CallananP. (2014). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (9th ed.). Brooks/Cole.
9.
CottoneR. R. (2001). A social constructivism model of ethical decision-making in counseling. Journal of Counseling Development, 79, 39–45.
10.
CottoneR. R.TarvydasV. (2016). Ethics and decision making in counseling and psychotherapy (4th ed.). Springer.
11.
CottoneR. R.TarvydasV. M. (2007). Counseling ethics and decision making (3rd ed.). Prentice Hall.
12.
CrtalicA.GibbsR.SprongM.DellT. (2015). Ethical considerations for rehabilitation professionals. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 46(3), 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1891/0047-2220.46.3.44
13.
CruessS.JohnstonS.CruessR. (2004). “Profession”: A working definition for medical educators. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 16(1), 74–76. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328015tlm1601_15
GarciaJ.CartwrightB.WinstonS.BorchukowskaB. (2003). A transcultural integrative ethical decision-making model in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 81, 268–276.
17.
GlosoffH.CottoneR. R. (2010). Rehabilitation counselor education and the new code of ethics. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 53(4), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355210368568
18.
GlosoffH.MatroneK. (2010). Ethical issues in rehabilitation counselor supervision and the new 2010 code of ethics. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 53(4), 249–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355210368729
HartleyM.CartwrightB. (2016). A survey of current and projected ethical dilemmas of rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 30(1), 32–47. https://doi.org/10.1891/2168-6653.30.1.32
21.
HaysD. (2013). Assessment in counseling: A guide to the use of psychological assessment procedures (5th ed.). American Counseling Association.
22.
HerlihyB.WatsonZ. E. (2007). Social justice and counseling ethics. In LeeC. C. (Ed.), Counseling for social justice (2nd ed., pp. 181–199). American Counseling Association.
23.
HolmesC.ReidC. (2018). Ethics in telerehabilitation: Looking ahead. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 49(2), 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1891/0047-2220.49.2.14
24.
IBM Corp. (2019). IBM SPSS Statistics for Macintosh (Version 26). [Computer software].
25.
IpsenC.GoeR. (2018). Vocational rehabilitation agency guidance on social media use: A policy analysis. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 61(4), 217–227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355217700819
26.
JamnikA. (2011). Ethical code in the public accounting profession. Journal of International Business Ethics, 4(2), 17–29.
27.
KocetM.HerlihyB. (2014). Addressing value-based conflicts within the counseling relationship: A decision-making model. Journal of Counseling and Development, 92(2), 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2014.00146.x
28.
KunduM.DuttaA.ChanF.TorresV.FlemingK. (2011). Vocational rehabilitation counselor training needs assessment and competence measure: An exploratory factor analysis. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 25(3–4), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1891/216866511805000984
29.
LandonT. J.NayA.ConnorA.PhillipB. N.ReyesA. R.LeavittJ. (2021). Exploring the relationship between familiarity with the ICF and rehabilitation counselor confidence in finding workplace accommodations. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 35(2), 130–143. https://doi.org/10.1891/re-19-27
30.
LeahyM. J.ChanF.IwanagaK.UmucuE.SungC.BishopM.StrauserD. (2019). Empirically derived test specifications for the certified rehabilitation counselor examination: Revisiting the essential competencies of rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation Counselling Bulletin, 63(1), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355218800842
31.
LundE.SchultzJ. (2015). Distance supervision in rehabilitation counseling: Ethical and clinical considerations. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 29(1), 88–95. https://doi.org/10.1891/2168-6653.29.1.88
32.
LustigD. C.StrauserD. R.RiceN. D.RuckerT. F. (2002). The relationship between working alliance and rehabilitation outcomes. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 46, 25–33.
33.
MessikomerC. M.CirkaC. C. (2010). Constructing a code of ethics: An experiential case of a national professional organization. Journal of Business Ethics, 95, 55–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0347-y
RemleyT.HerlihyB. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (5th ed.). Merrill.
37.
RobertsW.GeppertM.BaileyM. (2002). Ethics in psychiatric practice: Essential ethics skills, informed consent, the therapeutic relationship, and confidentiality. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 8(5), 290–305. https://doi.org/10.1097/00131746-200209000-00005
38.
TarvydasV.TarvydasV. (1995). Ethics and the practice of rehabilitation counselor supervision. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 38(4), 294–306. http://search.proquest.com/docview/77953851/
39.
TarvydasV. M.CottoneR. R. (2000). The code of ethics for professional rehabilitation counselors: What we have and what we need. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 43(4), 1–14.
40.
TarvydasV. M.CottoneR. R.SaundersJ. S. (2010). A new ethics code as a tool for innovations in ethical practice. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 53, 195–196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355210368726
41.
TarvydasV. M.HartleyM. T. (2018). The professional practice of rehabilitation counseling (2nd ed.). Springer.
42.
TarvydasV. M.PapeD. A. (1988). A unified code of ethics for rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 31, 249–254.
43.
WaldmannA.BlackwellT. (2010). Advocacy and accessibility standards in the new code of professional ethics for rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 53(4), 232–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355210368866
