Assignment 2: LASA 1: Ethical Issues for Forensic
Psychologists
Read the following current
version of the ethical guidelines by the American Psychology-Law
Society:
http://www.ap-ls.org/aboutpsychlaw/080110sgfpdraft.pdf
This assignment is designed to help you synthesize and apply
the current version of the ethical guidelines of forensic psychology to what
you have been learning about the relationship of substance abuse in the
criminal justice system, assessment, diagnosis and ethical considerations.
After thoroughly reading the ethical guidelines of forensic
psychology, review the following scenarios and questions and respond to each
question thoroughly. Your paper should
reflect an understanding of applying the ethical standards to the course
material.
Provide a summary which includes the purpose, history and goals
of the ethical standards. What is your
initial reaction to the ethical guidelines of forensic psychology?
Review and summarize the standards related to
confidentiality. What steps will you
take as a counselor in the criminal justice system to be in compliance with the
ethical standards? After reviewing the
textbook and online lecture, how will you handle “red flags” and the limits of
confidentiality, yet be in compliance with the ethic guidelines?
You are presented with a client who is ordered through the
court to undergo an examination or treatment.
The client refuses to sign the confidentiality agreement, and has made
it quite clear he is not going to participate.
Identify what action you will take and provide the standard(s) which
guided your decision. Be sure to
include a summary of what confidentiality is and why it is important. Your
significant other is a recovering addict.
According to the module lecture countertransference may
occur when counseling an individual who has similar behaviors to the
counselor’s family members. Review the
standard 4.07 from the ethical guidelines of the American Psychology-Law
Society and the online content. Discuss
what options the counselor has to be in compliance with the standard. Be sure to include a discussion of
countertransference.
Compare and contrast the ethical issues of confidentiality
and countertransference: Which issue do you believe will be most difficult to
deal with, and why? After reviewing the ethical guidelines and applying the
guidelines to treatment and evaluation issues provide your opinion of the
relationship of substance abuse treatment and sanctions of the court.
Your report should be at least 5 pages long. Remember to
also include a cover page and reference page, and to support your arguments
with information drawn from the ethical guidelines of the American
Psychology-Law Society, the online
content, the textbook, and other credible, scholarly sources to substantiate
the points you are making. Apply APA
standards for writing and citations to your work.
