Discussions: Value Rights, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities of Counselors

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ZAMBALES
Zone 6, Iba, Zambales
Tel./Fax No. (047) 602 1391
E-mail Address: [email protected]
website: www.depedzambales.ph
MODULE in
Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences
Quarter 1- Week 3
Most Essential Learning Competency:
• Value Rights, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities of

Counselors
• Ethical Consideration in Counseling
Value Rights, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities of Counselors
Brief Introduction
Being honest is usually the cornerstone of trust and confidence in any
relationship that we form. And as we practice honesty in a wide field of
professionalism, especially in counseling, it becomes a valuable asset for change
and development of the learner. Counselors, just like psychologists and
psychiatrists, follow a strict code of confidentiality and honesty in their work
precisely because they work with people. Counselors listen attentively to the needs
of their counselee and set boundaries of confidentiality which both of them must
follow. In this way, they protect each other.
DISCUSSIONS
Valuing Rights of Individuals, Professional Responsibilities and
Accountabilities of Counselors
Professional counselors must always observe utmost respect for their

counselee, not just because they are in authority, but also because the counselee
has sought help from them. The counselees’ vulnerability is already a signal that
they are incapable of handling themselves. And when it comes to sensitive
matters, counselors build an atmosphere of comfort and security for their clients.
This atmosphere is the very reason why some distraught learners share their
problems and needs. The atmosphere of protection and integrity give them a sense
of security. The confidentiality and protection of the “self” comes first in the mind
of a counselor. And as counselors venture to the counselee’s problem, they must
1
commit in giving importance/value to the rights of individuals and demonstrate
accountability.
1. Respecting the rights and dignity of every person. Professional counselors

must bear in mind that each individual is unique. No matter how unruly the
behavior of an individual is, he or she deserves to be treated fairly, to be listened
to about what he or she thinks and feels, and to be respected.
2. Respecting the client’s rights as self-governing individual.

Counselors feel responsible for the welfare of their clients. However, counselors must
also remember that their clients have the capacity to help themselves and are capable
of making choices on how to do it. Therefore, counselors must communicate trust to
their clients to encourage maturity and sense of responsibility, even outside the
counseling session.
3. Being committed to the client’s well-being. Professional counselors

demonstrate dedication to their work by showing concern to their client during
counseling session and even after the session.
4. Observing fairness to all the clients by providing equal opportunity to

everyone who has availed of the counseling service. Counselors do not only
provide counseling to few and selected groups, but they accommodate
individuals from all walks of life regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socio-
economic status; whether they are students or professionals. The counselor
must render services to whoever is willing and interested to be helped
professionally.
5. Enhancing the quality of their professional knowledge and application.

Counselors provide quality service by keeping themselves updated on issues
and trends in their profession. Counselors must continuously attend
conferences and conventions or enroll in advanced studies. They must also join
professional organizations aimed at developing their competencies.
6. Being responsive to the society. Counselors collaborate with other members

of the community to provide the best services for their clients. They work hand
in hand with the parents, teachers, school administrators and other
stakeholders to further help the students.
Discipline and Ideas in Applied Social
Sciences by Cleofe et al. (2016) p.37
Activity 1.1.
Objective:
To show more understanding on how to value rights, responsibilities, and
accountabilities, make a poem with 5 stanza entitled “Being a Peer Counselor”
on a separate sheet. ( Answer key not available)
2
Ethical Consideration in Counseling
You will discuss Ethical Principles of Counseling
Specifically, this module will help you to
• Identify the ethical principles of counseling, and what counselors follow in
their profession.
• Determine its importance in their work areas, as they abide to these ethical
considerations in the aspect of human improvement in the societY
Professional Ethical Principles in Guidance and Counseling

Usually when you are part of a company, or profession that you have chosen, you
need to create your own behavior to adjust to the changing environment that you are
placed on. And this is true to all professionals; even teachers must have an
attitude/behavior of a second parent to their learners. Counselors must treat their
counselee with utmost care and compassion because their profession compels them
to do so. Counselors adhere to ethical principles, so as to guide them in their pursuit
for professionalism and in the performance of their practice.
Confidentiality. This principle states that counselees have the right to privacy in
working with his or her counselor (Hutchinson, 2014). All information shared by the
counselee, including his or her identity, must be kept secret. This means that the
counselor should not divulge any information and protect all documents about the
counselee. There is an exception to this rule. If this entails public safety and public
concern, let’s say, threat to life of the counselee (potential suicidal) the counselor
has an obligation to report the threat.
Client Welfare. It is the counselor’s primary responsibility to protect the welfare of

the clients. Hence, if the identified needs of the counselee are beyond the expertise of
the counselor, then the counselor, must refer the client to another professional. As
such, counselor must be knowledgeable about cultural and clinically appropriate
sources of referral which they may suggest to the counselee.
Informed consent. Counselors requires counselee to waive or inform the clients of

the overview of the sessions, and this includes the whole process of the counseling.
Explaining the step-by-step process and the risks involved (information divulge,
policies and the rights of the counselee to withdraw) provides options for the
counselee to see possible outcomes or alternatives whether to push through or not.
Relationship with Clients. This principle is all about boundaries and limitations
that may arise on the relationship of the client and counselor. This also pertains
within or outside of the counseling session. The counselor must be aware and be
bound by the ethics of professional relationship with clients. Counselors should not
be engaged in any personal relationship with the clients. Since clients tend to be
3
vulnerable and helpless at times, they become dependent on and see the counselor
as a companion. No matter how emotionally vulnerable the clients are, counselors
must set professional limits.
Professionalism. A professional counselor should clarify with the client the type of
activities other than counseling which will be utilized to address the pressing
concerns, the technique.
Activity 1.2. A Future Counselor’s Dilemma

Objective: Determine the dilemma for each ethical consideration
Directions: Below is a table in which the Ethical Principles are
provided. Your task is to provide a situation that violates the given
principle. Write your answer on the space provided.
Ethical Principle Situation

1. Confidentiality
2. Relationship with Clients
3. Professionalism
4. Client Welfare
5. Informed Consent
RELECTIVE LEARNING: (GRADED PERFORMANCE TASK IN WEEK 3)

Valuing Rights of Individuals, Professional Responsibilities, and
Accountabilities of Counselors
Direction: Make a narrative report on the news article. Determine the
rights of the client, as well as, the professional responsibilities and
accountabilities of counselors. You may write your report on a short
bond paper with a minimum of 400 words.
4
Senior High School Students struggle to write in English.
Written by Bonz Magsambol, April 20, 2020
Source: www.rappler.com
An article by the think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) on
Monday, April 20, said SHS difficulty in writing in English was particularly evident in research
projects. According to Kristel Brillantes, consultant at PIDS, students were
submitting projects for compliance only, preventing them from
applying their learning from the SHS curricula. Brillantes
described the current SHS curricula as “too ambitious” and was
designed for urban students such as science schools in Metro Manila.
The article said that this led to another problem such as understanding
activities “further worsened by lack of resources.” It also cited the lack
of computers of some students which made it hard for them to
understand and join the
discussion on their computer literacy subject. The article also noted that even teachers faced
challenges teaching students due to “insufficient guidelines, inadequate materials, and preparations.”
“Students are decrying the ‘too much’ reporting, which made them feel they teach more than their
teachers do,” the article said. Aside from the difficulty faced by students in writing in English, the
report also raised the concern about students balancing between academics and sports or arts classes.
“On top of their regular academic programs, the athletes, for instance, still need to join different
activities, such as sports competitions, to expose them to opportunities outside SHS,” Brillantes said
in the article. The students, according to the report, developed sentiments that teachers and students
looked down on them because they are “not smart enough” for being under the sports track. “DepEd
should help them understand why there has to be different SHS tracks, as it is currently unclear to
both the students and the teachers, leading to bias against those pursuing sports and arts tracks,”
Brillanes said as quoted in the article. Meanwhile, the report also said that these problems were
“mere birth pains” of the SHS program. Brillantes then called on the Department of Education and
other agencies involved, such as the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority, “to iron out policies related to SHS.”
ANSWER KEY
ACTIVITY 1.1. AND 1.2 ANSWER MAY VARY

REFLECTIVE LEARNING: ANSWER MAY VARY

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Republic of the Philippines

• Value Rights, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities of

Value Rights, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities of Counselors

Professional counselors must always observe utmost respect for their

1. Respecting the rights and dignity of every person. Professional counselors

2. Respecting the client’s rights as self-governing individual.

3. Being committed to the client’s well-being. Professional counselors

4. Observing fairness to all the clients by providing equal opportunity to

5. Enhancing the quality of their professional knowledge and application.

6. Being responsive to the society. Counselors collaborate with other members

Professional Ethical Principles in Guidance and Counseling

Client Welfare. It is the counselor’s primary responsibility to protect the welfare of

Informed consent. Counselors requires counselee to waive or inform the clients of

Activity 1.2. A Future Counselor’s Dilemma

Ethical Principle Situation

2. Relationship with Clients

RELECTIVE LEARNING: (GRADED PERFORMANCE TASK IN WEEK 3)

ACTIVITY 1.1. AND 1.2 ANSWER MAY VARY

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